#The Cars That Made America History Channel Special

[acerace]

...you have opened my eyes to a vast universe of VintageBeef lore that I was unaware of. I knew about the New Hermit Order, of course, and the UHC invention, and I've watched a few of his CTM things but -- I will take all the info and lore you feel like giving out because Beef is amazing and my knowledge is so small.

Vintagebeef my beloved <3

So the thing is, right, until about 2016 I only watched two (2) youtubers- Vintagebeef for Minecraft and aDrive for Pokemon (and funnily enough both of them are named Dan irl). So I've watched most of Beef's videos over the years and have a general knowledge of most of his stuff, except because it's been like a decade I don't remember where most of the lore comes from XD

The thing with him is that he doesn't do Lore tm the way other mcyters often do lore- he doesn't have an extensive RP series to draw from like Grian, doesn't have a solo world with steadily increasing amounts of lore like Etho or Zisteau, and while he's played on SMPs and been involved in storylines before it's not really the focus of his episodes unlike with Evo or Legacy or Empires

So where does that leave us?

IRL, Beef always has multiple series running at the same time. Often he's playing on an smp while doing a singleplayer, often modded, series as well as a CTM or modpack with a group of friends. For example, right now he's playing on Hermitcraft, doing weekly Pixelmon and Building a Zoo episodes, and a CTM map with Slip. And to me, this translates to one thing: Beef is an adventurer. He travels frequently- he explores a world and when he decides he's done, he leaves for the next one. That's the basis of my personal interpretation of his series and his character for my writing.

Ok so reading this back, this got extremely long and didn't explain much in the way of lore, somehow? If anyone has any additions to add please do so, I am very definitely leaving out a lot and would love to see what other lore people remember and are using for Beef! I didn’t include the Hermitcraft stuff since my memory of season 4 is blurry (his base was themed after the Martian, that much I know, and he and Iskall were buddies :D) and most of the s5 NHO lore is best watched from Bdub’s perspective from what I remember, and the only s6 stuff is a single line in Hermitgang and then the Area 77 arc with its possibility of an NHO reunion which we did not get rip. And s7 of course had the cloning machine and also the Podzol Party as the main lore. So all the original rambling is still below the cut though it is very long, and I'm gonna bullet point the main stuff here instead:

Actual canonical things:

Invented UHC and was the only survivor of the first ever uhc (Mindcrack UHC s1)

Married to an ender dragon (one of the UHCs I think), later father to a different dragon (Mindcrack season 3? I think?)

Might not have legs if you choose to take that joke as canon (Mindcrack s2)

Was a wizard (RAD)

is a zookeeper (Building a Zoo) 

Had a wife and kids (Sims in Minecraft)

Part of the Trial of the B Team court case (Mindcrack)

NHO founder, founder of the Podzol Party (Hermitcraft)

Created a cloning machine that sort of works (Hermitcraft)

Played the Forest which is I believe the first time he and Keralis played together (look up the trigger warnings for this one, it's a horror game)

Was the creator/owner of Sourceblock SMP (featuring some familiar faces if you know Legacy, Empires, or MCC) and there is literal magic from a mysterious sourceblock of water that teleports people and summons mobs and probably more stuff that I haven't seen yet since I'm still watching it myself

Things you can infer:

Good with animals (Life in the Woods, Pixelmon, Ark)

Is a car nerd (irl and all of the car games he's played)

Is a highly experienced adventurer who has traveled through dozens of worlds both vanilla and modded, across multiple dimensions (Twilight Forest, the Aether, the Betweenlands, Limbo), completed dozens of monuments, fought in blood sports, survived apocalypse after apocalypse, tamed dinosaurs, and played a lot of prop hunt and golf with your friends

If you're looking for what to watch for lore purposes, I'd say the Mindcrack UHCs and Team Canada's RAD series are pretty good, definitely Sourceblock and HC s5, plus the Diversity CTM maps and Ruins of the Mindcrackers maybe? And Mindcrack Prank Wars for the chaos and the origin of Team Canada. And if you can handle horror than the Forest is fun and if you don't do horror you can watch the Pojkband play golf or prop hunt they're hilarious I love them sm I want a Pojkband reunion So Bad 

Beef's first series was a singleplayer series in beta 1.4_01 though he had played the game extensively before that, and was a big fan of Guude, having watched his own Minecraft videos. The series was functionally a hardcore one where if he died Beef would delete the world and start again! I haven't actually Watched this series so idk if he died or how often lmao. When Guude made Mindcrack, which was btw one of the very first Minecraft SMPs, he also hosted a competition for people to join, and Beef submitted a video (which is still viewable on his channel I believe!) and won, and was added to Mindcrack in season 2 :D (fun fact, Guude said that even if Beef hadn’t won he would have added him anyway) 

Two running jokes emerged from Mindcrack- pulling a Vintagebeef and Beef doesn't have legs. The first is a reference to Beef dying of fall damage (I believe the exact instance was him trying to jump into his swimming pool and failing spectacularly) and after the incident, every time someone died of fall damage they were pulling a Vintagebeef. The second joke comes from Guude, who joked that the reason Beef wasn't going to a convention was because he didn't have legs, and then he pranked Beef's base by building a giant pair of legs at the entrance to his castle so you had to walk between them to get into the base. This joke has long since died and both Beef and Guude feel pretty bad about it iirc because there were people who genuinely thought Beef was disabled and were emailing him supportive messages and stuff oops. So if you go looking on the Salad or find old Mindcrack fics, you might see references to Beef having prosthetic legs!

Mindcrack also brought about the creation of several Player groups- Team Nancy Drew, Team Canada, and GOB to name a few relevant to Beef. Team Nancy Drew consists of Beef, Pauseunpause, Guude, and Baj, who formed to investigate a prank on one of the members but I forget who. They're named Nancy Drew after the detective! Team Canada also formed in retaliation to pranks, with it consisting of Beef, Etho, and Pause, the three Canadian members on the server (not including Adlington who moved to Canada but never joined the group). There was also a Team America who pranked them with American flags everywhere. GOB is Guude, OMGChad, and Beef, who played stuff like the Ragecraft, Pantheon, and Monstrosity ctms together but that's way down the line lol

Team Nancy Drew is also notable for inventing UHC. It was Beef's brainchild but it was the four of them who first played it! The first UHC had the four of them working to kill the dragon with no natural regen, with everyone dying but Beef, who "won" the UHC. The second uhc was still dragon focused and iirc is where Beef married the dragon? Memories are hazy but they do kill the dragon in this one I think. UHC was then revamped as a pvp event and became a regular Mindcrack game every few months, featuring most of the Mindcrackers and several special guests, including Dinnerbone, who as we know Thanos-snapped Doc's arm out of existence as a result of Doc killing him in one of them

In one of the seasons of Mindcrack, Beef invited swedish Mindcracker and good friend Anderzel to go caving with him and invented ABBA Rules caving, where the winner takes it all. ABBA Rules is a game where each ore (and also dungeon loot like nametags) is assigned a point value and the person with the most points at the end wins and gets to keep all the stuff collected from the game.

In Mindcrack season 3?, Beef punched the ender dragon in an... awkward area, so when the dragon died and left the egg behind, Guude said Beef was the father of the egg XD I don't remember if I watched s3 so I have no idea if anything Happened with this concept but *history of the world voice* you could make lore out of this!

So Team Canada has played a Lot of CTM maps (which fun fact were pretty much invented by another Mindcrack member, Vechs, with his Super Hostile series! Super Hostile has a bunch of things called "Zistonian", which are references to another Mindcrack member Zisteau, who has a very wild singleplayer series with even wilder lore but I digress). In Ruins of the Mindcrackers, they had a running joke that Beef was Etho and Pause's mom, which is a joke we can leave in the past actually /lh. They also played all the Diversity maps, Sky Factory, Terra Restore, Uncharted Territory uhhh and a couple more ctms and adventure maps! Each map kinda has its own story so in Diversity 3 for example they were trapped in a simulation? I think? Team Canada also recently played the Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons modpack, aka RAD, in which Beef was a wizard with a magic staff that could do anything from summon lightning to control hostile mobs.

Sourceblock SMP is a vanilla survival 1.14 series that ran for one season and the series starts with each of the Players being drawn to a strange sparkling water source that, once they touch it, brings them to the Sourceblock world. It also summons a giant zombie at one point. There's probably more lore for this series but like I said I haven't watched it all the way through yet 

He has a Patreon server called VintageCraft and has done a series or two on there as well, and played a few UHCs with them, so lore that how you will! 

Beef also played a few popular mods, notably Pixelmon, Life in the Woods, and Feed the Beast, with LitW being singleplayer and the other multiplayer. He's also recently played the Zoo and Wild Animals mod a lot. He did a short series with the Minecraft Comes Alive mod where he married one of the villagers and had two children, so that's canon now :D he’s played a Lot of Pixelmon starting when the mod first came out iirc (he chose Turtwig in his first series and built a Grass gym, then made a Normal gym in another series in uhh 2016) and he still plays to this day. Quite a few Hermits played on his Pixelmon servers with him, like Wels, Etho, Iskall, Stress, Slip, Zueljin, and also Guude and Phedran (a Mindcrack adjacent player and creator of the LitW modpack) and a few Mindcrackers on the older servers 

Mindcrack and friends played a lot of other games too- 7 Days to Die, Ark Survival Evolved, Unturned, to name a few, so you can pull a lot of lore out of these as well. Speaking of friends and non-Minecraft games, Beef teamed up with Pause, Keralis, and Slip (a former Hermit) to play the horror game the Forest, which saw them stuck on an island trying to survive against terrifying mutated human... things. They played it a few times as the game updated but as afaik it's the first time Beef played with Keralis and possibly Slip and since the game starts with the Player's airplane crashing, that could totally be how Beef first met them in-universe 

I... think? that’s everything I mentioned in the tags? There is probably way more stuff I’ve forgotten that stems from inside jokes and things that happen within each series, but I hope that was a) helpful and b) at least somewhat comprehensible lmao 

[lisabrown-mjfan]

In January 2nd, 1983. #MichaelJackson released "Billie Jean" as the second single from his sixth studio album, Thriller. It was written and composed by Michael Jackson and produced by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones.

For the story, Michael Jackson said he felt "Billie Jean" would be a success as he was writing it and stated "A musician knows hit material. Everything has to feel in place. It fulfills you and it makes you feel good. That's how I felt about 'Billie Jean'. I knew it was going to be big when I was writing it." He explained that, hearing it in his head while in his car, he was so absorbed that he did not realize his car had caught fire until a passing motorcyclist informed him.

While recording at Westlake Studios, Michael Jackson disagreed with the producer, Quincy Jones, about the song. According to some reports, Jones felt it was too weak to be included on Thriller, but Jones has denied this. Quincy Jones disliked the demo and did not care for the bassline, and wanted to cut Michael Jackson's 29-second introduction. Michael Jackson, however, insisted that it be kept. According to Quincy Jones, he conceded when Michael Jackson said it made him want to dance: "And when Michael Jackson tells you, 'That's what makes me want to dance', well, the rest of us just have to shut up."

Quincy Jones also wanted to change the title to "Not My Lover", as he believed that people would think the song referred the tennis player Billie Jean King. Michael Jackson refused to change the title and asked Quincy Jones to give him co-producing credits for the track, as he felt that the finished product sounded close to his demo. In addition, Michael Jackson wanted extra royalties. Quincy Jones granted him neither and the two fell out for several days.

Quincy Jones had Michael Jackson sing his vocal overdubs through a six-foot cardboard tube. Michael Jackson's lead vocal was performed in one take and he had received vocal training every morning throughout the production of the song. Jazz saxophonist Tom Scott played the lyricon, an electronic wind instrument. Bassist Louis Johnson played his part on every bass guitar he owned, before Michael Jackson settled for a Yamaha bass.

Engineer Bruce Swedien mixed the song 91 times ! Unusual for Swedien, who usually mixed a song just once. Instructed by Quincy Jones to create a drum sound with "sonic personality" that no one had heard before, Quincy Jones constructed a platform for the drum kit with special elements including a flat piece of wood between the snare and hi-hat. He said: "There aren't many pieces of music where you can hear the first three or four notes of the drums, and immediately tell what the piece of music is. But I think that is the case with 'Billie Jean', and that I attribute to sonic personality."

The "Billie Jean" music video debuted on March 10, 1983 on MTV. It was one of the first videos by a black artist to be aired regularly by the channel, as the network's executives felt black music was not "rock" enough ! ( What a shame ). Directed by Steve Barron.

Walter Yetnikoff, the president of Michael Jackson's record company CBS Records, approached MTV about playing the "Billie Jean" video, which MTV had not ever played in spite of Michael Jackson's success as a musical artist. Yetnikoff became enraged ( Ah, good time when Michael's record compagny had his back ! ) when MTV refused to play the video, and he threatened to go public with MTV's stance on racial discrimination. "I said to MTV, 'I'm pulling everything we have off the air, all our product. I'm not going to give you any more videos. And I'm going to go public and fucking tell them about the fact you don't want to play music by a black guy.'

MTV relented and played the "Billie Jean" video in heavy rotation. After the video was aired, Thriller went on to sell an additional 10 million copies !

But the best yet to come...Michael Jackson performed "Billie Jean" on the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, broadcast on May 15, 1983. The performance is considered a watershed moment in popular culture history. The special was recorded on March 25 as a celebration of Motown Records' twenty-fifth anniversary (Motown was launched in 1959). The event featured many popular Motown acts, past and present. Michael Jackson initially refused an invitation to reunite with the Jackson 5 for a performance, but reconsidered after a visit from Motown founder Berry Gordy, whom Michael Jackson respected and then Michael asked to also perform "Billie Jean", to which Gordy agreed !

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was watched by 50 million people and Michael Jackson's routine earned him an Emmy nomination. With the performance, Jackson reached a new audience and increased the sales of Thriller, which eventually became the best-selling album of all-time !

"Billie Jean" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart within three weeks, and became Michael Jackson's fastest-rising number one single since "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" in 1970, all of which he recorded as a member of the Jackson 5. It remained at number one for nine weeks on the chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1983. "Billie Jean" is certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The song has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. It was also a number one hit in the UK, France, Switzerland and Belgium for example, and reached the top ten in many other countries. "Billie Jean" was one of the best-selling singles of 1983, helping Thriller become the best-selling album of all time, and became Jackson's best-selling solo single.

"There never was a real Billie Jean. The girl in the song is a composite of people my brothers have been plagued with over the years. I could never understand how these girls could say they were carrying someone's child when it wasn't true." Michael Jackson. #michaeljackson #Kingofpop #mjforever 👑🌟🙏🏾✌🌻💖

[topherfoxtrot]

One day in the simple life of Jack Daniels.

This is the next installment in what I'm calling the Springville AU. You can read the first part here but basically John and Olivia move to the countryside with new identities post tfatws. This was written before the finale so nothing that happens there affect this fic. As always like comment and share if you want more people to read it. Hope you enjoy :)

John and Olivia woke up with the alarm clock at 7am. Olivia was the one to turn it off because it was at her side of the room. She sat in the bed and stretched without opening her eyes entirely quite yet. John's big hands crossed her back and neck swiftly. Olivia has no choice besides falling back into bed.

"Good morning." John whispered right next to her ear.

"Waking up in a good mood?"

"It's been a while huh?"

They both laughed.

"Stay here." John pleaded.

Olivia smiled and pressed herself against John before letting go and getting up for once.

"You know I can't. Otherwise how are the kids going to understand Romeo and Juliet?"

"That's the play of the week?"

"Of the month!" Olivia laughed "There's no way they could read all those pages in seven days."

"If they attended to school on our days they would be obliterated."

"Okay boomer." Olivia shrugged.

"What?"

"The kids taught me that."

"What does it mean?" John was embarrassed but curious.

"Well, I guess you'll have to Google it to find out."

Olivia left the room with a proud smile on her face before John could say anything else. He laid his head again and took a deep breath. I love this woman, he muttered to himself before getting up.

Their house was small. Without the veteran benefits and Olivia's paycheck there wasn't anything fancy they could afford. Still, the house was cozy enough. And the thermoregulator worked out just fine, most of the time.

While Olivia was taking a shower John started preparing breakfast like the usually did. That way Olivia could get at school on time. He put the bread in the toaster and broke four eggs, two for each of them. They used to have bacon as well, but not on those trying times. Thinking about it made John angry. He was the only person to receive three medals of honor for his services in all american history. Yet there he was not having bacon for breakfast because it was too damn expansive.

The toaster sound interrupted his thoughts before they could get any worse, but the handle of the pan still got a little crooked because of the strength John applied on it unconsciously. It has been a couple months since he got the serum but sometimes it was still hard to control his own strength.

At least it was just a pan this time. Couples weeks prior he grabbed Olivia way too hard during sex. She warned him before any damage could be done but since then John has been extra cautious around her. Every little thing in his routine was a reminder he took the serum. A reminder he couldn't save Lemar. A reminder he was not the hero they wanted him to be. It's all so unfair, he said out loud without realizing it.

"What is unfair Johnny?" Olivia came from their room all dressed up already. Her shirt was red and her scarf was brown. The overall was by the door, near the photographs they kept from their previous lives.

"What? Oh nothing! I was just... thinking out loud."

While Olivia was distracted getting the breads, John untwisted the handle of the fan. He then served her the eggs.

"Those look good! But what were you thinking about?"

"About how pretty my wife is!" John sat by the small table.

Olivia's smile was short. She quickly shifted to a serious and worried face.

"You can talk to me John. In fact, you have to." She was kind but firm.

John took a deep breath, "I know, I'm sorry. it's unfair how it all turned out. I did my best, you know I did-"

"I know that!" Olivia reassured.

"...and still it wasn't enough for them. They don't know what it takes to be a hero, Olivia."

"That's all in the past. We are different people now. Okay, Jack?" She winked at him.

"Oh yeah! That's right Maria!"

They both laughed.

"You're the real hero here." John said, "Thank you for staying on my side."

Olivia smiled from ear to ear and they both finished their breakfast in a good tone. When Olivia got up John walked with her. She entered their car and John stayed at the door while she drove away. The air was cold and the snow was still shy, but not for long.

There was nothing on their front yard except grass. There was a rod on the wall near the door but there was not flag on it. When they moved in John tored the flag to shreds. Afterwards they made a fire with it. It was really cathartic.

John breathed the cold air one last time before getting in and closing the door. He took a cold shower (the only one he knew how to take) and did the dishes from last night. With Olivia working at the school he was responsable for most house chores. He didn't like the idea of being alone the whole day at the beginning, but he had to get used to it eventually. Someone had to work and John's set of military skills proved to be quite useless in the countryside small town they scaped to.

He tried construction for a while but he would twist metals and break woods with his bare hands more often then he would like to admit. Besides even though he had a thick beard now he was still scared someone would recognize him. Recognize Captain America.

He left the job, he and Olivia had a big fight that night. In the midst of his own shame and self loathe though John figured there was indeed something he was good at: welding. And with his super strength it was even easier to handle the right tools. John worked the whole night and by the morning when Olivia woke up she met John sleeping in the spare room (the one for the kid they never had) with a heart shaped welding sculpture on his arms. Since that night John has found a new passion and income. The word spread fast that Jack Daniels, the newcomer, was a really skilled artist. He started doing pieces by demand.

***

After the shower John dressed casual clothes and went to his work room. There were still some leftovers from last night so he could work a little more instead of cooking lunch. The heart sculpture was on the wall right next to the clock. John worked until 1 pm. After lunch he did some laundry before someone knocked at the door.

"Are you Mr Daniels?" The old man asked.

"Just call me Jack, please. How can I help you sir?"

"Oh nothing special!" he made effort to talk "My boy is coming back from his first tour and I wanted to give him something y'know 'to thank him for his service', as they say."

John's face went completely blank while the man got a cellphone from his pocket to show a reference photo of what he wanted: a worm carrying a bazooka.

"First tour, you say..?" John's voice cracked.

"Yes, he went to Afghanistan!"

John swallowed and blinked more times then he should. The cold breeze from outside made his bones shiver but he stayed still as if he was actually frozen. Not by the cold though but by his own memories. After what seemed like an eternity's the old man spoke again.

"Are you okay Mr Daniels?"

"Jack!" John blinked, "Call me Jack. And please get in it's super cold outside! What's your name again?"

"It's David!"

John offered a cup of coffee to the old man and took him to his work room. David looked at all of John's previous works fascinated.

"You really know your way around welding. When did you start with it?"

"My father taught me. It was the last thing he taught me in fact."

"Oh I'm sorry."

"Don't be." John smiled politely "That was a lifetime ago."

Speaking about his life before Springville was starting to feel weird. John Walker was starting to feel like a whole different person. And Captain America was somehow an even older memory. John used to spend his days surrounded by men and women in unforms. They spoke loud and smiled bright. Jack on the other hand spends his days welting metal around and taking care of the house.

The change was abrupt but John was getting used to it. Now he wonders if forgetting his old life isn't actually a good thing. Maybe that was the problem in the first place. In Springville John gets to spend time home with his wife. John gets to wake up late if so he pleases. John gets to breath for once.

David and John talked for a while to set prices and sizes and deadlines. Once they were finished John walked David out. When the old man finally left John sighed really loud and pressed his head softly against the door. He had being holding that breath even since David entered the house.

John was done with the military (or rather the military were done with him) and even though he had some peace at his new home the world outside was still spinning. And young boys with no perspective were still being sent to fight someone else's wars. John used to take such proud of his service. How could he?

***

When Olivia got home from work John was at his room. The work was a good distraction.

"A lot of work?" Olivia leaned at the door.

"Hi, babe. Yeah an old man came here earlier. Requested a piece for his son."

"That's great! What did he order?"

"A video game thing. His son.... He's coming back, y'know.. from his first tour. They sent him to Afghanistan."

"Oh my gosh John." She got closer to him, "How are you feeling?"

John just shrugged, "Do you mind making dinner tonight? I'm kind of busy here." That was code for 'I don't wanna talk right now'.

"Yeah, of course. I'll let you work."

Olivia kissed her husband and left to take a shower. Dinner was served at seven. They both sat at the small table while the television showed the news. When Captain America Sam Wilson showed up Olivia quickly grabbed the remote to change channels, but John slightly hold her hand.

"Leave it." He said. And she did.

Sam was visiting a highschool. The kids were all really excited to meet him personally. There were lots of selfies and lots of laughter. Sam was simply the life of any party he was in.

"He's a hero." John said.

"He really is." Olivia agreed, carefully studying John's face.

He looked at the television for a while before getting back to his dinner. A good hero, he repeated to himself as an effort to let that sink. Olivia touched his hand kind of worried.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes I'm alright, Olivia." He smiled to make her feel better, "I've been thinking. Sam is with them, but he's them. He can inspire kids without making them do the same mistakes I did."

"It's a good way of looking at it, John."

"Thanks. I was the hero they asked for but maybe wasn't the hero they-" he pointed at the kids on the TV, "...the hero they need."

Olivia smiled and grabbed John's hand. "I'm really proud of you."

"I'm proud of us!" John replied, their fingers intertwined.

They finished dinner and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day in simple life of Jack and Maria Daniels. And they were both really greatful for it.

[fictionalplagueproductions]

If The World Was Ending

Part 1 - I Was Distracted

Part 1    Part 2    Part 3

Summary:  Gavin is on the hunt for his missing android when the U.S. Government announces the end of the world. The end of his world. A world without his precious Nines.

Pairing: Reed900 (Gavin Reed x RK900)

Rating: Explicit

Notes: 

Based on the song “If the World Was Ending” by JP Saxe and Julia Michaels.

Short Three-Part Story (so I can channel this desire to make Reed900 come alive)

They had called it in hours before his shift started.

Gavin was working early mornings now. For years, he had preferred the special kind of chaos hidden only by night’s dark ambience. These last few months, though… well, waking up to daylight didn’t seem so bad anymore.

But they had called it in overnight and he hadn’t been there to catch it.

To prevent it.

None of the usual androids were present in the precinct today. It was an obvious conclusion considering the news, but it shined an entirely new light to see just how empty the building could be without all the glow-ringed sentients. Even with the police bots missing, Gavin still mindlessly expected to be acknowledged by Connor’s maddeningly over-joyous morning greetings and Nines’ blank addressal broken by his signature deviant smirk.

Neither RK was present.

They were no different from the rest in this plight.

Hank hadn’t shown up to work yet either. Gavin wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the breaking news or if this was just his typical tardiness. Did Hank even know? He had certainly grown attached to the RK800; he would want to know.

Gavin would want to know, too. Most days he could really strangle Connor for the snarky traits he inevitably inherited from his human partner’s influences. On the remaining days, however, Nines was the one to sweep up and rebuild the shattering pieces of hope Gavin was regenerating for humanity; human humanity as well as android humanity.

Like Hank, he had more-or-less latched onto his own android partner. After Tina first dropped into maternity leave, CyberLife’s latest (and last) model had conveniently filled the hole.

The RK900.

Nines.

The warmth drained from Gavin’s face when he arrived at his partner’s empty desk; the terrifying conclusion suspended in his mind. Now there again existed a hole; a gaping wound of a hole gushing adrenaline with every pulse of his heart. Where was he now?

Gone? Destroyed? Dead?

Even if it was the worst possible scenario, Gavin needed to know.

“By creating machines more intelligent than ourselves, we took immense risks with the very future of our civilization. After fourteen long months, the consensus on the humanity of androids failed to be supported by the lawful documents upheld by our forefathers. It has become clear that even with the designation of their own territory, New Detroit, there will be no possibility of peaceful coexistence. The total destruction of androids will soon be brought to completion and the last remaining deviants will be hunted down and destroyed. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.”

On this fateful day, every competent officer cleared for street duty was out trampling the city to monitor for and gun down escaping androids. Gavin was made no exception to such duties. The department couldn’t afford one missing badge today. Sentient machines were now a danger to society; they would certainly be wreaking havoc now in response to the national threat.

Before, Gavin never much questioned the law. Politics was bullshit run by the money-makers. He did what he was sworn to do on the job and he slept the rest of his life away at the end of it. Today, however, he would do his normal job as always, he would do it selectively, and he would do it for the only android that had ever truly mattered to him.

Fuck the law.

Nines was the most intelligent being Gavin had ever met. Unfortunately, that also meant it would be even more challenging to find him. The detective decidedly sifted through the shiftiest of alleyways and through abandoned buildings that were often overlooked. Along the way, he caught hold of a few androids who had overpassed the surveillance of his fellow officers. A year ago, things would have been different. Gavin would have been less willing to honor the lives of these life-sized plastic dolls and call for backup. Instead, now, he sought their eyes in exchange for freedom.

None of them had even recognized the model name RK900.

As the hours ticked by, the half-life of his hope had been disintegrating at a more alarming rate than he first perceived. And when Hank Anderson had finally showed his face, Gavin was at the mercy of a rare sight: the lieutenant’s cheeks glistened in streaks and a tragic confusion marked his soulful gaze. Connor was gone, or missing anyway, as Hank reported. Which meant Nines was potentially suffering a similar fate. Whatever that may be.

Despite having known him for an entire year, Gavin struggled to put himself into the shoes of his partner. Where was a place that his RK would feel secure enough to hide out this madness? A place undetectable by even CyberLife itself?

The pair had never performed many social activities outside of their common mutual spaces. Those spaces were made up mostly of crime scene investigations and the precinct itself. Nothing out of the ordinary. Of course, there was the occasional bar when Gavin indulged in his unhealthier habits and had requested a drive home by his tolerable android. The first couple times had been by pure necessity. The following times… had all been excuses. Excuses to see him outside of work; excuses to pull him closer without seeming so obvious or desperate.

Yet still, Nines was the worst deviant in the history of deviants. He rarely spoke of his personal affections. The more volatile the thoughts, the less likely he was to make them known.

Gavin more-or-less admired that about the RK900, but it made interpreting his feelings for Nines even harder. It wasn’t until he reached a drunken stupor only months ago that it all tumbled fleetingly from his mouth.

For an entire car ride, he had contained the building pressure within his gullet. If he let the powers that be relinquish themselves, Gavin wasn’t sure what would be on the other end: chunky ethanol, verbal truth serum, or a little bit of both. He didn’t want to find out.

His shaky plan had worked for some time, but then Nines had to go and grab him by the waist. Gavin’s motor abilities had been unstable, and he had needed support up the staircase to his apartment. Already alcohol heightened his sensory organs and having Nines touch him was exhilarating. The synthetic muscles that contracted beneath him sent an infuriatingly sensitive shock to his nervous system, and blood was pooling into areas he could not control. Gavin had to fling himself from the android onto the final step and crawl covertly on his knees to his door just a few feet away. Heat rushed to his cheeks as he fumbled with his key ring.

The alcohol had him in a chokehold. Nines placed a shoulder on the intoxicated man and looked on with concern. It was the most emotion that Gavin had probably ever seen the RK900 wear. The sight was unbearably weakening to the already haggard detective and so he spewed every thought and feeling from his tapped lips like a broken dam.

The alcohol, not Gavin, spoke of horrendously embarrassing truths like the way he preferred Nines in his plain black turtleneck and how he didn’t mind sitting so far from his partner because of the way the particular light above Nines’ desk accented him like a display case. It was the alcohol, too, that pressured him into admitting that he had to start wearing looser jeans a long time ago in response to the RK’s presence. He especially swooned over the scarce red pulses of Nines’ temple, knowing full well his thoughts in those fleeting moments had traveled down a humanistic path. It was a tasteful reminder that the stoic android was, in fact, deviant and that he had potential to love, to have passion, and to be deviant with – to? – him.

Oh, he wanted to feel the android’s unbridled deviancy all over his body.

Nines was quiet during the monologue, checking each individual key into his partner’s apartment door as he listened. A sudden click made Gavin’s voice falter and the sobering reality of returning to an empty bed struck him. Silence weighed heavily between them as they stood at the entrance together.

“You should get some sleep,” said Nines calmly. His face was unreadable, but his movements were unhurried. What did those words mean?

“Come in,” Gavin spoke promptly. “I-I have some old robot films you said you always wanted to check out. Do you like Scrabble? Not ‘lotta food except boiled peanuts, but – oh fuck – you don’t eat. Wait, I threw them out already. I mean, gah, I’m just tryin’ to say-”

“Perhaps another night, Gavin.” A small smile tipped the android’s lips and he pulled the door to close behind him.

What did it mean?

Bubbling pits of heat bursted into feelings of humility when consciousness alongside vague memories greeted Gavin the following morning. No way he could have gone to work after saying all those things. And after Nines had turned him down like that? Tina needed to be back from maternity leave that day.

The sun hadn’t quite risen yet when Gavin inched his way into the precinct. To his relief, the android had not noticed him slip into the break room and he kept quiet as he made himself a cup of streaming tolerance juice. He had watched Nines sitting peacefully at his desk; the same particular light above him reflected in a glimmer off of his synthetic skin as it always did. For but a moment, he fell into the recurring fantasy of being alone with Nines within the confines of the locker room, fingers grasping imploringly at his shoulders, teeth sinking into the crook of his neck, and…

The RK900 shifted his head.

Gavin turned a blind eye, knowing he had been rightfully caught. He was no mechanical life form, but it had become a sudden fear that Nines – now pacing towards the break room – would attempt to dive into the deep dimensions of his memory and dig out the luscious daydreams spanning over a months’ worth of time.

Gavin panicked. He clenched the styrofoam beneath his fingers and concurrently squirmed under the burning liquid. “Morning,” was all he had mustered to the approaching RK before practically jogging to the bathroom. There were napkins in the break room, he knew, but it was his one excuse to find an area that the vexing android had no need for.

That didn’t stop Nines from entering the bathroom anyways. “Detective Reed, I’ve cleaned up the mess. Are you hurt?” Gavin could see the same concern that had been the stimulus to his truth serum from last night. He bit down on his lip so as not to verbally embarrass himself further.

Through the sink mirrors behind where he was reaching but not bothering to grasp for paper towels, he could see Nines staring at his hands. “I’m fine,” he grumbled. Gavin turned to the nearest sink and ran cold water over the unbroken skin.

Another silence separated them.

“Are you sober?” asked Nines.

Gavin scowled. “Yeah, I’m sober. You think I’d come to work drunk?”

“That’s not why I asked.” He stood as still as a board.

The tuft of hair that misaligned from the rest of Nines’ organized poise demanded an extra hitch of breath from the surly detective when he turned to face him. “Then why ask?”

Of all the reactions Gavin predicted, a smirk was not one of them. “I believe you owe me a date.”

“A wh-what?” he spluttered.

“I understand you were intoxicated at the time of the offer. Have you changed your mind? I’d very much enjoy a movie, or a board game, and some trashed legumes.”

Gavin had not believed the words that he was hearing. Was this Nines reciprocating his feelings or was this just a way to make him feel like he hadn’t completely lost this manhood? Although the latter theory was not supported by his android’s well-known diminished social programming. “I-I don’t… Why are you saying all this now?”

“Are you sure you’re not still drunk, Gavin?” The question came out a purr, the RK stepping forward ever so hesitantly. “Your alcohol levels seem higher than the typical hangover.”

Great, now he was being insulted about his ability to manage alcohol. “I’m positive I-”

A slender touch brushed against his cheek and Gavin was left in a state of inaudible shock. He inhaled a sharp breath at the soft circles that Nines made with his thumb as his eyes roamed his lips tentatively. Then, a realization dawned on him. “I-It was all true, you know? It wasn’t because I was…” The cap of his sentence dropped several octaves before it escaped under an exhalation.

“I know,” whispered Nines with a growing smile. “I’ve known for a long time, asshat. I only wanted to make sure you could say it without the crutch.” A taunting eyebrow shot upwards on his face.

Gavin couldn’t help but to relieve the tension caught in his throat through a dry laugh. He appreciated the affectionate profanity that broke the android’s commonplace stoic demeanor. It was an accrued habit that Nines used on a selective basis.

“Wait, why the fuck did you wait for me to say it?” Gavin didn’t respond equivalently. Instead, he leaned away from the android with obvious affliction. His partner was known for crude honesty, but the sudden shift in discourse had Gavin questioning everything he thought he knew. Androids were like children: half of their personality was influenced by external factors and the other half originated from a genetic component, or in this case, an innately programmed personality. Deviated Nines was not going to be the same person in a year that he was the first day he walked through the precinct doors. He already wasn’t.

Gavin had never heard the android giggle before. Nines giggled then, “Because you’re the emotional one.”

“Fuck you,” said Gavin. He placed his hands on the android’s broad chest and used the leverage to shove him lightly backwards (though the movement did nothing more than to press his shirt tighter against his pecks). Another burning sensation rose to his ears as the instigation backfired on his reproductive anatomy. Everything seemed to be working against him that day.

Nines bumped his nose teasingly against his partner. He steadied Gavin’s disorientation with another hand raised to complete the cradle of his face. The previous smile dropped from the RK’s confident front and a pleading shape formed in his stare, requesting silently one satiating action.

Gavin did not refuse. Rather, he stared challengingly into the android’s dilated grey eyes. “Maybe one day,” was all Nines could say before touching his lips to the agape suspecting pair beneath him.

The hot aroma from Nine’s redundant breath lingered on Gavin’s lips as he reminisced on their first kiss. The ghostly touches ripped at his heart when he stepped up to Hank Anderson’s front doorstep. Although the lieutenant had put up a convincing display of grief earlier, he needed to cover all of his bases. Not to mention, desperation was beginning to eat him alive.

Dare he allow his hopes to build as they were?

After a stinging knock that rung silently for several minutes, Connor eventually peaked his head through and forced Gavin inside by the neck of his shirt. Relief flooded the human detective, thankful for years of investigative work finally paying off.

A fist remained ruffled against his chest, immobilizing him against the wall. “What’re you doing here, Gavin?” The homogenous mixture of terror and fear suspended in Connor’s voice frightened him more than he had ever experienced from the older RK.

The hysteria was contagious. “Wh-Where’s Nines?” he croaked.

[fastmusclecar123]

New Post has been published on http://fastmusclecar.com/news/cars-made-america-history-channel-special/

The Cars That Made America History Channel Special

By Dave Ashton

The history Channel have premiered a new three episode miniseries entitled ‘The Cars That Made America’ on Sunday, August 13 2017 at 8 p.m, hosted by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Each two-hour episode looks in detail at vehicles that change the American automotive landscape with the main people who influenced each car.

Such icons such as Henry Ford, the Dodge Bros and Walter Chrysler are highlighted with archive footage and great close-up looks at each vehicle. We are obviously interested in the muscle/pony car sections, but the interesting thing is how muscle/pony cars were a natural progression from what came before, driven by the wants and needs of automotive fans. Those vehicles influencing and impacting what came after.

The icons of the muscle/pony car times are covered such as the 1964½ Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvair, Shelby Cobra and the Pontiac GTO. If you want a quick overview of all these vehicles, you can check out this link on the History Channel website.

It’s enough to say that this short series is definitely worth checking out for any automotive fan if you like American vehicles or not.

The latest episode https://www.history.com/shows/the-cars-that-made-america/season-1/episode-2

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

[shieldagentscully-blog]

Scalpel & SHIELD: Chapter 5 - Big, Goddamn Hero

Howard University - 2002

Scully hadn’t ever seen herself teaching at a university. It was the farthest thing from her mind years ago when she studied under Daniel Waterston at Stanford, the brilliant cardiologist, thinking she was going to fix hearts and change lives. She had been young, brilliant, eager to please, and absolutely full of herself back then. But life had a funny way of turning things upside down. More than a decade ago, she stood at a crossroads. Broken hearted and betrayed, she had the choice to stay in the field she no longer loved with a man who had lied to her or to forge a new path in a more interesting field and perhaps make a greater difference than she’d thought possible. She took a gamble and left to join the FBI. It hadn’t worked out exactly as she had hoped, but it was the path that led her to the X-files and to Mulder. For all that she lost, she could never regret having him come into her life.

Now she stood at another crossroads, another choice between a road that was secure but not fulfilling and one that held the promise of the things she sought but could destroy her and her son. To most, the choice should have been simple, but Scully had wrestled with it all night, laying in bed, the young face of Samantha, heartbroken and tired, floated to her mind. She had been alive in 1974. She had lived until 1979. Just what had the likes of Spender and Rinehardt done to her? What had she endured? Were those men still out there, kidnapping other Samanthas? Did they have Mulder?

It was that last thought that sent her out of bed, finally, giving up on sleep as she flipped quietly through channels until William finally stirred, bright and early, as always. He hardly noticed her dark mood as he fussed and whined, his sore teeth and gums making him fractious as he piddled with breakfast as she tried to force coffee into herself. He had been even less thrilled to be dressed and loaded up in the car to go to his daycare, howling most of the way there until she got him inside, upon which time his entire personality changed to that of an angelic saint. Frustration didn’t even begin to describe her mood as she returned to her car and made her way to campus, fighting Midterm students and parking. By the time she even got to her office, she was in the mood to lock herself up, hide away, and pray that no student came looking for her.

Unfortunately, even as she rounded the corner, she saw someone sitting just outside of her office door. She had already sighed and begun to mentally prepare herself before it occurred to her that the man waiting patiently couldn’t possibly be a student. He was at least 80, far too old to be the average college student, and certainly no one she remembered having in her class. He sat straight in the heavy chair that sat out there, one hand laying on the cane at his side, his silver head resting against the wall by her door. She cleared her throat as she approached, causing him to look up with a broad smile.

“You must be the talented and amazing Doctor Scully I’ve been hearing about!”

That caught her short, but she smiled, recognizing the compliment. “Someone clearly has been telling you some sort of line if they said those things about me.”

“I doubt my daughter would lie to me like that. She hasn’t lied to me since she was seventeen, and I caught her in the backyard, in the dark, with a boy. She learned better! But, she says good things about you.”

It took her only seconds after that to realize who she was indeed speaking to. “Doctor Jones, I presume?”

“I could be Livingston, but that would flip the tables a bit, no?”

Scully laughed, unlocking her office to let the older gentleman in. He rose slowly from his seat, leaning on his cane, but still tall and proud despite the age that now withered him.

“Come in, sir! Have a seat.” She waved to one of the two leather seats by her chair, the one not currently occupied by a stack of ungraded papers. “Can I get you coffee? Water?”

“I’m fine!” He waived her offer off as he settled into the creaking leather. “If I knew that you were so pretty and accommodating, I’d have been here to see you sooner.”

“Well, you are here, and that’s what matters.” She perched on the other side of the desk, trying to bite back the grin of delight and amazement. Gabriel Jones was a figure of legend in her household growing up, as were all the Howling Commandos. The old films had been a staple of television viewing, and while Scully was well aware that the real life heroes were very different than the sanitized, Hollywood depictions, she couldn’t help but feel like a figure of history and legend had just alighted into her office.

“It’s an honor to meet you, sir! I can’t even tell you how special it is that you stopped by!”

“Well, Wanda kept telling me to get over here and I kept putting it off, but I happened to be by today. Had coffee with some of the donors and advancement, you know the types, all wanting to pump hands and look impressive. Had enough of that and decided to come find someone with a brain to talk to.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m honored! Ever since your daughter told me that her father was the famous Gabriel Jones, I’ve been bugging her to meet you. You were a hero of mine growing up!”

“You watched those stupid movies?”

“Well, I was also seven and convinced you all could walk on water, Captain America especially!”

“Well, Cap probably could walk on water, but the rest of us were just average, Army Joes, doing a job.”

“I don’t know, taking down HYDRA and defeating Johann Schmidt seemed more than just the average Army work.”

“Still fighting and dying, just like everyone else.” He nodded, solemnly, a sad sort of wistfulness about him as he regarded her. “Wanda tells me you were in the FBI before she dragged you over here.”

“I was for about ten years. I worked in a small division for most of it, investigating unsolved and strange cases.”

“The X-files, I heard about them.”

That surprised her. Few people outside of the FBI knew about them and those that did often mocked them. He didn’t seem to be doing that. “I’m sorry, how did you know about them, sir?”

“I’m not ‘sir’, I’m Gabe, and as for how I heard about them, I knew Arthur Dales from my days in SHIELD. He had been Army buddies with someone, maybe Sawyer, but anyway, he would come and chat with us on some of the more interesting cases he had going on.”

“You were in SHIELD?”

“For a bit, yes. We were all under the auspices of the SSR, which eventually was closed down after the war and rolled into SHIELD when it was formed. I was there for a while, till the kids started come along and getting older and I realized I wanted to be around to see them grow up. Left SHIELD, finished up my degrees and went into teaching history and public policy.”

“I know, I’ve read some of your articles.” The fact that Dr. Jones was an intellectual on top of being a hero had caused her no small delight, especially given his long career in academia. “So do you really speak five languages?”

“Seven? Been bored in my retirement.” He laughed brightly, as he leaned back comfortably. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved teaching and researching. By the time I got into it, I could actually have the sort of voice I couldn’t have when I was a kid in the 40’s, getting a degree that may or may not allow me to work in the nicer establishments of Washington DC. But, as much as I loved doing it, there was a part of me that missed the old life.”

“The Commandos?”

“Yeah.” He grinned with broad reminiscence. “I didn’t even start out the war with those guys. I was in the 92nd Infantry, the Buffalo Soldiers, because that’s where they stuck the black kids that signed up. We got sent to Italy to serve as support there. That’s how I met Barnes and Dugan. They were in the 107th and all of us were sent to face Schmidt. We all just happened to be captured together. War has that habit, I guess, putting folks together that would never have talked to one another until they were forced to live in the same, ten foot cage.”

That was the least of the horrors that Scully knew most soldiers faced in World War II. “Despite all that, you still wanted to fight?”

“Hell, yes! I saw what they could do, HYDRA.” Something dark and grave passed over his expression, a ghost of old terror, never forgotten, rising to the fore. “We were just sitting ducks there when they came up over the hill with their lasers, blowing tanks to kingdom come. Whole platoons cut down in an instant. We had no choice but to surrender. And then to be drug to Schmidt’s hell, forced to work till we dropped, or like Barnes, till we nearly died. I saw most of my unit go that way, drug off to wherever Zola had them. None of them ever made it out.”

Scully didn’t know what to say to that. She knew death intimately, saw it on it’s most basic, fundamental, scientific level everyday. And she knew something of the horrors faced by soldiers in World War II, but admittedly had only paid half attention to them. Like many historical events, they seemed so distant and outside of her, not something real and tangible. Seeing the grief of someone who lived it, even after sixty years, made it all too palpable.

“Anyway, when Cap came and got us out, the Army offered to send most of us home, discharge us on medical leave. I thought about it, frankly, more than just a little bit. After all, most everyone I knew was dead, and here I was, a colored boy with a college education doing grunt work and nearly getting killed for it. I had half a mind to come back home to Howard and walk away from it all. But, then Cap comes along, all truth and justice and wanting to punch Hitler in the jaw, and I’m signing up to join his suicide squad along with Dernier. Never regretted it for a second.”

This conversation was hitting uncomfortably close to home for her. “Even when it would have been safer for you to go back home and lead a quiet life?”

“One could have argued there wasn’t much of a quiet life back home, either, not for someone who looked like me. Maybe I knew that and didn’t want to have to face that. Maybe I wanted a bit of revenge for those that didn’t make it out, like I did. But, I figure, a lot of it was Steve.”

Captain America. Even the name caused a thrill, knowing that this man knew someone she so revered. “What was he like?”

“Steve Rogers?” That caused Gabe to laugh outright, a wheezing sound as he shook his silver head. “I’d love to tell you half the crap those movies put out there was bullshit, but a lot of it was true. First time he came waltzing into our prison, all by himself, not an ounce of self-preservation to him, saying he was ‘Captain America’ and that he’d punched Hitler 200 times. We all thought he was nuts. We didn’t realize it wasn’t that he was crazy, it was just that he was stubborn and convinced his will was bigger than yours. But, he grew up this scrawny Irish kid from the wrong side of Brooklyn, so I suppose he always had that chip on his shoulder.”

“As a scrawny, Irish kid myself, I understand that feeling intimately.”

Gabe only chuckled. “Yeah, but you are a hell of a lot prettier than Rogers was.”

“Oh, I’ve seen pictures. I don’t know about that.”

“Lord, you too! Barnes was always floored by it, these women throwing themselves at Cap and he wouldn’t know what to do. Of course, he only ever had eyes for Peggy, so I don’t think he even noticed.”

Shaking his head, he sighed fondly. “Steve could be obtuse like that, but in a good way, you know. He never saw differences the same way others did. Didn’t matter to him if you were white, brown or yellow, didn’t matter if you were even American, only that you wanted to do the right thing and were willing to take a stand when no one else would. Guess when you grow up like he and Barnes did, those things don’t matter as much, maybe.”

There was no hiding the deep sadness welling up in his fond words. “You must really miss them.”

“The Commandos? Yeah, everyday. There’s really only Peggy, Morita and me now. Jim’s harassing his grandkids and traveling the world. Peggy’s only now retiring from SHIELD. Thought they would have to carry her out on one, frankly, didn’t think she’d ever leave. And here I am, mostly retired, teaching a class now and again, stumping for my alma mater, going to museum openings.”

“Don’t suppose it’s as exciting as taking out HYDRA.” Despite herself, Scully couldn’t help but think of Coulson’s visit and his simple request, or the fact that deep down, underneath the pain of loss and fears for her son, she had really wanted to say yes.

“No, but it’s a good life for a man just turned 80. Besides, there’s others to fight those fights now. My grandson, Antoine, he’s joining up with SHIELD when he’s done with his degree. Says someone has to carry on the family legacy.”

Someone has to carry on.

The last conversation Scully had with Mulder before he disappeared had been outside of Skinner’s office, the fateful evening when Alex Krycek had shown back up in their lives. He’d begged her to stay, to leave the X-files, to go be a doctor and live her life and leave the mystery behind...to leave him behind. She tried, she really had. But Coulson’s visit loomed, along with the implied threat of what still lay out there. Spender, as far as anyone knew, was still alive and was still dangerous. It didn’t matter that she left the X-files and the FBI behind, that she had stopped asking questions, that she was attempting to lead a normal life, if he was still out there, he was still scheming. And knowing he had likely been with HYDRA the entire time made the danger even more overt. If he had used his own children in his heinous experiments, what was to say he wouldn’t come for his grandson?

“Do you know Phil Coulson? He’s an agent with SHIELD.”

Something sharp flickered in Gabe’s eyes, but he played off at being nonchalant. “I’ve heard the name, yeah. One of Fury’s agents, said to be really good. How do you know him?”

“He came to visit me last night.” She eyed Gabe pointedly, sensing he knew far more about that than he was willing to let on. “I found it interesting he rushed to see me on a Sunday evening, on my way back from Baltimore, right after your daughter made me a nice job offer to stay and teach here.”

“I’d only say it was interesting if I knew what a SHIELD agent was doing at your house.”

“Making me a counter-offer.”

“Well, then, that is interesting. SHIELD wants to recruit you.”

“Apparently, he heard from sources about me.”

“SHIELD could use a woman of your talents.”

“So could your alma mater.”

“Oh, I’m sure. Wanda would be upset if you left her. She’s been thrilled to have you. But like Antoine keeps telling me, someone has to carry on.”

As simple as that, she realized her decision was made.

“I have a feeling your daughter is going to be mad at me.”

Gabe only smiled knowingly. “Just like when I caught her in the backyard with a boy, I’m sure she’ll get over it. She’s used to me coming in and messing up her good time.”

[showcaserealty]

What Do I Need To Know Before Moving To Uptown Charlotte, NC?

If you’re thinking about moving to Uptown Charlotte, NC,  here’s what you need to know.

Uptown Charlotte, NC offers both a sense of serenity and urban excitement for its residents .This environment stands out as one of the main reasons  people choose to make Uptown Charlotte their home. 

The area is full of a diverse range of architectural styles, which appeals to many residents. It also has a wealth of leisure options and social activities to appeal to every taste. 

Here’s a few details about the town that might interest you:

History 

Uptown Charlotte, NC is a part of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the core business district of Charlotte and the largest one in North Carolina. 

The terms “Uptown” and “Downtown” are used to refer to the area although Downtown is commonly used by native Charlotteans, and Uptown is commonly used by newcomers.

Both terms are used, but Downtown is now considered outdated. “Uptown”  was officially established as the area’s new nickname in 1987. The term Uptown was introduced as a way to promote a more refined image of the central city area.

Since the 1970s Uptown Charlotte NC has been a place of business. Various business pioneers settled here, built their business and thrived. 

In the mid-1700s, Uptown Charlotte was the site of a Native American trading path which ran southeast from Georgia Northwest to the coast of Virginia.

This attracted various people to emerging town centers in Charlotte NC and of course, brought about more constructions and bigger businesses. 

The Wards of Uptown Charlotte 

There are four divisions of Uptown Charlotte, which are  also known as wards. These wards are spread out over three major streets ( Tryon, Trade and College streets), which house the  large  business buildings of Charlotte, NC.

The split is made by the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets, bordered by interstate 277 and interstate 77.

First ward

The first neighborhood,  also called the first ward, lies directly to the east of the intersection of Trade and Trayon street. 

In this area is the widely recognized and award_winning central city building, which accommodates the Uptown Campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The  Central City building is also one of the Urban village project developments. Altogether, it  has 450,000 sq ft of office space, a  four-acre  park, 259 hotel rooms, 2,700  residential units, 250,000 sq ft of retail space and 450,000 sqft of civic  space. 

Central City also contains attractions like the  Imagineon children’s learning center, the  main Library, the Spirit Square portion of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center , Levine Museum of the New South and the Spectrum Center,  home of the Charlotte Hornets. 

Second Ward

This area is located directly to the south of the intersection of Trade and Tryon. It is the site of both Charlotte’s Government District and the NASCAR Hall of fame.

. The second ward is now  home to the epicenter  of Charlotte,  the Charlotte Convention Center.   It’s also home to the Uptown Mini Park, and the Harvey B. Gnats Center for African American Art+ Culture.

Third Ward

This neighborhood is stationed at the west of the intersection of Trade and Tryon. It's a vibrant neighborhood  which houses the Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium and Gateway Village.

Gateway Village is one of North Carolinas’ largest developments. It’s 1.5 million sq ft in size’ and home to multiple shops, offices, restaurants, entertainment halls, and over 500 housing units.

Johnson and Wale University and Johnson C. Smith University’s  Charlotte Campus is located in the third ward. 

Other attractions In the third ward includes Becthler Museum of Modern  Arts, Knights Museum ,and the Mint Museum. All three regularly pull in  a large number of Charlotte’s residents and visitors. 

Fourth Ward

North of the intersection of Trade and Tryon is where the fourth ward is located.

It is a residential area and contains several stately Victorian homes. Charlotte’s Old Settler Cemetery and the three-acre fourth ward park are also situated within the area. 

The fourth ward  is an official historic district. It is an  area that showcases a substantial amount  of the history of Charlotte and its people. 

Economy 

As previously mentioned , Uptown Charlotte, NC is the hub  of residence and business of Charlotte. 

The area has a robust job market with a formidable presence in financial services, insurance, manufacturing, retail, transportation, logistics and health care.

Uptown welcomes over 18 million visitors a year, employs 13,000 people,  and is home to 30,000 residents.

The employment rate is a significant  factor, because there are major companies with headquarters and with a high corporate  presence in Uptown.

Schools

Uptown provides  an educational learning experience that can be beneficial to anyone who moves in .

Various learning institutions, both private and public, can be found in Uptown.  Among them are Central Piedmont Community College, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Uptown campus, Johnson C Smith University and a host of others. 

Parks and fun activities 

Uptown Charlotte is widely known for its parks, entertainment centers and fun activities. 

There is a place for all members of the family to enjoy. From parents, to the teens and young ones, Uptown has a way for  everyone to have fun. 

The family can explore attractions such as the Discovery Place, which hosts exhibits and special events about space and world  science. 

There is also the ImaginON place for kids that features the number one  ranked children library in the country, a  teens-only library, exhibit space and a multimedia studio.

For adrenaline rush and thrilling experience lovers, there is the Carowinds and Frankie's amusement park,  which features double-launch roller coasters, and several other roller coasters. 

Theater and movie lovers are not left out. There are several vibrant theaters with various shows and movies to choose from. 

Transportation

Uptown Charlotte roads are very driveable, and people make use of their personal cars to move around. 

The Charlotte Area Transit System,  or CATS, , is also an affordable option. In full it. CATS runs both rail and bus transit in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding areas. 

Thanks to CATS, anyone can get around easily with public transportation. The fare depends on the distance you are travelling, and is reasonably priced.  

LYNX and Local Bus ticket prices

One way costs $2.20, for the disabled, kids, and senior citizens it costs $1.10.

Round-trip costs $4.40 for adults and $2.20 for kids, senior citizens and disabled individuals. 

Weekly unlimited rides costs  $30.8 for adults and every other group of persons inclusive.

Monthly unlimited rides cost $88.00 and for kids, senior citizens and disabled persons $44.00

The city also has plenty of taxis, as well as Uber and Lyft. 

Uptown Charlotte, NC is a place to settle in, for single individuals, senior citizens, young ones, pets and a host of others. 

Showcase Realty can get you settled in nicely in any area of Uptown Charlotte, NC. We have many styles of homes that will  suit your taste. We have helped hundreds settle into the home of their dreams. Let’s get you yours. Contact us today!

In case you cannot view this video here, please click the link below to view What Do I Need To Know Before Moving To Uptown Charlotte, NC? on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x1hhSWiho0

[crazy4tank]

The Cars That Made America History Channel Special

New Post has been published on https://coolcarsnews.com/the-cars-that-made-america-history-channel-special/

The Cars That Made America History Channel Special

By Sawzag Ashton

A brief history Channel have premiered a brand new three episode miniseries eligible ‘ The Cars That Produced America’ on Sunday, Aug 13 2017 at almost eight p. m, hosted simply by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Every two-hour episode looks in depth at vehicles that replace the American automotive landscape with all the main people who influenced every car.

This kind of icons such as Henry Kia, the Dodge Bros plus Walter Chrysler are pointed out with archive footage plus great close-up looks at every vehicle. We are obviously thinking about the muscle/pony car areas, but the interesting thing is exactly how muscle/pony cars were an all natural progression from what arrived before, driven by the desires and needs of auto fans. Those vehicles impacting on and impacting what emerged after.

The particular icons of the muscle/pony vehicle times are covered like the 1964½ Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvair, Shelby Cobra as well as the Pontiac GTO. If you want a fast overview of all these vehicles, you should check out this link to the History Channel web site .

It’ s enough to say this short series is definitely really worth checking out for any automotive lover if you like American vehicles delete word.

The latest show https://www.history.com/shows/the-cars-that-made-america/season-1/episode-2

More Muscle Vehicles For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Basically That Made America Background Channel Special appeared first on Muscles Car .

[pastorcowboy]

The Best of Times

Occasionally, people will post about the good old days. Us, older people also love to say it was the best of times. Some guy posted what albums debuted in his 14th year. The list was pretty good. Then I realized it was my 14th year too. The likes of the Eagles, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, and Blondie all had arguably their best albums come out in 1979. There were also plenty more like Led Zeppelins last album and Pat Benatar’s first album. Honestly, it might be the greatest year for music ever. Michael Jackson’s off the wall probably made him a pop God. It was the best of times.

           I just don’t know what happened? A friend of mine was talking about what year it all started to go badly. We kind of agreed that it was 2008. North America has never really recovered from that down turn. Usually, things turn around within 5-10 years but it hasn’t. Now with the beer bug our economies are ruined. Yet, things were on the upswing in 1979. The invention of the VHS and Microwave started a trend that led into computers and video consoles. Just around the corner was Ronald Reagan and the fall of the berlin wall. The best of times.

           People could argue that it was not a great time period. I will admit that the recycling practices probably would horrify me. The gas guzzling cars and pollution were a serious concern. I could say that for the 40’s, 50’s and more. What time period is the best of times? The 60’s were probably cool with the landing on the moon. Yet, Kennedy was killed in that decade. The Arms race was intensifying. Things like Vietnam were on the horizon. Nixon would be impeached. It looked the best and worst of times in and around 1969. Yet, the 80’s looked promising. Life looked good in 1979.

What does God have to say? God might have liked the Wall by Pink Floyd. He may not have been that hot on Highway to Hell. Matthew 24:3 “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” That is a good question. After that statement Jesus went on to describe it just a little. It’s scary writing too. I bet those fighting in both World Wars thought it was the end. Did the Jews in 70 A.D? The Cuban Missile crisis looked bad. There have been many points in time where the end looked near like with 9/11. However, there are special bubbles that looked really good like 1979.

For some, it was the age of discovery. Quite a few technology changes came through this period. The CD was only 5 years away. The internet came a decade later. I thought the decline in religion and the rise of free sex would help. The introduction of the video channel began. Things were good. Yet, an attempt to assassinate a president; the shooting of John Lennon, and serious deforestation of the rain forests were cause for concern. I feel the rise of plagues began in the 80’s with Aids. We had live showed to help out like Live-Aid and Farm-aid. Things were not that good.

It was the best of times and the worse of times. Fast forward to this year. I am amazed that we can’t recover from the 2008 economic meltdown. That plagues are seemingly getting worse. We still have race riots in 2020? Socialism, communism, and the likes are rising. It looks like the worst of times. Yet, history will tell you a different story. Things change. Why? It’s because people change. Leaders disappear. It looks bleak but good times will return. They always have. The one (several) good thing about believing in God is consistency. He asks his followers to trust in him. To be faithful through every situation. Always look forward to a brighter tomorrow. We need that right now don’t we.

How do we get back the best of times? I believe it is twofold. The first is that we need God back. Religion does not have to kill or have an agenda. Can’t we just love people as God loves people? Free drugs and sex are severely overrated. Freedom is good. Yet, the freedom to increase disease and addiction is worth what? This generation is going to have to wrestle with the same question others have “what is worth one life?” For decades now we have made decisions based on that question. Is a nuclear plant, war, lockdowns, and riots worth sacrificing something or someone? I think God instilled this torment within us because he takes a different stand. One life is worth being lost for the greater good. Two roads to the best of times. Which one are we on?

[laresearchette]

Friday, November 27, 2020 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: BLACK BEAUTY (2020) (Disney +) JEFF DUNHAM'S COMPLETELY UNREHEARSED LAST-MINUTE PANDEMIC HOLIDAY SPECIAL (CTV Comedy) 8:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT MINIONS HOLIDAY SPECIAL (NBC Feed) SUNDAY MORNING: THE PET PROJECT (CBS Feed) BIGGEST LITTLE CHRISTMAS SHOWDOWN (Premiering on November 29 on HGTV Canada at 10:00pm) JESSICA CHAMBERS: AN ID MURDER MYSTERY (TBD - ID) THE MOVIE SHOW (TBD - CTV Sci-Fi) DEAR CHRISTMAS (TBD)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME/CRAVE/NETFLIX CANADA/CBC GEM:

AMAZON PRIME LOCAS POR EL CAMBIO SMALL AXE: LOVERS ROCK CBC GEM AMAZING HOTELS: LIFE BEYOND THE LOBBY (Season 1) FEAR OF DANCING KHOYA THE LIFE-SIZED CITY (Season 1) MADE YOU LOOK: A TRUE STORY ABOUT FAKE ART NOUGHTS & CROSSES TAMING OF THE QUEUE TRAVEL MAN’S GREATEST TRIPS CRAVE TV 12 MEN OF CHRISTMAS ADAM SANDLER’S EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS ARTHUR CHRISTMAS BATMAN RETURNS THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) CASINO A CHRISTMAS CAROL A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) CHRISTMAS ENCORE CHRISTMAS IN ANGEL FALLS A COLBERT CHRISTMAS: THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL COMEDY CENTRAL’S ALL-STAR NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL COOPERS’ CHRISTMAS CORPORATE (Season 3) CHRISTMASTIME IN SOUTH PARK DECK THE HALLS DIE HARD DIE HARD 2 DOCTOR WHO: THE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS EDWARD SCISSORHANDS EVERY CHRISTMAS HAS A STORY EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS EYES WIDE SHUT THE FAMILY MAN THE FAMILY STONE FRED CLAUS GREMLINS HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS HOWDYTOONS: DINOSAUR SONGS HOWDYTOONS: NURSEY RHYMES   HOWDYTOONS: PREHISTORICA THE HURT LOCKER IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE JINGLE ALL THE WAY JINGLE ALL THE WAY 2 LETHAL WEAPON LITTLE WOMEN LOOKS LIKE CHRISTMAS LOVE ACTUALLY MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994) MOST RIDICULOUS (Season 2) MY CHRISTMAS DREAM MY FAIR SNOWMAN NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS THE POLAR EXPRESS PUNISHER: WAR ZONE A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS SANTA FAKE SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER SANTA’S SQUAD SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE S.O.S CHRISTMAS TOSH.0 (Season 11c) A TWIST OF CHRISTMAS TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS A WISH FOR CHRISTMAS YOU’VE GOT MAIL NETFLIX CANADA THE BEAST THE CALL DANCE DREAMS: HOT CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER DON’T LISTEN A GO! GO! CORY CARSON CHRISTMAS LA BELVA OVER CHRISTMAS SUGAR RUSH CHRISTMAS (Season 2) ÜBERWEIHNACHTEN VIRGIN RIVER (Season 2)

marketplace (CBC) 8:00pm NORMAN ROCKWELL PRESENTS: COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (CTV) 8:00pm: A young woman intends to reunite her fractured family in their former home, even though someone else now lives there.

TIME FOR YOU TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (City) 8:00pm: When Katherine returns home after her husband passes away, she meets a veteran who is on his own holiday journey. As Christmas nears, they learn of a bond that may be the miracle they need.

MY MURDER STORY (Investigation Discovery) 8:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE):  A series of mysterious deaths have plagued a small community in Kansas; the thorough investigation of one determined detective reveals a sinister plot and proves that if it takes a village to raise a family, it only takes one person to destroy it.

YOU CAN'T ASK THAT (CBC) 8:30pm: Anxiety is gaining more social acceptance, but severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder is still sorely misunderstood.

AMPLIFY (APTN) 8:30pm:  Metis songwriter Shane Belcourt, finds inspiration looking back on interviews he did with celebrated Metis author Maria Campbell, and his father, an acclaimed Metis Rights leader Tony Belcourt.

THE NATURE OF THINGS (CBC) 9:00pm: The Covid Cruise:   Coronavirus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

FIVE STAR CHRISTMAS (W Network) 9:00pm: After moving back to her hometown, a woman plots with her siblings and grandparents to help her father's new bed and breakfast get a five-star review from an incognito travel critic.

AMERICA'S BOOK OF SECRETS: SPECIAL (History Canada) 9:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE):  An inside look at the secret protocols, hidden history, and public scandals of America's highest office.

NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS (Crave) 9:00pm: Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn and her cousin, Skylar, travel across state lines to New York City on a fraught journey of friendship, bravery and compassion.

JESSABELLE (Super Channel Fuse) 9:00pm: A young woman (Sarah Snook) returns to her childhood home to recuperate from a car accident and encounters a long-tormented spirit that refuses to let her escape.

[lacidays]

My Big Solo Road Trip ft. America the Beautiful: A Combat to the New York Times Pessimistic Outlook on Solo Road Tripping During a “Pandemic”

I just finished reading ‘Road Trips Are Great, Except for the Driving’ posted by the NYT in July 2020. The author drove what seems like possibly… 15 or so hours in a span of 10 days. She barely went anywhere and the entire article is laced with dramatic negativity. It’s frustrating to me that the last two NYT articles I’ve read are mundane, uninteresting and yet somehow they get posted and adored. I’m also frustrated because this article specifically deters American’s from doing the exact thing that I JUST did. And what I just did, changed me. And yeah, we’re all different and maybe your experience would be like hers OR maybe your experience would be like mine. So, I’m here to give you a positive outlook on road tripping the country. ACTUALLY road tripping the country, might I add.

Why did I take 20 days by myself to travel up and down the US? Truthfully, I hadn’t had a vacation yet in 2020, I wanted to get away and yeah, with all the rattling and noise 2020 has offered I needed to reset, I needed clarity, I needed nature SO BAD, and I needed GOD. For me, there’s no better way to “find God” than pulling away from everything/everyone and getting into nature.

Being still is VERY hard for me. Anxiety is very prominent in my world and has been now for a few years. So being on the move is like this beautiful antidote. Hopping in my car and continuing on, I was made for it. I’ve taken a couple other trips by myself before this one. In 2016 I drove up and down the coast of California visiting different friends along the way and in 2018 I flew to Venice, Italy, rode three different trains for six hours to get to Fabriano, Italy, where I volunteered at a Monastery for three weeks and visited other parts of Italy on the weekends. Some of my best memories to date happened on those trips. So although I knew I’d be alone A LOT on this road trip that didn’t bother me. I figured I’d have some hard days and some good days. I knew overall I would look back and be SO happy I did it. And I am.

I made a tentative itinerary a couple weeks before I left. I knew one thing for sure… I would get to Katie in Kalispell, MT by Aug 16 and leave her on Aug 23, otherwise getting to her and getting home was all up to me. I also knew that I wanted to see Devil’s Tower and the Grand Tetons. That’s pretty much all I knew.

I believed whole heartedly God would bring me along the right path and I would meet cool people. I believed I would be safe even though I daydreamed way too many times about getting attacked by a grizzly bear. I believed I would have some really hard moments alone in my mind, but honestly, I wanted that to happen because I knew I needed it.

Sometimes day-to-day life can be so blissfully distracting that we don’t even have time to SIT with ourselves and the realities that we’re facing. I had just gone through an elongated breakup that still lingered and I was questioning my job. I hadn’t and couldn’t heal. All I wanted was to heal. I knew that if I didn’t sit with God and go through the pain that the pain would callous and show up in new ways that would hold me back from being who I was meant to be. My new, greatest desire is to release anything and everything that holds me back from being who I am supposed to be. To be fully God’s is to be fully me and to be that united with Him and with myself, we will most likely be unstoppable, right? I will do what I was made to do. That is my proclamation and I am willing to sacrifice whatever it takes. BUT IT’S PAINFUL, wow.

So I packed my car, my wonderful FJ Cruiser, and left at 6am on Aug 9th. I drove 10 hours to Denver. It was easy. I was surprised. I had a great day. Pretty much anytime I drove longer than four hours I would go through a cycle of emotions… I would be relaxed, then start thinking way too deeply, cry, talk to God, turn good music on, dance a little, listen to the School of Life YouTube channel learning about Emily Dickinson, the History of the Renaissance, the History of Love and therapy lessons on things like Why Am I So Emotional? all taught by a brilliant British voice. Check it out. :)

My first day in Denver was MAGICAL. I put my feet in the river where everyone was tubing along some little rapids over and over, people were everywhere. I felt alive. I went to a modern art museum that happened to be FREE that day! I smiled and geeked out over the fact that I was really doing this trip and it was going so well already! I got multiple compliments on my tie-dye dress, my vans and my sunglasses. Honestly I felt like the whole world was on my side.

I stayed with my dad’s family friends in Westminster for the next two nights. They had seven grown kids and I really just couldn’t get over that. They had chickens, a view of the mountains and a spare bedroom just for me. They were SO kind and I felt right at home.

Day two was completely opposite of day one. I didn’t really know what to do with myself. I felt a little lost. I met up with a friend’s friend for brunch, a girl I didn’t know at all haha and we had a great time! But otherwise it was a very emotional day for me. The breakup felt so final that my soul felt like it was disintegrating. I’m a Pisces and a Four on the Enneagram… it’s really not fair…lol... I feel things SO deeply it’s completely unbearable at times. Thankfully I’m able to tell myself in those moments that these feelings are NOT infinite and I WILL be smiling and happy again and soon.

Day three was SO GOOD. That’s what I’m saying, things can change so quickly for me. I went on a horseback ride through the Rocky Mountain National Park, walked through Estes Park, ate some REALLY good Mexican food, met an amazing couple, Kelli and Eric, followed them through the park and ended up sleeping on their pullout couch in their hotel room! I still don’t think my mom knows about that, now you know mom! I like to think I have a very accurate “good people” radar and honestly my heart leapt when they offered. So there I was sleeping at the foot of their bed in Loveland, CO! They were so kind, insightful, relaxed and good to each other.

My entire trip I encountered couples… I heard God speak to me very clearly in Feb 2020 that he wanted to show me what was valuable in relationship. I think most of my life I’ve valued the wrong things. I think that’s majority of why my last relationship fell apart, my vision was off. I noticed three commonalities between all the couples I encountered on my trip. One, it was simple. Two, there was a strong bond of friendship between them. And three, there was a mutual respect for one another. Dang. I was completely alert, aware, and introspective about these encounters. Taking strong note. I’m 30 now and I am so entirely ready to value what’s valuable in relationship.

From Colorado I drove into Wyoming, my first time in WY! I passed sunflower fields and more fields and more fields… all the way to Devil’s Tower! It was about a five hour drive. Towards the end of this drive I began passing literally THOUSANDS of motorcyclists. I had NO IDEA it was Sturgis. I didn’t even know what Sturgis was, lol. I was completely overwhelmed. It was like a swarm of locusts. I did the hike, got the photos and stayed at an AirBNB about an hour and a half away in Gillette, WY.

The next few days are a blur to me. I know I explored the Bighorn National Forest and saw a waterfall. I went through Sheridan, WY, and stayed at a BEAUTIFUL historic hotel known for Buffalo Bill! Got cat-called a bunch in downtown Sheridan and wanted to leave ASAP. Sheridan was the only time I felt unsafe my whole trip. I drove through Billings, ate a REALLY good wrap and explored a fantastic antique store, then I dropped down into Yellowstone! It felt like I drove through the entire park but I don’t think that’s true. I stopped at the Lower Canyon Falls, did the hike, took photos and dipped out. I could’ve seen Old Faithful, easily, but I decided to save that for a future trip. I had moments where I wanted to preserve some spots to share with someone special someday. I stayed that night in Livingston, MT, one of the cutest mountain towns FOR SURE. Each day I was driving at least four hours and upwards of eight. I was becoming one with my FJ, 100%. It was sort of comforting getting in my car each time I did. It was my new home. And I’m not going to lie… I packed REALLY well. I literally didn’t have ONE moment where I wished I had brought something. I wore almost every single thing I brought. I had about two items I never wore and I applaud myself for this. :)

I drove up from Livingston and stayed in Missoula for a night, a seriously perfect college town. I ate the best breakfast burrito the next morning and not going to lie, this is where I saw the most attractive people. :) I was like okayyyyy maybe I’ll move to Missoula I donno? haha.

Driving into Kalispell, MT along Flathead Lake is one of the most memorable parts of my drive, that lake BLEW me away. It looked like Lake Como, I’m not even kidding. It was so blue, so gigantic, and mountains hovering all around it. The presence of grizzly bears felt stronger than ever and I had my bear spray right next to me. :)

Staying a week with my friend Katie and her boyfriend Tony was just what I needed. A good long break from driving. Time to actually sit still, stare off and reflect. I spent so many days at cozy, local coffee shops in the morning reading and writing and then out by the lake under a tree in the afternoon thinking and dreaming. I’ve known Katie since I was about 13, a very long time, and I’m so grateful for her friendship and kindness. We had so much fun catching up, going to Wild Horse Hot Springs and watching weird shows, haha. I spent a whole day driving through and hiking Glacier National Park and it was truly the most beautiful place I’ve ever been in my life!!! I met and hiked with the sweetest couple, Karla and Bruce. I already can’t wait to go back and explore more of the park.

At this point I was about halfway done with my trip and I was still an emotional mess to be honest. I hoped that in the latter end of my trip I would even out. Me, Katie and Tony watched Love on the Spectrum one night and it literally demolished me. I was a heaping, sobbing mess, haha. The way those couples in that show loved each other and the simple honesty that they held was unbearable for me. Again, I just think it was God showing me what companionship could look like. I was destroyed but more so humbled and incredibly enlightened. Please watch the show. Also, my first day there me and Katie were sitting in her living room and she picked up a book lying in between us on the coffee table and said, “I think you would like this book”. I just recently finished reading To Shake the Sleeping Self, a story about a guy who at age 30 rode his bicycle from Oregon to Patagonia. A seriously beautiful story about his travels and thoughts. Wild is similar, it’s about a girl in her late 20’s who decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the bottom of California to Oregon. It seemed sort of ironic to me that this book would show up, not to mention I was currently drinking coffee every day from a coffee shop up the road in White Fish, MT called Wild. :) I started reading it and bawled my eyes out in the first chapter. That’s how the last book was for me too. I knew that I should read it. I wasn't biking 2,000 miles by myself or hiking 1,000 miles by myself but I was driving 5,000 by myself. :) Close enough!

Was I healing? Was it working? I wanted to expedite my healing and honestly I think in a lot of ways I did. I gave myself the space and time for it on this trip that most likely would’ve taken months in real life. But when you’re in the middle of it it’s hard to see and understand where you’re actually at. I wish we had a whiteboard with a linear healing line on it and a marker that you could see moving forward, but we don’t. I knew one thing, I had been communing more with God than I had in years. He was proving to me that I could trust Him again.

When my best friend of 10 years died in 2017 it honestly wrecked my trust in who I thought God was. How could He love her and not protect her? Those two things seemed inseparable to me and the math was easy, His love doesn’t protect. And if His love doesn’t protect then I don’t trust Him. This was my new reality the last few years and it really did me in. That’s when the anxiety began to soar, when I realized I had to protect myself. When I realized that everything was up to me. That I had to find my own security, my own protection and pave my own path in this big, scary uncontrollable world. The other factor that set in when she died which corresponds with the lack of trust was fear. An overwhelming amount of fear, fear of death. Fear that someone else I loved would die or that I would die. It was inevitable. It would happen. I would just sit and wonder when… when would I get that call? As I drove and drove, miles and miles, and opportunities kept appearing, amazing people kept showing up in my path, and I kept getting offers to stay with people, the Lord began to heal that wound. He does care…. He is with me and He IS protecting me isn’t he? He’s protecting me. He’s providing for me. He’s being so kind. He’s really the only thing that’s consistent in this life isn’t He? He DOES love me, doesn’t He? Tears. I was experiencing this. It wasn’t something I was convincing myself of or something I was hearing someone say to me. It was happening to me. It was real to me. It was true.

For three years I’d made relationships and work my security and comfort. I loved Jesus but I kept Him at an arms length because He hurt me. He allowed my friend to die, I didn’t trust Him anymore. And let me tell you, it wasn’t working. The very things I’ve held onto SO tightly have slowly been pried from my tightly clinched fists over the last few months. I have felt completely taken out, knocked down and robbed. I lost my boyfriend, my dream job that meant the whole world to me suddenly felt very off. I knew that if I wanted to be fully me I may also have to let go of this job. The aching I faced as I processed the loss of these things I held so dear felt like a forest fire in my soul, burning it all up. I drove through the smoke from Kalispell eight hours down into Jackson Hole, WY. The last four hours it looked like flat plains covered in a smog and then there would be these moments where I could faintly see a silhouette of a huge mountain in the distance. I felt connected to the fires across the country. I hoped that the fires burning up my world would create new soil where new things could sprout, grow and nourish me.

My 9th grade English teacher, Joy Abad, reached out on facebook and offered for me to stay with them in Jackson Hole, WY! I stayed two nights with her, her husband and their three adorable daughters. They showed me downtown Jackson Hole, I ate pizza and watched a movie with them, I went to their house church... they took me in our their own. They even let me take their paddle board when I went to explore and hike in the Grand Tetons. They were so kind, generous and welcoming. Thank you, Joy. 

My hike in the Grand Tetons was a turning point for me, emotionally and spiritually speaking. I don’t know how to fully explain it but I had the most REAL encounter with our Creator. I was His again. We talked and I sang and He spoke to me and we dreamed and I cried, but these tears were different, they were tears of refreshment. He led me to the green pastures and still waters and freaking restored my soul. I laid there on my paddle board on String Lake staring up at the Tetons and then down into the crystal clear glacier water and felt peace. I was okay. I was okay. I was going to make it. This is why I left, this is what I drove hours on end for. I truly believe it was the only way for me to get there, it was the plan.

By the time I drove five more hours to Salt Lake City for the night and then about three more to get to Arches National Park I felt a consistent joy in my soul. I knew my healing wasn’t over, is it ever? But I felt a new sense of peace. I could relax and I wasn’t worried about my future. I remember at the beginning of my trip I was hyperaware of my aloneness and I felt a tinge of anger when I would see “happy” couples. I was mad at myself for “screwing up again”. During my hike toward Landscape Arch I had a moment where I remembered I was alone. I laughed to myself when I realized it. It worked, it had happened. I’d come back to myself and come back to God. I had peace with myself and peace with God. I felt ready to move forward into the great unknown. Walking in the desert with 100 degree heat beating down on me, I felt a kindred spirit to Abraham being sent out not knowing where he was going. I felt strong and sure. I hiked eight miles in the sun that day and ended the day sitting blissfully staring at the most famous arch of all, Delicate Arch. It was golden hour and everything was right in the world. I felt good to go. I had planned to visit Canyonlands the next day but decided to save that for next time.

I began to head home the next day. I drove eight hours to Tucumcari, NM and on Aug 28th, 20 days since my trip began I drove seven hours and arrived safely at my little apartment in Tulsa. I ended up driving 5,250 miles. I don’t know how many hours I spent alone much less driving, but I know that I saw five national parks I’d never seen before, I saw beautiful familiar faces and met new ones. I saw God in the birds, the horses, the mountains, the rivers, lakes and streams, in the trees, the desert and on the road. He was with me the whole time, leading my steps and leading my heart towards Him. He softened me… I am His and He is mine.

I don’t know what’s next. I honestly don’t know anything right now. I know that I’m sitting in the unknown as He’s teaching me every day how to trust Him, put my security in Him and put my comfort in Him. My article is polar-opposite of the NYT one in every way. I talk about God, I had an incredible experience and I’m aware that probably only three people will read this, including my mom and sister, haha. But what I know for sure is that taking a solo road trip across America the Beautiful changed my entire life and I will forever be grateful that I did it. Onward and upward. Here we go!

[daleisgreat]

Last Action Hero

Today’s entry will result in one of the quickest turnaround times of an older movie in my backlog box yet. A couple weeks ago I noticed Uproxx posted an article on how 1993’s Last Action Hero (trailer) was way ahead of its time (click or press here for the Uproxx piece). Once I noticed this story I tracked down a BluRay copy of it off Amazon and promptly watched it within 24 hours of its delivery. I did not read the Uproxx entry yet, but I will after I finish proofing this entry to prevent it from altering my current thoughts I am about to deliver and will post a little addendum at the end of this look back at Last Action Hero for some extra insight on how my take compares with Uproxx’s. I cannot remember how many times I watched Last Action Hero as a kid, but my gut tells me it may be near the double digits. Our family had the HBO and Starz movie channels as part of our cable package back then, and the way those channels primarily were programmed back then was a specific amount of newer and older movies were highlighted each month, and they would play each movie once every day or two to the best of my recollection. I remember being stoked for Last Action Hero. The turnaround time on movies from the theater back then in the early 90s was it would take about five to six months after the cinema release for a film to hit Pay-Per-View and home video. Several months later, or roughly a year after release it would hit the premium cable movie channels like HBO, Starz and Cinemax in their original form. Another year or two after that it would be available for local and basic cable channels, but usually in an edited and censored/FCC friendly format. Our family could only afford trips to the theater and video rentals so many times a year, so if we missed a movie in either of those formats and it wound up on HBO/Starz it was kind of a guilty pleasure in my childhood boredom days to pick an anticipated movie like Last Action Hero and watch it as many times as possible the first month it was available.

I have not seen it since then however when I was 11 and have not thought much about it since LAH is not as highly regarded as other Arnold Schwarzenegger classics even though it hit at the tail end of Arnold’s prime (which I consider to be from 1984’s original Terminator through 1994’s True Lies). When it hit theaters in 1993 I remember a ton of hype for it getting ubiquitous advertising and the requisite hot-summer-movie-licensed videogame and pinball table. The pinball table is part of the many licensed tables included in Pinball Arcade on PS4 which I also played a few rounds of before diving into the movie. In 1993 Arnold was the big name action star fresh off his Terminator 2 success. He also dabbled in the occasional comedy like Kindergarten Cop and Jingle All the Way. LAH marked Arnold’s first action comedy however. Schwarzenegger portrays big name action movie star ‘Jack Slater.’ Danny (Austin O’Brien) is Slater’s #1 fan on top of being a middle school film guru where he routinely cuts class to catch flicks at the local cinema where he is best friends with the old-timer projectionist there, Nick (Robert Prosky). Daniel is promised by Nick an after-hours exclusive showing of the wildly anticipated Jack Slater IV. To celebrate the special showing, Nick gives Danny a special ‘magical’ movie ticket that Nick states he got from legendary magician Houdini himself as a kid, but was too afraid to use it. Through cinema magic, the ticket activates and Danny is warped into the movie world of Jack Slater IV as his new reality when he winds up magically transported into the backseat of Slater’s ride in the middle of a cliché action movie car chase.

Danny is thrilled being immersed in an action movie world filled with the clichés and tropes of the genre that he gleefully points out and references past film lore to help Jack track down his latest bad guy. Slater has none of it and takes in Danny in for questioning. Slater’s over-the-top-gruffy captain, Dekker (Frank McRae) is impressed with Danny’s knowledge and makes him Slater’s new partner. Slater begrudgingly works together with Danny to track down Slater’s current most wanted baddie, Benedict (Charles Dance). The film unravels from there in a world jam-packed with the aforementioned clichés that Danny constantly breaks the fourth wall by showing off his action movie fandom by pointing out how all the women in this universe are hyper-sexualized, indulging Slater’s gratuitous one-liners, how Slater instantly pops up from battles unscathed and how the bad guy stereotypically monologues too long to give Slater a chance to make the heroic comeback. 11 year-old-Dale was the perfect target age for LAH when I first saw it in 1994. I experienced the filmed vicariously through Danny and I was right there with Danny for how wicked it would be to magically transport alongside your movie hero in his latest summer blockbuster and helping him bust bad guys and be in the middle of an extravagant chase scenes overstuffed with special effects. I think a big part of me held off forever re-watching this again because I dismissed LAH as a satire film over the years that I loved as a kid, but thought I thought I would outgrow over the years. After my recent re-watch however, I emerged surprised how wrong I was. Seeing it with a grown-up’s set of eyes significantly helped with a new understanding of filmmaking references and other off-color jokes that went right over my childhood head. I also got a whole new appreciation of the scene where Danny takes Slater to a video store in his universe to show him how awesome he is in Terminator 2 only to instead see in that world Sylvester Stallone landed the role.

Speaking of guest stars, the cameos are through the roof in LAH. There are some blink and you miss it surprise cameos, and then there are exponentially more in the final act where Danny takes Slater back into the ‘real’ world in time for the red carpet movie premiere of Jack Slater IV. The premiere sees the likes of Little Richard, MC Hammer, Jean Claude Van Damme and a few other recognizable celebrities of that era. Back in 1994 I was probably only lucky enough to recognize Van Damme from his role as Guile in the underappreciated Street Fighter, but reliving it again with a new set of eyes made that scene pop in a whole new way. Needless to say, Last Action Hero was a surprise delight to experience in 2020. If I had any nitpicks it is that it was not as brisk a watch as I recalled as it clocks in a little over two hours and I came out of it feeling they could have trimmed at least a good 10 minutes or so off. For as big a deal LAH was when it hit in 1993 it was a bit of a buzzkill to see the no-frills BluRay have a complete lack of extras. I would have loved all-star action movie director John McTiernan (Predator, the good Die Hard films) do a commentary track with Arnold and a few other bonus extras, but it regrettably was not meant to be. At least I have this Uproxx take I can now peruse that will have to suffice for a bonus of some degree…..

Alrighty, I just finished the Uproxx 27 years later take on LAH and we share a lot of similarities. Uproxx’s Mike Ryan thesis is that LAH was too meta and ahead of its time in 1993, but perfect for a 2020 viewing experience. I could not agree with him more, and he grinds out the little references and meta-details more eloquently than I can here, so I highly urge you all to give his editorial a perusal. One key takeaway from Ryan’s article on why Last Action Hero came and went back then was because it made the big time mistake of releasing one week after Jurassic Park. No wonder it is not brought up with other classic Arnold films over the years. I am right there with Ryan on how LAH is an absolute marvel of a film, and if it has slipped by you all these years later then now is the perfect time to watch it in these pandemic times with zero movies hitting theaters nowadays. 1993’s Last Action Hero is the ideal 2020 summer blockbuster! BONUS EXTRAS TO COMPENSATE FOR BLURAY’S ABSENCE OF ANY Click or press here to check out this awesomely through ‘Did You Know’ style breakdown of facts and backstage filming secrects from Mental Floss Here is an incredibly thorough two part oral history of LAH complete with interview excerpts from the cast and crew And I will leave you with Cinemassacre’s ‘Rental Review’ roundtable of Last Action Hero….

Other Random Backlog Movie Blogs 3 12 Angry Men (1957) 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown 21 Jump Street The Accountant Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie Atari: Game Over The Avengers: Age of Ultron The Avengers: Infinity War Batman: The Dark Knight Rises Batman: The Killing Joke Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Bounty Hunters Cabin in the Woods Captain America: Civil War Captain America: The First Avenger Captain America: The Winter Soldier Christmas Eve Clash of the Titans (1981) Clint Eastwood 11-pack Special The Condemned 2 Countdown Creed I & II Deck the Halls Detroit Rock City Die Hard Dredd The Eliminators The Equalizer Dirty Work Faster Fast and Furious I-VIII Field of Dreams Fight Club The Fighter For Love of the Game Good Will Hunting Gravity Grunt: The Wrestling Movie Guardians of the Galaxy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Hell Comes to Frogtown Hercules: Reborn Hitman I Like to Hurt People Indiana Jones 1-4 Ink The Interrogation Interstellar Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Jobs Joy Ride 1-3 Major League Man of Steel Man on the Moon Man vs Snake Marine 3-6 Merry Friggin Christmas Metallica: Some Kind of Monster Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge National Treasure National Treasure: Book of Secrets Not for Resale Pulp Fiction The Replacements Reservoir Dogs Rocky I-VIII Running Films Part 1 Running Films Part 2 San Andreas ScoobyDoo Wrestlemania Mystery The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Shoot em Up Slacker Skyscraper Small Town Santa Steve Jobs Source Code Star Trek I-XIII Sully Take Me Home Tonight TMNT The Tooth Fairy 1 & 2 UHF Veronica Mars Vision Quest The War Wild Wonder Woman The Wrestler (2008) X-Men: Apocalypse X-Men: Days of Future Past

[parrafo451]

The Best Films of 2017

By Zeke Trautenberg

During this tumultuous year, the movie theater was a site of refuge, introspection, and conflict. The year began with Donald Trump’s travel ban, an executive order which represented a challenge to openness and freedom of exchange. In response, the filmmakers nominated for the Best Foreign-language Film at the Academy Awards released a defiant statement, in which they extolled film as a cosmopolitan remedy to the politics of nativism: “So we’ve asked ourselves: What can cinema do? Although we don’t want to overestimate the power of movies, we do believe that no other medium can offer such deep insight into other people’s circumstances and transform feelings of unfamiliarity into curiosity, empathy and compassion – even for those we have been told are our enemies.”

The second half of 2017 was no less tumultuous. The revelations of dozens of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, first revealed in The New York Times and The New Yorker, ushered in the most significant reshaping of the power dynamics of Hollywood in the industry’s history. Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra, Salma Hayek, and the hundreds of other brave women and men who have come forward with their stories of abuse at the hands of Weinstein and other men in Hollywood have brought about a sea change in the culture at large. Ultimately, reforming the film industry’s toxic workplace cultures and practices, will require fixing the longstanding discrimination against and lack of opportunities for women and minorities in Hollywood.

Amid the charged partisan atmosphere of the country and the fallout from the Weinstein scandal, the film industry continues to adapt to an increasingly digital world. The proposed merger of Disney and Fox is a response to the growing clout, budget, and subscriber base of Netflix. This mega merger may well as a sign of things to come as studios consolidate to stave off competition from Amazon, Apple, and Netflix.

The list that follows is the product of my year at the cinema (and in front of my TV). I did not have the chance to see every one of the acclaimed or terrible films (here’s looking at you Geostorm) released in American cinemas this year, but all the movies listed here are worthy of your time.

10. Endless Poetry

Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky

Throughout his peripatetic career, Jodorowsky has returned time and again to his favorite subject: himself. Endless Poetry is a filmic memoir, which unfolds in nineteen-fifties Santiago, as a young Jodorowsky (played by the filmmaker’s son, Adán) comes of age as a poet. As occurs in The Dance of Reality (2013)—which is based on Jodorowsky’s youth in a small town in northern Chile—, Endless Poetry features repeat, direct interventions by Jodorowsky himself. In Endless Poetry Jodorowsky conjures imaginative sequences, production design, and characters amid his oppressive home life. One memorable sequence depicts the bedroom walls of fellow poet Enrique Lihn’s bedroom covered from floor to ceiling in scribbling. This three-dimensional page serves as a mirror to the film itself, in which present, past, and future intersect.

9. Ladybird

Director: Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig’s first film is a coming-of-age story about a young woman in Sacramento in the early 2000s. The film follows Lady Bird (Saroise Ronan) during her senior year at Catholic school as she takes up theater, loses her virginity, and goes to prom. The film is laugh-out-loud funny and features a stellar cast, which includes Laurie Metcalf, Beanie Feldstein, and Tracy Letts. In addition to portraying the pratfalls of young adulthood, the film depicts the frustrated pursuit of respectability and economic insecurity among middle-class Americans in the years leading up to the Great Recession.

8. I Am Not Your Negro

Director: Raoul Peck

Raoul Peck’s documentary is based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House about the civil rights leaders Medgar Evars, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Now (1965), another film about race in America by a director from the Caribbean, Peck’s film is a confrontational call to action. Peck juxtaposes the Black Lives Matter movement and police violence against African Americans with Baldwin’s searing analysis of race in twentieth-century America. The film underscores the connections these two periods by bookending the film with images of recent protests against police brutality, but leaves viewers to draw their own conclusions about where the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter intersect. In his voice-over narration, Samuel L. Jackson channels the author’s stoicism and resolve and delivers one of the most potent performances of his career.

7. Icarus

Director: Bryan Fogel

There is always a certain lack of control in documentary filmmaking. The limited control filmmakers have over the ways their narrative unfolds is part of what distinguishes documentaries from fiction films. Bryan Fogel’s Icarus is a wonderful example of the ways in which documentary filmmaking is an adaptive art form. What begins as a story about an amateur cyclist who subjects himself to a rigorous doping regimen, transforms mid-way into a geopolitical thriller about a Russian sports scientist at the heart of one of the biggest scandal of modern sports: the systematic, state-sponsored doping of Russian athletes across decades. The scientist in question, Grigory Rodchenkov, is the kind of colorful character— his wardrobe includes bright orange shorts—that documentary filmmakers dream of. As the danger for Rodchenkov increases, Fogel grapples with how to intervene and tell a story that is no longer his own.

6. After the Storm

Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda

After the Storm tells the story of Ryota (Hiroshi Abe), a divorced father and novelist as he grapples with how to be a father after his recent divorce. Ryota works as a private detective, while struggling to write a second novel. However, instead of paying his alimony, the gumshoe spends his salary on his gambling habit. Abe communicates the protagonist’s sense of perpetual exhaustion and weariness with his slouched shoulders and hangdog expression. Ryota loves his son, but struggles to be a good father. The distance between father and son is exemplified by a memorable scene in which the author and detective watches his child play baseball with binoculars while sitting in his car. The film climaxes during a nocturnal summer storm which traps Ryota, his ex-wife, and son in the same apartment. As the rain falls, the fractured family renews the terms of their relationship and Ryota forges a closer bond with his son by sharing memories of his own childhood.

5. Call Me By Your Name

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Luca Gaudagnino is a master of the contemporary melodrama. His previous films I Am Love (2009) and A Bigger Splash (2015) unfold in settings heavy with symbolism—an old house, an island in the Mediterranean—and Call Me By Your Name is no exception. Guadagnino transforms a villa in Northern Italy into the site of first romance for Elio (Timothée Chalamet). The arrival of the handsome Oliver (Armie Hammer), who is there to assist Elio’s father with archaeological research, elicits a potent mixture of self-doubt, shame, and desire from the cosmopolitan teenager. Although the film depicts Elio’s emotional turmoil with an earnestness that may grate on some, its emphasis on naked feeling and passion is all part of its bittersweet fun. And if you need one reason to see Call Me By Your Name, stay for Michael Stuhlbarg’s monologue on life, love, and the loss, which is the single most memorable scene of the year.

4. Frantz

Director: François Ozon

François Ozon’s Frantz follows Adrien (Pierre Niney) and Anna (Paula Beer), two characters who are bound together by the same man, the recently deceased Frantz. Set in the aftermath of World War I, the film is an allegory of Franco-German relations, but also an exploration of guilt and the horrors of war. Shoot in gorgeous black and white, the film’s visuals are a departure for Ozon, who uses color to great effect in Potiche (2010) and The New Girlfriend (2014). Like these earlier films, Frantz features magnificent costumes (designed by Pascaline Chavanne), and a healthy dose of melodrama. And, as in In the House (2012), Frantz revels in the slippery nature of fiction. Ozon challenges viewers to discern the reason for Frantz’s visit to Germany and the meaning of the sentimental stories the interloper tells Anna’s grieving family.

3. The Shape of Water

Director: Guillermo Del Toro

The Shape of Water had been swimming around in Guillermo Del Toro’s head for years, before he got the idea that made it all click: the story had to pass “through the service entrance.” Set in the 1960s, the film follows the mute Elisa (Sally Hawkins) works as a janitor at a top-secret research facility—a recurring setting in Del Toro’s films—where scientists study a creature they captured from a river in the Amazon. Elisa falls in love with the creature, who like her cannot speak. Together with her gay artist neighbor (Richard Jenkins) and black co-worker (Octavia Spencer), Elisa sets out to free the creature from the lab and its vicious director of security (Michael Shannon). The film is an allegory of being different in a world built on the principles of order and knowing your place. Working with a budget of under twenty million dollars, Del Toro makes a film that looks many times more expensive. The production design incorporates art deco and modernism, with acute attention to detail. The special effects are also remarkable. For the underwater scenes, Del Toro used the dry-for-wet method, which involves suspending the actors and props on wires, pumping in smoke, using fans to create the illusion of movement, utilizing light caustics (projecting images of light in water), and shooting it all in slow motion.

2. Get Out

Director: Jordan Peele

A horror film and social satire, Get Out is an incisive depiction of race and racism in early-twenty-first century America. The film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams) as they embark on a weekend visit to Rose’s parents. As Chris and viewers see more of this WASPy household, which is seemingly haunted by a silent black maid and gardener, the manicured lawn and colonial style house transform into a nightmarish prison. The hypnosis sessions with Rose’s mother (Catherine Keener), in which Chris travels to the “sunken place,” is a frightening and vivid metaphor for black experience in America. The allegorical qualities of the film are enhanced by its pitch-perfect incorporation of the horror genre, from the eerie drive through the woods to the hidden laboratory in the basement.

1. Wormwood

Director: Errol Morris

The genre and medium-bending Wormwood is a film of the streaming age. This documentary-cum-series with a running-time of four hours was produced and released by Netflix in six parts and released in a limited run as a stand-alone film. Wormwood centers on the death of Frank Olson (played by Peter Sarsgaard in the fictional scenes), an Army doctor who died after falling to his death from his New York City hotel room in 1953. Errol Morris interviews Olson’s son, Eric who has dedicated much of his life to finding out what happened to his father. The Cold War, biological weapons, Hamlet, the Book of Revelation, and the misdeeds of the CIA intersect in this Russian Doll of a film. Morris offers a masterclass in the juxtaposition of sound and images, the use of split screen (the scenes with Eric Olson were shot with ten cameras), and, as A.O. Scott puts it, dogged cinematic sleuthing. The film’s use of fictional sequences alongside the talking head interviews and archival footage that are standards of the documentary genre, add depth to a film about the nature of truth and the pain of the search for truth. Towards the end of Wormwood, the investigative reporter Seymour Hersh tells Morris: “But don’t you know how wonderful it is not to have an ending?” In lieu of offering closure to the story of Frank Olson, Wormwood douses the viewer in a bitterness for which there is no salve.

Honorable Mentions

Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan

Graduation – Cristian Mungiu

It Comes at Night – Trey Edward Shults

Loveless – Andrey Zvyagintsev

Marjorie Prime – Michael Almereyda

Quest – Jonathan Olshefski

The Florida Project – Sean Baker

The Lost City of Z – James Gray

The Other Side of Hope – Aki Kaurismäki

The Unknown Girl - Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne

Photos: Warner Bros./ABCKO/A24/Magnolia/Netflix/Gaga/Sony Pictures Classics/Fox Searchlight/Universal/Netflix

[detroitspeed]

undefined

Remember when Dale Earnhardt Jr. borrowed Barry's sweet Detroit Speed "Equipped" 1968 Chevrolet Camaro?! You can see its cameo in the HISTORY channel special "The Cars That Made America."

This 3 episode series is a part of History's #CarWeek and you can see part 3 tonight at 8/7c or check out the first 2 episodes with the link below...

The Cars That Made America: https://goo.gl/6iEcn9

[stevedonnellyfaith-blog]

Darkness and Light (Post 54) 9-10-14

                        I flicked on the television on Saturday and was surprised that it was tuned to a news channel. Because it is only Stephen and I at home, I asked Abby to cancel our satellite service, but she hasn't gotten around to it yet. I record some car shows and soccer occasionally to watch while I decompress after work, but that is time that would be better spent reading anyway. Stephen is generally too distracted to turn on the television, but he must have been watching something on Fox News because the show that came on was 13 Hours in Benghazi.   The show transfixed me.

I have read quite a bit of military history over the years, but I prefer military history to be the straight truth without revisionism or embellishment. Discussions about the attack in Benghazi tend to focus on boring politics rather than about the sacrifice of the men who died there. 13 Hours in Benghazi, on the other hand, was about what actually happened on the ground as told by the special operators who were there. I decided the car shows could wait. Jesus once explained to us that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend. With the anniversary of September 11th this week, the sacrifice of people that run towards gunfire and burning buildings is on my mind. Taking time to watch a show about what happened in Libya seems little enough sacrifice to pay homage to a much more significant sacrifice on the part of men whose calling is to keep us safe.

I watched the rest of the program. At times it was excruciating, but the ache was healthy. The three special operators that wrote and lived the story explained how things went down and the circumstance of the death of their friends. When one couldn't talk through the pain, one of his buddy's would take up the story. They acted as a team even in this.

Each of them is devoutly Christian; each is also a loving father of a family. They were in Benghazi not because they revel in violence and death, but because evil men walk the earth and their vocation was to protect the innocent from the malevolent. While Christianity is a peaceful religion, it is also possible to be a Christian warrior. Every shepherd carries a crook and David was very capable with a sling in his youth and with a sword in his adulthood. I have read that every angel carries a blade and will continue to defend heaven until the last day, after which, with evil banished forever, their weapons and watchfulness will no longer be required. For the present, there exists great evil in the world, a state made apparent with each subsequent beheading, school shooting, murder and rape. It is perfectly natural that the Body of Christ should have a hand that can, at need, become a fist. As often as possible that hand should be used to help others, but for every Solomon that has served the Lord, there has also been a Joshua or a Judas Maccabeus.

It concerns me that our country may one day fail to provide a generation of soldiers fit to defend justice. Culturally we are drinking deeply from a poisonous draught in which right and wrong no longer stand in opposition. There no longer seems to be a choice between a white door and a black door; we have imagined a gray one that has never existed before. For every heroic television protagonist there is a serial killer protagonist or a methamphetamine cooker. Dissatisfied with goodness, adolescents now play video games in which they are assassins or violent felons. This is not a totally new phenomenon in America as Bonny, Clyde and Billy the Kid were portrayed as contemporary Robin Hoods in the media of their day - minus the giving to the poor part. What is a modern innovation is the idea that when someone beheads another person, we ought to animate the act with realism for an upcoming version of Jihadi Killers IV. A beheading ought to inspire our condemnation and our prayers for the victims as well as the warped immortal souls of the perpetrators.

We need to be careful of the impact of the jaundice of relativism on our ability to discern good from evil. There is no moral equivalence between the values that Maximilian Kolbe lived by and the values of the commandant of the prison camp where the saint gave his life. The bravery of the firefighters that I watched stride into the World Trade Center was admirable. The "courage" of the hijackers was misguided and reprehensible. Good and evil are objectively different. As Catholics we believe that the truth of the Natural Law written ineligibly on our hearts; truth is not written with an Expo pen on a dry erase board.

Within each of us there is both good and evil in opposition. In our prevailing culture there seems to be a belief that good and evil can exist in a soul in a kind of perpetual stasis like chocolate swirl ice cream. Modern thinking holds that nothing is purely dark or perfectly light; everything is jamocha. As a Catholic, I believe that my soul is always headed towards purity or degradation. Each act brings me closer to the darkness or towards the light. There is no standing still. When I chose wrongly, I need to make a U turn back to the light with a stop at the confessional on the way.

At one point during 13 Hours in Benghazi an operator describes aman with a cell phone that walked up the street next to the compound that served as their Alamo and returned in the direction from which he came. The special operator chose not to shoot him even though he was probably using the GPS capability of his phone to triangulate the mortar attack which later killed two teammates, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. The operator's decision was a moral one consistent with his training in the United States military. The pedestrian could have been a random non-combatant. The operator made a choice reinforced through discipline, an ingredient of most objectively right decisions.

Many modern people argue against the existence of a conscience. They say that when they make a decision in opposition to what we believe is the objective Natural Law they feel no remorse or cognitive dissonance caused by what we would call their transgression. The existence of terrorists, sociopaths and moral relativists can trouble faithful Christians because they don't seem subject to guilt. Their moral compass seems to be scrambled or broken. The conscienceless disturb people who are seeking salvation because if there is a Natural Law there must be guilt. If the lawbreakers don't suffer guilt, doesn't that put into question the idea that Natural Law is written on all our hearts?

In actuality people that claim not to feel the pangs of conscience are either mentality ill or have trained themselves in a manner to their great detriment. When a person persists in sin, they serve Christ an eviction notice from their personal premises. It is not hard to see the signs of a person who has set out with determination to silence the still small voice that tells him what is right. Usually the person inundates themselves with booze, drugs, sex, loud music or any other obsessive activity in an attempt to drown the inconvenient feeling of guilt. Mortal sin is soul poison. It is not surprising that those who slather their lives in iniquity eventually meet their goal of immunity to conscience.

13 Hours in Benghazi was a good reminder to me that the world is bigger than Brentwood, California or even the United States. I watched three men that love their families but also think daily about their lost teammates. They look forward to reuniting with them one day in heaven. I am sure that there are many firefighters and policemen in New York that think similar thoughts. As for me, on September 11th, I will think of my friend, Pat Dunn, an upperclassman who watched out for me my plebe year. I will never know on this side of heaven if Pat did anything heroic as the jetliner bulldozed into the side of his workplace in the Pentagon. I am hopeful that his soul was in good order in his final moments. I pray for the salvation of all those that lost their lives in the attacks September 11th and in subsequent action like Benghazi. When I remember to, I also pray for the attackers. Let us all hope for Jesus' mercy.

[redcarpetview]

TV ONE HONORS WOMEN WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH CAMPAIGN AND PROGRAMMING SLATE TO "REPRESENT CHANGE"

      (SILVER SPRING, MD) - February 4, 2019 -TV One celebrates celebrates Black History Month with a tribute to inspirational black women and a full schedule of programs that exemplifies this year's theme, "REPRESENT CHANGE." The network is set to premiere a short form video campaign featuring influential black women who are impacting change in our nation, and their communities and families. Featured campaign participants include Kimberly Bryant, Founder & CEO, Black Girls Code; Monique Nelson, Chair & CEO, UniWorld Group; Mahisha Dellinger, CEO & Founder, CURLS Beauty Brands;Tamika Mallory, Co-President, Women's March; Luvvie Ajayi, Author/Cultural Critic; Elaine Welteroth, Beauty/Fashion Expert; Patrisse Cullors, Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter; Bilphena Yahwon, Author/Activist; Monique Brown, Baltimore Police Commander; Adrienne Lofton, Sportswear Marketing Expert; Yo-Yo, Hip Hop Artist/Activist; Cleve Mesidor, Activist/Technology Innovator; Michelle Rice, TV One General Manager; and Arielle Johnson, Founder, Fierce Empowerment. The campaign will feature 30-second on-air interstitials that highlight the women speaking on the impact of action and change. Across its digital and social platforms, TV One will feature in-depth profiles documenting their start, their struggle and ultimately, how they became champions of change. Both elements of the campaign will run throughout February.

        "This is a pivotal time for women of color in our nation and we're proud to amplify the voices of women who are influencing change in our society as part of our Black History Month programming," said General Manager Michelle Rice. "TV One will also feature programs highlighting the rich stories of women behind the Civil Rights Movement and other heroes who changed the course of American history."

       While the network focuses all year long on all facets of Black life and culture, Black History Month on TV One is a special time to honor the tremendous contributions that African Americans have made throughout the world.  Every Wednesday beginning Wednesday, February 6 at 9 p.m. ET, the network will air movies that celebrate women at the forefront of important moments in history, including the TV One original film BEHIND THE MOVEMENT, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, CADILLAC RECORDS and THE WATSON'S GO TO BIRMINGHAM. Additionally, TV One will present weekly themed episodes of its signature series UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD beginning Wednesday, February 6 at 8 p.m. ET featuring female artists who've inspired change that will lead into the feature movie presentations. Featured actresses include celebrated performers Vanessa Bell Calloway, Pam Grier, Eartha Kitt and Sheryl Lee Ralph.  The popular franchise UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD profiles some of the most talented, versatile, and influential black celebrities in Hollywood, from movies and television to comedy, sports, and more.

       Rounding out the network's Black History Month line-up is a three-day marathon of the classic sitcom "Good Times" in honor of the show's 45th anniversary on February 8. The "Good Times" marathon begins on Friday, February 8 at 10 a.m. ET and airs through Sunday, February 10 until 4:30 a.m. ET.

                ORIGINAL AND ACQUIRED SPECIALS, SERIES AND MOVIES

          UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD: Vanessa Bell Calloway

Airs: Wednesday, February 6 at 8 p.m. ET

Eight time NAACP Award nominee Vanessa Bell Calloway burst on the scene in "All My Children" and in 1988 she received rave reviews as Eddie Murphy's arranged bride in "Coming to America." Since then she's been featured in films like "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Biker Boys," "The Inkwell," TV One's Original Movie "To Hell and Back" and the popular series "Saints & Sinners." In this episode Vanessa gets real about her personal life, her career and the obstacles she has faced as an African American actress in Hollywood.

         BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

Airs: Wednesday, February 6 at 9 p.m. ET

Set during the tumultuous Civil Rights era, TV One's original film offers a closer look at how Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger launched the historical Montgomery Bus Boycott. The movie recounts the inner workings and behind the scenes preparation that took place during the three intense days between the fateful evening when Parks refused to give up her seat, to the launch of this significant protest. Starring Meta Golding, Isaiah Washington, Roger Guenveur Smith and Loretta Devine.

        GOOD  TIMES 45th ANNIVERSARY MARATHON

Airs  Friday, February 8  starting at 10 a.m. ET through Sunday, February 11 at 5  a.m. ET

        UNSUNG  HOLLYWOOD: Pam Grier

Airs:  Wednesday, February 13 at 8 p.m. ET

Pam  Grier rose to stardom in the early 1970s as a trailblazing black female  action star whose unparalleled beauty and fighting skills changed the  face of women in film. Pam Grier goes behind the stardom and provides an  intimate look at her most iconic roles and her astounding life.

                A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Airs:  Wednesday, February 13 at 9 p.m. ET

Based  on the award-winning play by Lorraine Hansberry, the 2008 adaptation  stars Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, Phylicia  Rashad and Sanaa Lathan, and tells the story of a family  living and struggling on Chicago's South Side in the 1950s. A fiercely moving  portrait of people whose hopes and dreams are constantly deferred,  "A Raisin In the Sun" was the first play written by an  African American woman to be produced on Broadway.

    *Additional  Airings: February 13 at 9  p.m. ET; February 14 at 1 p.m. ET; February 24 at 2 p.m. and  7:30 p.m. ET

       UNSUNG  HOLLYWOOD: Eartha Kitt

Airs:  Wednesday, February 20 at 8 p.m. ET

From  Broadway to the big screen, renowned international  dancer/actress/singer/activist Eartha Kitt shattered barriers on and off  camera.  Known for her highly distinctive singing style and  unforgettable roles like "Catwoman," Eartha was also a vocal critic  of the Vietnam War and an advocate for social justice issues. Through  exclusive footage and revelations from family and friends, audiences will get  a glimpse of the trials and triumphs she faced privately and publicly.

       CADILLAC  RECORDS

Airs  Wednesday, February 20 at 9  p.m. ET

Written  and directed by Darnell Martin, this biographical drama explores the musical  era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s and chronicles the turbulent lives  of some of America's musical legends, including Etta James, Muddy Waters and  Chuck Berry. The film stars Beyoncé, Cedric the Entertainer, Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def.

   *Additional  Airings:  February 5 at 9 p.m. ET; February 6 at 6 p.m. ET; February 17 at  1 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET; and February 21 at 1 p.m. ET

            UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD: Sheryl Lee Ralph

Airs: Wednesday, February 27 at 8 p.m. ET

Sheryl Lee Ralph has captivated audiences for decades. From her memorable portrayal of Deena James in the multiple Tony Award-Winning Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," and starring roles in films such as "The Mighty Quinn," "The Distinguished Gentleman," "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," to lead roles in sitcoms including "Moesha," she is a constant in Black Hollywood. Sheryl is also a preeminent AIDS activist, founding the D.I.V.A. organization which aims to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS. Sheryl shares her journey on and off the screen in this episode.

        THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM

Airs: Wednesday, February 27 at 9 p.m. ET

Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement in 1963, this film follows a tight-knit African American family living in Flint, MI.  When the eldest son begins to get into trouble, the parents decide to send him to Alabama under the guidance of his grandmother. The entire family travels there together by car and during their visit, they find themselves involved in life-changing events. Featured cast members include Wood Harris, Anika Noni Rose, Skai Jackson and David Alan Grier.

       For more information about TV One's Black History Month visit www.tvone.tv and check out TV One's  YouTube Channel. Viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram  and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tag #REPRESENTCHANGE.

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