#four brothers (2005)

[scuddish]

GARRETT HEDLUND as JACK MERCER FOUR BROTHERS 2005 | dir. John Singleton

[rainy-png]

jack mercer

source

[reveluving]

I love this man so much, I just want to cover him in lipstick-stained kisses 😫😫😫

[zoanzon]

God, I love the fact that one of the main lessons of Four Brothers is ‘even a gangster’s goons will unionize if you don’t treat them right’.

[detco-hell]

you know cone, some people actually gotta work for their status as the group's nerd :/

[episode 423 - The Detective Boys and the Four Caterpillar Brothers]

[jackmercerenthuiast]

☆Number - Jack Mercer x Reader

☆ idc Jack Mercer doesn’t have enough fanfics so I’m here to serve justice.

☆Would recommend listening to ‘You Can Be The Boss’ by Lana Del Rey

Content: Mentions of drugs alcohol, suggestive language, mentions of gang violence

~و✧…彡☆ - btw pretend Jack survived x

彡☆ 2005          19:36PM

‘This job is honestly ass’  I said to my most common customer, and closest friend, Sofi. It was true, I hated my job, it was a fucking shithole, I mean it was a dingy bar in the rough parts of Detroit, a little girl’s dream clearly.

‘Aye (name) don’t be so silly, it pays the bills, and plus, you get a lot of guys working here.’ She wasn’t wrong, I mean it did pay the bills after all but the amount of guys that I didn’t want? Uncountable.

‘I know Sof’, but they’re all ugly most of the time, plus, when they’re that pissed out of their minds, ‘no’ doesn’t compute easy, they got determination I’ll say that. Gets me a few tips I suppose.’ I laughed, cleaning the nearby table where Sofi sat. ‘Speaking of guys, can’t believe you’re seeing that Angel Mercer again!’ I asked, sitting next to her and nudging her shoulder.

‘I don’t like the way you said ‘Again’ but at least I have a man. Though, how old are you now?’ She asked, smiling at the ground when she answered about Angel, absolutely smitten, is the only words I could describe her.

‘Twentyyy... one?’ I questioned myself as I pulled out my ID, just double checking I was actually 21. 

‘You really think that checking your ID is going to help? How many fake IDs did you have when you were 17 to get cigarettes?’ Me and Sofi go back to when I was 17 and freshly moved to America, she lived in the apartment next to me and we’d been best friends since she welcomed me into the new apartment.

‘Shut up girl, this is a real one, and I am right I’m 21.’ I laughed, smacking my ID on the table.

‘Okay okay, anywho, Angel has a brother, Jack who’s the same age as you, and he got shot recently, he’s getting out of hospital today and a little birdie told me him and his brothers are coming here in an hour or so to celebrate.’ She suggested, walking over to the bar.

‘Oh yeah? Well from what you’ve told me the birdie is actually quite big.’ I smirk as I pour myself a pint from the tap, Sofi hit me on my arm, telling me to shut up in Spanish. I love Sofi but she loves to overshare about her sex life, but it’s fun to mess with her about it. 

…彡☆      19:54PM

A few moments passed, as me and Sofi just talked about random things, about how crazy it was that Victor Sweet had finally been killed, what Sofi wanted to do career wise etc. When all of a sudden, a bunch of loud men burst through the door, as I recognise a very familiar face.

‘Jerry!’

‘(Name)! What’s goin’ on baby?’ He said as he approached the bar, politely shaking my hand, Jerry was like a big brother to me, always nice and fair.

‘Nothin’ much, your wife know you here? I can call her right now if she don’t.’

‘Nah she knows, I’m truthful to my lady, and seeing as I’m so truthful, can we get a few rounds free?’

I laughed and nodded saying as long as I got tipped I’d give them whatever.

‘Bullshit Jerry, we all keep secrets here.’ A bloke in leather, with a goatee sort of thing going on says, laughing and hitting his back.

‘Man shut the fuck up before I woop yo’ white ass. (Name), these are my brothers Bobby, Jack and Angel, I guess you’re already acquainted with Angel here.’

‘Yeah man, it’s hard not to know who Angel is when all I hear in my apartment is those two getting it on.’ I say, lighting a cigarette whilst directioning my hand to Sofi and Angel.

Then I looked at Jack, and all I thought was ‘Damn he’s fine’.

‘So you lovely ladies want tables or are you gonna keep me company and sit at the bar?’

‘I think the guys are alright with sitting at the bar, right guys?’ Jerry said, asking his brothers, they all nodded and agreed as they took seats at the bar.

‘Can I get a beer?’ The one who I assumed was Bobby, asked.

‘Can you be specific, Guiness? Heineken? A pint? Half-pint? And I don’t know maybe a please?’ I chuckled, directioning to the amount of beers there were to choose from

‘She had you on that one Bobby, she’s very passionate about her alcohol.’ Angel said. 

‘And why’s that, you an alcoholic or somethin?’

‘No, I don’t know if you can tell from the accent but it’s just from being English really.’ I could see Jack’s eyebrows raise slightly, he was really cute.

‘Ah, I don’t know man just give me a bottle of Guiness.’

‘Please?’

‘Please.’

…彡☆           20:20PM

About half an hour passed before I finally talked to Jack, I slid down the bar, making my way to where he sat, leaving the rest of the brothers and Sofi to do whatever.

‘You’re Jack I take it?’

‘Yeah and you’re.. (name)?’

‘Indeed it is, what drink you want Jackie?’

‘I don’t mind really, can I get a cigarette? The hospital wouldn’t let me bring ‘em in.’ He laughed, god damn his laugh. I’ve known this boy for 45 minutes and I’m whipped

‘Yeah sure and I’m sorry to hear that you got shot by the way, you ‘re lucky you survived love.’ I could see him the try to hide the fact me calling him love got a reaction out of him, it’s not particularly uncommon for me to call customers love, but it’s usually older customers, just out of respect, though for him? I just said it to get a reaction.

‘Thanks, how long you been working at the bar?’

‘Not long really, few months? I’ve only been in America for a couple of years, I think four years.’ Passing him a cigarette and a lighter whilst taking a puff of my own.

‘Ah cool, how come you moved?’

‘I don’t know really, I suppose to just be with my mum, seeing as she wanted to just get away.’

‘Your parents split?’

‘Yeah but it was probably the best choice they collectively made.’ I laughed, pouring him a drink.

‘Fair enough, you do anything else other than be the only good-looking bar tender in Detroit?’ Um sir? 

‘Don’t flatter me Jackie, but yeah actually, I play the bass here and there.’

…彡☆ Jack POV  …彡☆

‘Don’t flatter me Jackie...’ Man, I haven’t even known her that long and I can’t help but want to take her out. 

‘Ah bass? That’s cool man, I play the guitar, before I moved back to Detroit I was actually in a band, believe it or not.’ Flicking my cigarette ash in the nearby ashtray, when I had an idea. I asked her for a pen and she handed me the one in her shirt pocket.

‘I certainly believe it, but anywho I can’t concentrate on your pretty face all night, I’ll serve some other customers and I’ll be back soon.’ She said winking at me, I felt my face go so warm, Sofi definitely knew I was going red, and to my misfortune, so did Bobby.

‘Woah Jackie, did the bullet knock the fairy out of you or what?!’

‘Shut up man, you probably haven’t been flirted with in the last 10 years.’

‘Sure fairy whatever you say.’

…彡☆    22:17PM     your pov

‘Okay boys we’re gonna leave now, because for some reason I got designated driver duty so come on! You too Sofi vámanos!’ Jerry yelled, dragging Sofi and Angel by the collars of their shirts, I laughed to myself as all of the brothers continued to leave in a drunken mess, the night was full of brotherly love, teasing and intense flirting between me and Jack, as he had more drinks he got more bold with how he spoke.

I was absolutely whipped, and as Jack left, he gave me a cigarette and said, 

‘Don’t light it right away.’ with a drunken but genuine smile, I responded, ‘Don’t worry Jackie I won’t, see you soon.’ and I pecked him on the cheek as I left for the room where I kept my coat to close up my shift, taking the cigarette with me.

Later in the night I was certain there was something I had forgotten to do, and then it hit me, I probably was meant to look at the cigarette or something, and then I thought, ‘Where’s the cigarette?’, and I trudged to my sofa and grabbed my coat, luckily the cig was still in my pocket.

I twizzled it in my fingers, when I saw numbers written on one side, and a note saying, ‘Call me - Jackie’ with a heart next to it on the other, that smooth motherfucker. I unravelled the cigarette, putting the nicotine in a spare pouch and attached the note to my fridge with a magnet with the intentions to call him in the morning.

…彡☆     The End!

Please let me know if you liked this, if so I might write a part 2 to it or just continue to write Jack mercer fics seeing as there just aren’t enough! Love ya x

[randomcapz]

Four Brothers (2005).

[adamwatchesmovies]

Four Brothers (2005)

While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...

Although the titular four brothers in this 2005 action film often come off as a quartet of *ssholes, the actors play off  each other well - enough for some audiences to like them. Their camaraderie and a couple of moments towards the end are unfortunately the only salvageable aspects of Four Brothers. All the subplots and red herrings make it feel like a season of a television series crammed into the running time of a single film - with all of the commercial breaks replaced by gratuitous action sequences.

After a robbery goes wrong and their mother is murdered inside a convenience store, her four adopted sons - Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), Angel (Tyrese Gibson), Jeremiah (André Benjamin) and Jack Mercer (Garrett Hedlund) notice some details about the investigation that don’t add up. The boys decide to take the matter in their own hands and embark upon a trail of violence.

There’s an unwritten contract between audiences and all good vigilante revenge films. You’ll forgive the protagonist (or protagonists) taking the law into their own hands because they’re fulfilling your fantasies. We've all been wronged and have all wished we could give the person who vexed us what they deserve. It's what we're waiting to see in a picture like this. Initially, you’ll be along for the ride director John Singleton sets but the brothers - particularly Bobby and Angel - take things too far. If you haven’t been turned off by their constant bickering and the avalanche of homosexual jokes, their wanton disregard for the safety of everyone around them and the cold-blooded murders they commit will. These "heroes" are nothing but glorified thugs. They're only "heroic" compared to the villains, who have their evil levels cranked to the max. To be fair, it is acknowledged by the film but script-wise, was there any reason for the two robbers who kill mommy Mercer (Fionnula Flanagan) to also be racists? Notice, by the way, that no one cares about the dead convenience store clerk. The little old white lady her murder? It sends the community into an uproar!

The story by David Elliot and Paul Lovett puts on a veneer of intelligence. There are so many red herrings and leads that turn out to be dead ends you’ll be constantly kept guessing. After the credits, you’ll realize much of what you saw didn’t mean anything at all. All of these subplots could’ve easily been eliminated. In fact, if they had, the story would’ve been much leaner and some of the more questionable story developments would’ve been avoided. Over and over, hothead Bobby either points a gun at someone in broad daylight or makes a huge scene and none of them are ever addressed afterwards. I know Detroit has a bad reputation but come on, this film isn’t set in the Wild West. The police officers we meet are simply the worst and the crown of stupidity easily goes to Terrence Howard’s character, Lt. Green. He sucks almost as bad as Mark Wahlberg when he tries to convince us he’s crying.

If you can look past the other flaws, what’ll probably do you in are the action scenes. It’s not an issue of shaky camera or of unconvincing pyrotechnics. The problem is that there’s too much of everything. The film’s final body count is outrageous. The destruction we see is comparable to a small war, not a personal vendetta gone too far. The need to escalate things leads the plot into tired clichés. The before-last scene is good but it’s followed by a truly awful moment. You can practically set your watch to it.

Four Brothers comes from the same vein as The Boondocks Saints but by being “better”, it's actually worse. Bad performances, overlong action scenes, a needlessly complex plot, perplexing decisions from the director… what makes this movie no good? Take your pick. (Full-screen version on DVD, April 13, 2020)

[ad-astra-per-aspera-1389]

help I just realized the professor of the course I'm taking on the Brothers Grimm looks vaguely like Ben Grimm from Fantastic Four (2005)

[scenemovies]

Four Brothers (2005) - Shootout outside the house HD

[mysunshinetemptress]

2005

Leah Williamson x reader

Warnings: I hate this but I wanted to give you guys something

You were born the youngest of four girls Amelia your eldest sister by ten years, followed by Ellie and finally Charlotte who although closer in age was still six years older than you.

Walking out the door you stood beside her mums car dressed in you new school uniform as you waited for your sisters to come barrelling out in order to go to school, you turned her attention from the hall door to the noise of someone shouting pass, looking down you spotted the blue ball before looking into the garden next door to see a young boy not much older then you calling for it, you smiled passing the ball back before asking if you could play. The young boy nodded as you stepped on to the grass of your next door neighbours front garden before running up to the older boy "my names Y/n I'm four and I start big school today." The older boy smiled at her "my names Jacob and I'm five it's my first day of big school today too." The pair smiled at each other before Jacob kicked the ball to you as you both started passing back and forth. Your older sisters had gotten themselves ready and out to the car searching for their little sister before noticing you next door "who's that she's playing with." Amelia asked looking at Ellie and Charlotte to see if they knew only to get a shake of the head stating they hadn't a clue. Amanda had walked out her front door with her daughter right behind her flustered that the pair were going to be late before stopping to watch you and Jacob "Jacob honey." Jacob stopped playing with the blue ball at the call for his name before Jacob turned back to you"I have to go to school now but I might see you later." You nodded smiling at the older boy "ok can we play football then as well." Jacob smiled nodding his head before bounding over to his Mum and sister as you crossed the threshold back into the front garden as your mum came out the door. The mothers smiling at each other as they rushed their children into the cars late to get them to school.

Later that day the Mums stood separate from one another waiting on their youngest to come running out of the primary school. Natalie your mum smiled as she watched you run along side the boy she recognised from earlier in the day "Mummy guess what." Natalie smiled down at you her youngest daughter moving some hair out of the four year olds face "Jacob my new best friend is in my class we sit beside each other." Natalie smiled at the young boy standing beside her daughter "hello and you must be Jacob, Y/n’s new best friend." Jacob beamed up at Natalie "I am and we are next door neighbours it's like we where meant to be friends all along." Amanda smiled walking over to her son and his new friend "hi sorry I didn't introduce myself this morning I'm Amanda Jacobs mum." Natalie smiled shaking Amanda's hand "we where both in mad rushes I don't blame you, I'm Natalie y/ns mum it's nice to finally meet the neighbours we have been living beside the past four years." The pair laughed as they began chatting you and Jacob dropping your bags beginning to play a game that ran through their imaginations like wildfire until Amanda shouted over to them "come on Jacob have to get your sister to training and then get you ready for yours." Natalie turned to Amanda "what type of training do your kids do." Amanda smiled at her "oh my pair are football mad Leah's Arsenal crazy like myself and Jacob takes after his dad as a Tottenham Spurs fan but he plays for the local under 8s team." Natalie looked over at you before looking back at Amanda "Y/n’s football crazy too unlike the rest of our girls she takes after my brother does your team have a girls team by any chance I might sign her up." Amanda shook her head "I'm afraid they don't but she could join Jacobs, I tell you what why doesn't she come over to ours after she's changed out of her uniform stick a pair of runners on her and I'll bring her down with Jacob tonight to see if she likes it, Leah used to play on it before she moved up." Natalie looked at her daughter before turning back to Amanda again "only if your sure." Amanda shook her head picking up Jacobs bag and beginning to walk to the cars " of course I'll drop her over to yours after." Natalie smiled agreeing before calling the kids over and separating for the time being.

Leah huffed trying to get her homework done as she munched on toast listening to her younger brother ramble on about his new best friend "and she's the youngest like me but she's also younger then me so technically I'm not the youngest anymore oh and Leah... Leah she likes football like us and she knows how to pass and everything  Mum said she's coming over and after we drop you off she's coming with me to try out for my team." Leah nodded along halfheartedly listening to him "that's nice buddy, why not go get changed while I finish this then we can kick about the back till mum says it's time to go." Jacob jumped from his seat running out of the room to get dressed in a hurry as Leah focused back on her homework. Leah huffed as the doorbell went getting up to get it as her mum shouted down to her "Oh hello, you must be Leah I'm Natalie and this is Y/n is your Mum about." Leah smiled at  Natalie before looking down at you as you just stared up at the older girl "yeah come on in Mum Natalie and y/n are here." The pair followed the young blonde into the kitchen waiting for Amanda to come down. "Oh perfect  Natalie I hope leah introduced herself." Natalie smiled looking over to the young girl finishing her homework as you let go of her Mums hand walking over to the kitchen table watching the older girl again. "What are you doing." Leah looked up from her work to see the younger girl standing right beside looking down at the books "my homework." You looked at Leah scanning her face "I don't have homework." Leah smiled at her "yeah Jacob was telling me here why don't you sit there I'm nearly done Jacob will be down in a minute and then we can play football out the back before we leave." You couldn’t help but look at Leah in shock "you play football." Leah smiled at you "yeah I do I have since I was your age." You nodded excitedly"but you play with your brother too." Leah nodded looking down at her work as she began finishing off her maths "my sisters don't play football with me." Leah looked up at you eyes softening as Natalie and Amanda stopped talking as they listened to the girls "I kick the ball against the wall but then Melia says it's really annoying so she makes me stop, Lellie has dance so she's to busy all of the time and Charlie plays with her friends down the road and says I'm to small to come." Leah put down her pencil again "well I'll happily play football with you anytime I'm home and Jacob loves playing football to so next time you want to play just come to us ok." You looked at Leah eyes filling with hope "Really." Leah nodded smiling at her before picking up her pencil before going back to work as you sat quietly content with just watching her.

[scuddish]

GARRETT HEDLUND as JACK MERCER FOUR BROTHERS 2005 | dir. John Singleton

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302

BOSS-A-NOVA!

They called it The Boss and for two short years it ruled the muscle car scene in the US, establishing itself as one of the greatest road and race cars of the era. Now, it’s one of the most collectible.

In 1960s US street lingo, if something was ‘boss’ it was cool, tough, the best. And the 1969 Boss 302 Mustang wore its badge with pride. It launched just four and a half years after the first Mustang was revealed to critical acclaim and record sales. Yearly updates to keep Mustang fresh in the face of tough new challengers from General Motors and Chrysler (particularly the Camaro) resulted in the once lean and pretty ’Stang muscling up, both in body shape and under-bonnet brawn, and the 1969-70 Boss models were the zenith of Mustang styling.

Thereafter, Mustangs became increasingly bloated and anaemic as the 1970s fuel crisis and stricter pollution laws cut horsepower and stylists lost their way; the rippling flanks and thrusting nose of the late 60s/early 70s cars gave way to boxy, bland designs. That early look would not be recaptured until 2005, when new Mustangs were given retro styling.

The Boss 302 was launched at the same time as its big-block brother, the Boss 429. Both were positioned as competition specials; Ford wanted to homologate its 302-cuber for Trans-Am and the 429ci monster for NASCAR. In fact, Ford went wild with engines between 1969-70, offering nine V8s – the ‘economy’ 302, 351 Windsor, 351 Cleveland, 390, 428 Cobra Jet, 428 Super Cobra Jet, 429 ‘wedge’, Boss 302 and Boss 429.

For the Boss 302, Ford’s high-compression 302ci small-block V8 was beefed up with four-bolt main bearing caps and redesigned ‘Cleveland’ cylinder heads with bigger inlet and exhaust valves, and ports that allowed the engine to breathe more efficiently.

These ‘semi-hemi’ heads were based on the Ford 427ci racing engine’s combustion chambers, and a balanced forged steel crankshaft and forged steel conrods allowed the engine to handle high rpms for sustained periods. A single 780cfm four-barrel Holley carburettor sat atop a high-rise aluminium inlet manifold, while a dual-point distributor, high-pressure oil pump, windage tray and screw-in welch plugs were further indications of its competition intent.

A rev limiter was fitted, progressively cutting spark from 5800rpm to 6150, but it was easily bypassed and the Boss 302 could reportedly keep making power up to 8000rpm with minor mods. In the muscle car marketing war, Ford claimed a peak horsepower figure of 290bhp at 5800rpm (the same as the Camaro Z/28), but that was extremely conservative.

Two four-speed manual Top Loader transmissions were available: a wide-ratio ’box with Hurst shifter more suited to street and strip use, and a close-ratio unit for racing. Adding to the race or road options list were four diffs: the stock 3.5:1 nine-inch, Traction-Lok 3.5:1 and 3.91:1 and the No-Spin 4.30:1 built by Detroit Automotive. Axles and diff centres were also strengthened to take the loads.

Suspension was also race-inspired with heavy-duty springs, shocks and sway bar up front, and Hotchkiss-style rear suspension with heavy-duty leaf springs, sway bar and staggered shock absorbers. The left-hand shock absorber was bolted behind the axle and the right in front, to reduce axle tramp under acceleration. Amazingly for such a high-performance car, braking was still only discs and drums with power assistance.

Ironically, the Boss 302’s sexy shape was styled by former General Motors designer Larry Shinoda, who is often credited with coming up with the Boss moniker. When asked what he was working on, he replied, "The boss’s car", a reference to new Ford president ‘Bunkie’ Knudson, who was also ex-GM and had recruited Shinoda to Ford.

While the wheelbase remained unchanged at 2740mm, the ’69 Mustang was 96.5mm longer overall to accommodate all the V8s offered, although the big-blocks still had to be shoe-horned under the bonnet. Shinoda’s ’69 Boss 302 was also one of the first production cars to offer an optional front air dam and adjustable rear wing, and his use of high-contrast black panels, rear window SportsSlats, and go-faster stripes made the Boss a real attention-grabber. The ’69 was also the only quad-headlight Mustang, a feature that was dropped for 1970 models.

In 1970, American Hot Rod magazine dubbed the 1970 Boss 302 as "definitely the best handling car Ford has ever built", while the conservative Consumer Guide called it "uncomfortable at any speed over anything but the smoothest surface". Unique Cars resident Mustang maniac, ‘Uncle’ Phil Walker, never read the Consumer Guide review, but even if he had it wouldn’t have stopped him buying the immaculate 1970 Grabber Orange Boss 302 you see here.

Phil already has his beloved 1966 Shelby GT350H, but the Boss 302 really got his Mustang juices percolating. And he wasn’t alone, because the first Boss he saw, some 43 years ago, is still one of Australia’s most iconic race cars: Allan Moffat’s Trans-Am racer. Phil remembers it clearly.

"I saw Moff race it Calder and I was inspired to own one," Phil recalls. "It was the most aggressive-looking car; its stance was something you had to see to believe. It looked like it was doing a million miles per hour when it was parked.

"My Boss was originally a one-owner car and I bought it from a friend of mine in California, Dave, who I also bought my Shelby GT350H from 19 years ago. Dave found it in a barn with a blown engine, but in otherwise pretty good condition.

"The lady who owned it from new didn’t realise it had a high-compression engine and had run it on standard fuel. When it blew up she just parked it.

"Dave did a nut-and-bolt restoration over two years, then put it up on his hoist. He didn’t want to sell it, but I got my way in the end – unfortunately he had the last say on the price (laughs). I didn’t even bother to test drive it; I knew it was a good car. It had 21 (new) miles on the odo when I picked it up and only 54,000 miles in total."

Since then, Phil has only put a couple of hundred miles on the car, but that’s enough for him to have bonded with it.

"I’ve only had the Boss since January and it’s growing on me. It’s different to the Shelby. It’s bigger and very low.

"The engine is incredible. Dave is one of the best engine builders in California and when he rebuilt the 302 he changed the cam spec. US camshaft technology was okay in the 60s and 70s, but if you had a big-cam muscle car they wouldn’t idle and they were terrible for driving in cities.

"A proper Boss engine can rev to 8500rpm all day and for a V8 that’s pretty serious. But they’re not renowned for low-down torque; it starts coming on from 3500rpm. My car still has a solid-lifter cam, but it pulls like a train from 1200rpm in top gear and I can drive it around at 1500rpm in top all day.

"It’s got the four-speed close-ratio Top Loader with the long first gear and with a 3.7:1 rear end it does about 55-60mph (89-97km/h) in first gear. It bloody goes!"

Phil is a fussy bugger and his cars have to look just right, so Russell Stuckey from Stuckey Tyres has ordered him a set of genuine 15 x 8 Minilites from England to replace the standard Magnum 500s.

"I want it to look like the Parnelli Jones race car, and to get the stance I want it’s going to have 275/60s on the rear and 255/60s on the front. At the moment it’s a pretty car that is tough, but I want a tough car that looks tough. And that’s all I’m going to do to it."

After his first real fang in the Boss, Phil felt that his Shelby would be half a lap in front at the end of a 10-lap sprint at Sandown, but now thinks the Boss would be quicker. We might have to put both to the acid test one day. What do you mean "no way", Phil?

It was a nervous Phil who turned up at a Melbourne storage facility in January to pick up his new Boss 302. So nervous, in fact, that he took along Unique Cars art director Ange and a sturdy tow rope – just in case.

The storage people were even more apprehensive – they had been warned about just how anal he is with his cars, as he explains: "The lady there said, ‘You must be pretty fanatical because we’ve been given strict instructions that no one is to touch the car except you’." Fortunately, the car arrived in pristine condition.

"I was pretty excited, I’d been waiting for seven weeks," Phil laughs. "I took the car cover off it, fired it up, and it drove home like a brand new car. It was as good as I thought it would be. I spent the next three hours washing it."

Sounds like our Phil.

PARNELLI AND ME

Three years ago, my mate Dave and I were invited to a Trans-Am dinner at Portland International Raceway where Dave was racing his 1970 Trans-Am Boss 302 and I was crewing for him.

When we were driving there we noticed this black Mercedes following us. When we stopped it did too and this bloke got out and said, "I noticed you guys back at the hotel. You’re going to the Trans-Am dinner aren’t you? I’m lost." It was Parnelli Jones!

I jumped in with him and when we got there I ‘invited’ myself onto Parnelli’s table, which also included Pete Brock – the guy who designed the Shelby Daytona Coupe. There was I, Mr Nobody, with all these US racing heavies, but Parnelli was a real gentleman, not up himself in any way.

The next day they had free lap time at Portland and, when I saw Parnelli there with Ford’s new ‘Parnelli Jones’ Boss 302 tribute Mustang, I asked if there was any chance of a ride and he said jump in. We did 10 laps and the guy hadn’t lost any of his ability; my eyes were getting bigger and bigger coming into the corners.

It was a great experience that I’ll never forget. – PW

IT's MINE...

Moff’s Mustang is probably the most iconic Australian racecar and after seeing it I was inspired to own a Boss Mustang. Then, about 25 years ago, I went to Pebble Beach in Monterey for the first time and saw a 1970 Grabber Orange Boss 302, which was the colour Parnelli Jones raced in Trans-Am. That day I knew I had to own a Boss. It was the car I’d always wanted after my Shelby, which was my lifelong dream car.

My Boss 302 is fully optioned, including the Shaker, extra side mirror, tacho and rear louvres, and it’s got a lot of wow factor. When you drive down the freeway, you get the thumbs-up from all sorts of different people. I think it’s the colour.

It’s closer to show standard than my Shelby. It’s got the paint marks on the tailshaft and all the little concours details, but I’m never going to show it; I’m not into that.

The 1969/70 body shape is still the best. Ford got it right then, but lost the plot after that and it’s reflected in their collectibility today. – PW

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

Read Palestine Week

🇵🇸 Good morning, my beautiful bookish bats. Can I start by saying a huge THANK YOU for sharing my Queer Palestinian Book post? Seriously, thank you so much. Let's keep that momentum by observing Read Palestine Week (Nov 29 - Dec 5). I've compiled a list of books to help you, along with a list of upcoming events and resources you can use this week and beyond.

🇵🇸 A collective of over 350 global publishers and individuals issued a public statement expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Publishers for Palestine have organized an international #ReadPalestine week, starting today (International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People).

🇵🇸 These publishers have made many resources and e-books available for free (with more to come). A few include award-winning fiction and poetry by Palestinian and Palestinian diaspora authors. You'll also find non-fiction books about Palestinian history, politics, arts, culture, and “books about organizing, resistance, and solidarity for a Free Palestine.” You can visit publishersforpalestine.org to download some of the books they have available.

POETRY 🌙 Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha 🌙 Affiliation by Mira Mattar 🌙 Enemy of the Sun by Samih al-Qasim 🌙 I Saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti 🌙 A Mountainous Journey by Fadwa Tuqan 🌙 So What by Taha Muhammad Ali 🌙 The Butterfly’s Burden by Mahmoud Darwish 🌙 To All the Yellow Flowers by Raya Tuffaha

FICTION 🌙 Gate of the Sun by Elias Khoury 🌙 Speak, Bird, Speak Again: Palestinian Arab Folktales 🌙 Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani 🌙 Morning in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa 🌙 Gaze Writes Back by Young Writers in Gaze 🌙 Palestine +100:Stories from a Century after the Nakba 🌙 Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh 🌙 Out of Time by Samira Azzam

🌙 The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher 🌙 You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat 🌙 A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum 🌙 Salt Houses by Hala Alyan 🌙 A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar 🌙 Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa 🌙 Minor Detail by Adania Shibli 🌙 The Woman From Tantoura by Radwa Ashour

NON-FICTION 🌙 Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour 🌙 Strangers in the House: Coming of Age in Occupied Palestine by Raja Shehadeh 🌙 Palestinian Art, 1850–2005 by Kamal Boullata 🌙 Palestine by Joe Sacco 🌙 The Hour of Sunlight: One Palestinian’s Journey from Prisoner to Peacemaker by Sami Al Jundi & Jen Marlowe 🌙 Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History by Nur Masalha 🌙 Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine by Noura Erakat 🌙 The Words of My Father: Love and Pain in Palestine by Yousef Khalil Bashir

🌙 Traditional Palestinian Costume: Origins and Evolution by Hanan Karaman Munayyer 🌙 Mountain against the Sea: Essays on Palestinian Society and Culture by Salim Tamari 🌙 This Is Not a Border: Reportage and Reflection from the Palestine Festival of Literature 🌙 We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I: A Palestinian Memoir, by Raja Shehadeh 🌙 Les échos de la mémoire. Une enfance palestinienne à Jérusalem, by Issa J. Boullata 🌙 A Party For Thaera: Palestinian Women Write Life In Prison 🌙 Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire, 🌙 Voices of the Nakba: A Living History of Palestine

[toasttt11]

introducing kensington

Kensington Grace Hughes was born July 3, 2005, making her the baby of her family.

From a very young age is was clear she had a natural ability in Hockey, She skated with an incredible speed and elegance that not many players had, Kensington has always seemed to have an ability to always be able get the puck into the net, from any angle, any distance, she could get the puck in just as easy from behind the net.

It was no surpise when she was one of the first picks of the 2023 NHL Draft, going second to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kensington was accepted into Boston College, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Princeton University, Harvard University, University of Wisconsin. Kensington didn’t want to go somewhere because her brothers went there she wanted to pick the school she wanted to play at, and it happened to be Boston College, she fell in love with the collage when she went there for the first time.

Kensington played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, breaking Jack’s record of all time points.

Kensington has always had a passion for music, loving anything to do with music and extremely enjoying how to learn new instruments. She’s a very great singer and if Hockey wasn’t her main passion she would’ve choose to have a career in music.

Kensington has always been a very sweet person, very caring and kindhearted, gaining the nickname Sunshine from her brothers when she was young and something that’s always stuck.

Kensington was known for being incredibly sweet but that doesn’t mean she always sweet like when she is on the ice. With three brothers of course they made sure she could fight, which is something she doesn’t usually do as she faster than most players in the ice and has no need to get into a fight.

Kensington has enjoyed fashion from a young age, something she shared with her mother Ellen, and then her brother Jack. At first Jack didn’t really care for shopping or anything fashion but he loves spending time with his little sister and mother so he grew to something he loved as well.

Kensington and Luke have a pretty close relationship having spent the most time together, especially with Jack and Quinn leaving home and Kensington and Luke still both being at home.

When Luke went to Michigan he was only a few minute drive from home and saw Kensington a lot especially because the USNTDP is based in Michigan as well, they could go to each other’s games pretty often. Luke ends knowing a lot more things going on in Kensington’s life then their other two brothers by having seeing her more often, Like Luke knows Kensington has feelings for Will Smith before she even realizes then herself.

Quinn and Kensington are very close and Quinn is definitely the one Kensington always goes to for advice most of them or just needing to be calmed down. Quinn tries to watch as much of her games as he can and if he is ever near by he tries to go see her play. Kensington always looked up the most to her oldest brother Quinn.

Jack has adored his sister from the moment he held her, his little best friend and his all time favorite person in the whole world, he’s very soft and sweet with his sister. His little sunshine has always been wrapped right around his fingers and everyone who knew Jack automatically knew who Kensington was as Jack is always bragging about his baby sister.

The three boys all absolutely adore their little sister, Quinn and Luke wanted a little brother but Jack hoped for a little sister and he was definitely the most excited for a sister, he even picked out her middle name Grace.

The three are all very protective of their little sister but also know to let her fight her own battles sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t do anything for her.

It was the USNTDP where she met the rest of her best friends Ryan Leonard and Will Smith. Kensington had joined the team with her best friend Gabe Perreault, the two met Ryan and Will and the four quickly all became best friends.

When Kensington was drafted to the Penguins within 24-hours she got a text or call from every player on the team, who all were very accepting of having a girl join their team soon.

The Penguins team all quickly grew to adore Kensington and by her first season playing they were very protective of their baby penguin, and other teams quickly learned not to touch her.

Sideny Crosby who is always keeping eye on kids in hockey leagues, had kept an eye on Kensington Hughes for awhile and was very hopeful she would get into the NHL, he was the first one to call her to congratulate her from the team. He took her under his wing and offered for her to stay with him and his girlfriend Kathy, during training camp.

Once Kensington moved to Pittsburgh for her first season, she got an apartment near Sidney and Kathy, the two always inviting her over for dinner and keeping an eye on her.

Evgeni Malkin and his wife Anna love Kensington, if she isn’t at Sidney house she usually at theirs. Their son Nikita adores Kensington and is always extremely excited to see her. The family started teaching her Russian.

[detco-hell]

yes ayumi, you are so correct 🙏

[episode 423 - The Detective Boys and the Four Caterpillar Brothers]