#michel roques

[jazzplusplus]

1965 - Comblain Jazz Festival

John Coltrane 4tet, Woody Herman et son grand orchestre, Nina Simone, Jimmy McGriff, ...

Albert Mangelsdorff, Franco Ambrosetti, Michel Roques, Jacques Thollot, Benoit Quersin, Félix Simtaine, ...

[grantmentis]

2024 Ice Hockey Women's World Championship: A Primer

When: April 3rd to April 14th. The schedule here will tell you when games are taking place both in your local time and venue time.

Where is it taking place?: Utica, New York

Where to watch:

For the first time, we will have ALL games broadcasted in USA and Canada. I am not sure how many games are going to be broadcasted outside North America, but we can reasonably assume they will at least carry their home country games

TSN will carry all games in canada

NHL Network and ESPN+ will carry a mix of the games together. See The Ice Garden's Michelle Jay's tweet for the schedule of which games are where.

SVT (Sweden)

Discovery (Finland)

Czech TV (Czechia)

Magenta (Germany)

TBS (Japan)

Swiss TV (Switzerland)

If you are not in any of these countries, or you are but are struggling to find a way to watch, please feel free to DM me and I will do my best to find you something

What is the tournament format?:

There are two divisions, Division A with the five ranked teams going into the tournament and Division B with the next five. Each division plays a round robin style ranking round, and at the conclusion the bottom two teams in Division B will be relegated, while the rest automatically make the quarterfinals. Quarterfinals will go A1-B3, A2-B2, A3-B1, A4-A5. In addition to the finals for gold that will take place, there will be a bronze medal game and a fifth place game for ranking. Standings will use a three point systems.

Who is in each division?:

Division A: USA, Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, Finland

Division B: Sweden, Japan, Germany, China, Denmark

Who are each teams?

Here is where it gets long. Below the cut I will tell you each teams roster, how they did last year, their reasonable goals, notable roster changes, and three players to watch. I will do my best to keep this informative, but brief.

USA

Roster:

(Text version available here)

2023 Result: Won Gold

2024 goals: Win gold again

Notable roster changes: This team continues to go very very young. Abby Roque is the most notable roster omission here. Top defender Lee Stecklein is also not on this roster, due to her taking a break from the National Team. Amanda Kessel was also left off, but she has not been active within the last year as a player, so not entirely surprising.

Three players to watch: Grace Zumwinkle has been one of the stars of the PWHL so far, and is likely to get more responsibility on the national team than ever before, so keep an eye on her and how she may translate her successful season to the tournament. Rory Guilday may only be 21, but she is heading to her third senior world championships, a long time favorite of the team USA coaching staff with her shutdown defensive skills who they'll hope can take another step this tournament with Lee Stecklein absent. Joy Dunne is the youngest player on this roster, just 18 years old coming off a 24-18-42 season in Ohio and a national championship. This will be her first senior level tournament, and I'd expect her to get ample offensive opportunities.

Canada

Roster

(text version available here)

2023 result: Silver

2024 goals: Gold

Notable roster changes: Micah Zandee-Hart is the most surprising one after being on the roster for a few years. Claire Thompson is absent as is Rebecca Johnston, but that is more expected while Thompson is finishing medical school and Johnston has not played in the past calendar year. Cousins Nicole and Julia Gosling join the team after strong rivalry series showings.

Three players to watch: Natalie Spooner is the front runner for PWHL MVP, so everyone will be watching to see if she continues to score at the rate she has been. Expected number one overall pick in the upcoming PWHL draft, Sarah Fillier, will be playing in her last showing before the draft happens as she finished out her college season. Nicole Gosling was the highest scoring defender in the NCAA this year at Clarkson, going 14-25-39 in 40 regular season games, so seeing how she impacts this blue line is a must watch.

Czechia

Roster

(Text version available here)

2023 result: Bronze

2024 goal: upset their opponent in the semifinals and make the finals

Roster changes: The bad news is top defender Dominika Lásková is out with injury. The good news is star goaltender Klára Peslarová is healthy unlike last year, as is blueline mainstay Tereza Radová. Alena Mills retired from the national team. Kristýna Pátková did not make the team this year, in her place comes Boston University commit Anežka Čabelová who had a stellar U18 worlds. Karolína Kosinová did not make the team, in her place is HV71 assistant captain Klara Seroiszková.

Three players to watch: 17 year old Adéla Šapovalivová was the highest scoring u18 player in the SDHL (Sweden's highest level league) this year and one of their top scorers in general going 11-18-29 in 32 regular season games. She was also a key part of the U18 team that upset Canada in the semifinals to advance to Czechia's first ever u18 final. With Mills retired, she will get more minutes at her third (!!!!) senior worlds. Next up is Klára Peslarová, and if you're not familiar with her game, she is straight up a top five goaltender in the world. She just came off a stellar season with Brynäs IF in Sweden where she had a .935 save percentage in 20 games, and has been consistently stellar on the international stage as well like when she had 55 saves against the united states at the olympics. Kateřina Mrázová is a fantastic playmaker has been a bright spot on a Ottawa tam that has struggled to find itself, and is also one of the most veteran members of this squad. If they win, she'll have to lead the way.

Finland

Roster

Text version available here

2023 finish: Fifth Place

2024 goals: Bronze

Roster changes: Two of their key offensive pieces Elisa Holopainen and Michelle Karvinen, are back and healthy this year! Susanna Tapani is also back on this team. Those are three absolute big pieces that completely change this roster for the better. A few depth roster forwards were left off in their place, most notably Kiira Yrjänen. Defense has more shakeups. Sini Karjalainen is a notable omission and long time defender Rosa Lindstedt retired. Eve Savander, Oona Koukkula, and Siiri Yrjölä slot in.

Three players to watch: I've consistently been a very big Elisa Holopainen fan and I think she's one of the best players in the world and not talked about nearly enough. Just as she began to really shine in the international stage, she got hit with injury, but as she's come back with year she dominated Finland's league going 32-25-57 in 19 games. I think I've put her as a player to watch like every year I've done a preview and I'm going to keep going it. Finland has faced a lot of questions about their goaltending following Räty and the team going their separate ways, but right now, it is Sanni Ahola's crease to lose. She was stellar in the three games she started last year for Finland in the world championship and was solid for st cloud state with a .935 save percentage in 17 starts this year. With Lindstedt's retirement, Krista Parkkonen will see more minutes, coming off a breakout sophomore year in a university of vermont program that's developed a decent amount of international blueliners.

Switzerland

Roster

(Text version here)

2023 result; 4th place

2024 goals: bronze

Roster changes: quite a lot of shake up. no Caroline spies as their mainstay backup, Alexandra Lehmann takes her place. No Sarah Forster, who wore an A and led their defense last time around. She only played 7 games in SWHL this year, so likely injury is at play.

Players to watch: it is, of course, the Alina Müller and Lara Stalder show until it isn’t. So, besides them, the players to watch are Andrea Brändli is another “top five goaltender in the world” to know, sporting a .937 in her first year playing in Sweden post a stellar college career. 18 year old Ivana Marie Wey just had a great year playing pro as Stalder’s teammate and will be important for the next Swiss wave. With no Forster, Lara Christen will take on a lot of the top defensive minutes most likely.

Sweden

Roster

(Text version available here)

2023 results: sixth

2024 hopes: return to group A

Roster changes: no Sarah Grahn which isn’t entirely expected but still a big change, in response Ida Boman gets the call. No Fanny Rask or Olivia Carlsson, who retired.

Three players to know: Ebba Hedqvist is a 17 year old elite center coming off a great performance at worlds and has an eye for playmaking that will be critical for Sweden. Maja Nylén Persson is the #1 defender of team Sweden that has consistently been the top defender by points in the SDHL and won defender of the year in 2022-2023, and she is only 23 years old. Another part of Sweden’s insane center depth is Lina Ljungblom, who will likely play in Montreal next year and had 46 points in 36 regular season games. In the various tournaments/friendlies that Sweden has played leading up to this (ie five nations cup), she has 10 goals in 15 games. These three players are truly some of my favorite in hockey right now

Japan

Roster

(Text version available here)

2023 result: 7th

2024 hopes: return to group A

Roster changes: honestly we mostly running this back. One or two u18 add ins but overall the same as 2023

Players to watch: stop me if you heard this before but Akane Shiga is very good. The PWHL Ottawa player is the only player from Japan to score against the USA, and will continue to be japans biggest threat. Another big player is Haruka Toko, one of the SDHL’s top scorers this year who had established herself as a top talent in the last two years. This year, the 27 year old had 13 goals and 30 assists in 36 games in Sweden this year. She was one of seven players in Japan to play in Sweden this year, a year that saw a new high in Japanese players going overseas to play. That also includes my last player to watch, Yoshino Enomoto, who played in switzerland and still put up around a point per game on a team that struggled (they folded in the offseason then came back and built their roster late and were ultimately relegated, but she was a bright spot in her first season there)

Fun fact: did you know three pairs of sisters play on this team? Akane and Aoi Shiga, Haruka toko and Ayaka Hitosato, and Rio and Riri Noro

Germany

Roster

(text version available here)

2023 Results: Eighth

2024 Goal: Make quarterfinals and avoid relegation

Roster changes: Both goalies behind Abstreiter last year, Chiara Schultes and Johanna May, did not make this roster with Hemmerle and Loist taking their place. The d core remains the same besides Daria Gleissner taking Heidi Strompf's place. National team vet Marie Delarbre is absent with injury, Sonja Weidenfelder did not play hockey this year and her status is uncertain, and Anne Bartsch did not make the roster. In their place we have Emily Nix, Lilli Welcke, and Lucia Schmitz.

Three players to watch: Luisa Welcke was with Germany last year, but has a second season in the NCAA under her belt and a nice depth player performance at Boston University. She will have more chances to show off her offense this tournament than in the NCAA, and I'm excited to see what she can show. Jule Schiefer had a revelation this year in the German league. From last year where she only scored 4 goals in 20 games, this year she scored 22 in 24. Let's see if she can continue this at worlds. Nina Jobst-Smith will play big defensive minutes for Germany after finishing her fourth season at Minnesota Duluth, this time serving as an assistant captain, and was nominated for 2023-24 All-WCHA Third Team. She's a two way defender who will be taking on big responsibility for Germany as she has in the past.

China

Roster

(Text Version available here)

2023 result: Promotion from Division I

2024 goal: Make quarterfinals and avoid relegation

Roster changes: Oh boy. So, like, a lot of people, and here is why: up until this tournament, China allowed dual citizens not born in China to play for them. This includes some players you may know from PWHL/NCAA like Leah Lum, Hannah Miller, Rachel Llanes, and Tia Chan. Going into this tournament, they changed the rules and those players will not be eligible, so it is a significant roster shakeup.

Three player to watch; This team is very young. Yifan Wang is 16 years old, and in her international debut scored 10 goals in 5 games in the WJC-D2A U18. This is obviously a gigantic step up in competition and very hard for a 16 year old to be playing against adults on the highest level stage of women's hockey, so I don't imagine she'll get a TON of ice time, but she is worth looking out for. Xin Fang is the veteran and star of this roster, who had 2 goal and 2 assists in the teams D1A tournament that earned them their promotion. 17 year old Dartmouth commit Grace Zhan is who I expect to be their starting goaltender. Born in Beijing, she spent the past year playing Minnesota High School Hockey and put up top numbers in a league that sees a lot of NCAA recruits.

Denmark

Roster

(Text version here)

2023 Results: Promotion from Division I

2024 hope: Make Quarterfinals and avoid relegation

Roster changes: Long time national team star and centerpiece of the team Josefine Jakobsen will no longer play for Denmark, though she will continue her club career.) Otherwise, despite some depth changes, it is mostly the same lineup.

Three players to watch: Frederikke Foss had a great year at Shattuck St Mary's u19 program and has committed to UMaine, and may be able to spark some offense Denmark will desperately need without Jakobsen. Silke Lave Glud will also be expected to carry the offense after her stellar year in the Tier 2 league in Sweden, and lead the way for younger players as one of the most experienced members of the team. Goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordström's performance at the D1A worlds was a big reason for their promotion, and she is coming off a great sophmore year at st. lawrence university where she had a .931 save percentage in 36 games and 7 shutouts. If Denmark wants to stay in the top division, she will need to steal a game for them.

[andrewmoocow]

Little Homeworld Life chapter 26: Hostile Takeover (originally posted on June 19, 2023)

AN: It has all come to this. The end begins here. The final episode of Little Homeworld Life is here at last, and after that will be Steven Universe: Snake Eyes. It has been an honor delivering such consistent quality writing to this fandom, and I'll be damned if I don't enjoy doing it again one last time before I finally decide to move onto other stories I've left to dry for too long.

Synopsis: Connie returns home from college just as Black Rutile takes over Little Homeworld and holds the Crystal Gems captive. With their alien friends in danger, the people of Beach City decide to repay the Crystal Gems by joining together to save them from Black Rutile.

Cast:

Grace Rolek as Connie

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Kimberly Brooks as Jasper, Skinny Jasper, Carnelian, Superfan Rose, Hippie Rose, Shy Rose, Cherry Quartz, Biggs Jasper

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon

Martha Higerada as Topaz

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, Doc, Navy, Leggy, Army

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald, Chest Emerald

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid, Eyeball Demantoid

Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope

Jon Wurster as Marty

Shanelle Grey as Sally Grove

Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite

May Calamawy as Chrome Chalcedony

Susanne Blakeslee as Pietersite

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, Famethyst, Tiger's Eye

Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl, Yellow Pearl, Blue Pearl, Volleyball, Black Pearl Brigade

Shelby Rabara as Peridot, Squaridot

Jennifer Paz as Lapis, Laz, Zuli, Phoenix Lapis

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Dee Bradley Baker as Lion, Concretes

Tom Scharpling as Greg

Matthew Moy as Lars, Dante

Kate Micucci as Sadie

Indya Moore as Shep

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Priyanka

Crispin Freeman as Doug

Andrew Kishino as Kevin

Reagan Gomez Preston as Jenny, Kiki

Godfrey as Kofi

Zach Steel as Ronaldo

Brian Posehn as Sour Cream

Lamar Abrams as Buck Dewey

Colton Dunn as Mr. Smiley

Toks Olagundoye as Mayor Nanafua

Joel Hodgson as Bill Dewey

Eugene Cordero as Jamie

Atticus Shaffer as Peedee

Billy Merritt as Mr. Fryman

Kristin Chenoweth as Sheena Synstylae

Nancy Linari as Martha

Brian George as Mr. Frowney

Jackie Buscarino as Vidalia

Aparna Nancherla as Nephrite, Lemon Jade

Ian Jones Quartey as Snowflake Obsidian, Bixbite

Michelle Maryk as Larimar

Auli'i Cravalho as Orange Spodumene

Kimiko Glenn as Blue Chalcedony

Tara Platt as Heaven Cubic Zirconia, Earth Cubic Zirconia

Tara Strong as Grossular Diopside

Phillipa Soo as Chrysocolla

Anika Noni Rose as Watermelon Tourmaline (fusion), Watermelon Tourmaline

Aimee Carrero as Moonstone

Gal Gadot as Desert Glass

Willa Holland as Albite

Maddie Ziegler as Serpentine

Courtenay Taylor as Beryl

Sarah Jessica Parker as Dumortierite

Cavetown as Diaspore

Emily King as Kunzite

Alex Newell as Monazite

Alyson Hannigan as Lavenderine

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Gina Torres as Andesine

Awkwafina as Kyanite

Allison Janney as Pyrite

Zehra Fazal as Zoisite

Lena Hall as Bloodstone

Jodie Whittaker as Xenotime

Idina Menzel as Amazonite

Halsey as Tanzanite

Mia Barron as Apatite

Sarah Stiles as Spinel

Christine Baranski as Hessonite

Olivia Olson as Citrine, Citrine Twins

Lin-Manuel Miranda as President Eduardo Suarez

Wendie Malick as Vice President Theresa Maxwell

GZA as Major General Wade Grant

Tim Curry as General Lloyd Waller

John Kassir as Reginald Johnson

Stephanie Beatriz as Arleen Suarez

Xolo Mariduena as Huey Suarez

Leslie Grace as Riley Suarez

Pierce Brosnan as Bane Jones

Hugh Jackman as Beckham Jordan

James Monroe Iglehart as Coach Matt Monroe

Karen Fukuhara as Makoto Fuji

Matthew Rhys as Dr. James Brenner

T-Pain as Sam Galley

Christoph Waltz as Francis von Bowling

Rob Paulsen as Mr. Shreds

David Kaye as Collar

Roger Craig Smith as Tank

Alex Hirsch as Lawrence Abrams

Zach Callison as Steven, Onion, Cactus Stevens, Topiary Stevens

Featuring Christopher McDonald as Carl Grove

And Betsy Sodaro as Maureen Grove

--

"It just feels so good to be bad." Black Rutile gloated to the Crystal Gems as she held them prisoner in a makeshift prison. Today had quite possibly been the best day she has ever had on Earth. Black Rutile had now converted multiple Gems to her coalition of rebels, whether by force or through coercion, her enemies were now hers to torment, and their precious Little Homeworld into her newest evil lair. "I haven't felt this utterly delighted to be victorious since the siege of Tweenis 12, I feel like singing! Maestro?"

Amazonite turned on a music player at her master's command, causing Black Rutile to sing a reprise of a familiar song. "Wither the rose! Growing shadows! Sow a world of chaos! Wither the rose! Only highs, no lows! In a world of chaos!"

"Is this really the time to be singing?" Pearl muttered as she tried to break free from her chains.

"Ha!" Black Rutile laughed in response before looking out at her various enforcers. "Come on minions, hurry along! Soon, Beach City will be gone! I could squeeze myself with glee, first the Diamonds and then this galaxy! I really stopped at nothing, gaslighting, terrorism, and lying!" she declared. "Whatever it takes to get revenge, you really can't blame me for trying."

Little Homeworld soon began hovering over Beach City, casting a dark shadow over a large portion of the town while the townies had no idea what was going on. Suddenly, the water holding the Gem village in the air began firing at the humans, making them scurry in fear as Black Rutile finished her song. "Wither the rose! Growing shadows! Sow a world of chaos! Wither the rose! Don't you doze!"

"This planet is basically ours!" Aquamarine sang along.

"We have control over its superpowers!" Eyeball added triumphantly.

"You are helpless to resist!" Holly Blue proclaimed.

"There's no way for you to persist!" Cat's Eye declared.

"Saying sorry just won't cut it!" Cinnabar boomed.

"This universe will be ours, bit by bit!" Andesine stated.

"You thought you could contain us," Black Rutile sang out in victory. "but you can no longer discuss!"

"Genocide, slaughtering, jingoism, in enemy blood, we shall wade!" the seven Gems joined together in harmony. "Rutile Rebels come celebrate, as we make these foolish Crystal Gems fade!" By the time the song ended, Black Rutile looked out at the destruction below her and began making a speech. "People of Beach City, do not look away!" she bellowed to the humans below. "You witness a Rutile's revival, and the birth of her new empire!"

"What do you want now, Black Rutile?!" Lars yelled from below.

"What I want is recognition!" Black Rutile responded. "As you can see, I have officially conquered Little Homeworld and taken the Crystal Gems as my prisoners. The means as to how it can fly can all be blamed on their dear friend, Lapis Lazuli." She looked over at Lapis, who was sitting on the Warp Pad with a blank look on her face. "Despite what the Crystal Gems believed, Little Homeworld was the aspiration of idiots and dreamers! A mere tool to indoctrinate poor, unfortunate Gems who were living lives free of their tyranny. But unfortunately for them, I am far smarter than the average Gem, so I continued planning my revenge for months on end, which leads me today." She then sent out her drones, ready to attack at any moment. "Either surrender to me at once or else your pathetic little town will go bye-bye! Bye-bye."

Down below, Jasper and White Topaz were watching the carnage the entire time, lying in wait for an opportunity to strike back at Black Rutile and save their friends. "So, any idea on how to stop her?" Jasper asked her girlfriend. "I mean, it's just a bunch of us Gems that she could convert at any moment with those Blasters."

"Well, one thing's for certain, Black Rutile has gone too far this time." White Topaz declared. "We kept giving her second chance after second chance, but she always used them to try and destroy us! I've had enough of this! Once we defeat her, she's going straight to Revanche 666 where she belongs!"

"Someone's got leftover issues they need resolving." Teal Zircon added as she popped up behind the two big Gems. "Okay, Topaz and I have spent the last few minutes coming up with a plan."

"If it involves doing something astronomically stupid, then I don't want in." Jasper stopped Teal before she could finish. "What makes you think you could come up with an intelligent plan?"

"Because outside of being the obnoxious but lovable comic relief, I am actually far more observant than you think I am." TZ declared. "Which is why I am 10,000,000,000% certain that my plan will work."

"I'd like to see you try." Jasper scoffed before White Topaz placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on honey, just hear her out." White Topaz suggested. Jasper knew she couldn't disappoint her lover, so she relented with a sigh.

"Okay, proceed." Jasper groaned and let Teal explain.

"I say instead of just saving the day ourselves, we team up with the humans to save the world from Black Rutile!" Teal declared proudly. "The people of Beach City have been around us long enough to know what to do in situations like this, and we've gained a few allies over the years to back us up."

"I get what you're saying now." Jasper nodded proudly. "Like him for example!" As if on cue, Dr. James Brenner walked up to the three Gems. "I found him falling to his doom when Black Rutile threw him out. He's her psychologist, ergo, he should know exactly what she's thinking!"

"You are indeed correct, Jasper." Brenner declared. "I have been forced to watch as Black Rutile's schemes took shape, hoping that maybe my advice would get through to her, but alas, my words fell on deaf ears. Perhaps joining forces with all of you can help me redeem myself for being so powerless to help her."

"Great, we have our first recruit!" Teal Zircon cheered while giving the psychologist a hearty slap on the back. "Okay guys, I'll go gather the troops! You two on the other hand will have to find a very special someone."

"Are you pondering what I'm pondering?" Jasper then asked White Topaz.

"I think so Jasp, but Pete Rose?" White Topaz replied oddly, making Jasper raise an eyebrow at such a non-sequitur. "I mean, can we trust him?"

"No, I think Teal means we should fetch Connie!" Jasper yelled. "You and I both know she's been throwing a wrench in Black Rutile's plans multiple times! Her first invasion of Earth, the Steven monster crisis, and the alternate universe business, all of them had Connie involved and she played some role in stopping them all! You see what I'm getting at here?"

"Yeah, I get it now!" White Topaz exclaimed. "To Connie's house!" Just as the two raced off, a small black spy drone was watching the pair and quickly began following them.

--

"Breaking news all the way from Beach City!" Lawrence Abrams announced on the news. "The alien terrorist Black Rutile is once again laying waste to Beach City, and at the same time, our beloved president has been subject to a violent uprising against legions of angry Arnold Clump supporters led by the alt-right Internet personality Reginald Johnson. Are these two events connected? We'll be back after the break with more updates."

"Sweet Manila in the claws of light." Doug Maheswaran gasped in shock as he and Connie watched Black Rutile's invasion on the news. "This is probably something Steven should take care of, right?"

"Hopefully he at least knows what's going on," Connie added as she prepared to reach for her phone, only to hear a knock on the door. "Can someone get that?"

"Don't worry Connie, I'll get it," Priyanka said to her daughter as she opened the door to find Jasper and White Topaz waiting for her outside. "Oh, you must be that Jasper and Topaz who tore apart Beach City."

"You are never going to let go of that." Jasper declared. "Anyways, we need to see your daughter. The world is in danger and we need everyone we can get to save it."

"Right here!" Connie exclaimed while she raced up to the front door with her sword at the ready. "Come on guys, the Crystal Gems need us!"

"Yeah, about that." White Topaz stated nervously. "They kind of broke up because Black Rutile exposed Bismuth for poofing Lapis and is now holding them all hostage at Little Homeworld. Plus, Lapis officially betrayed them to Black Rutile and is helping make Little Homeworld fly. You know what, I think I know of a way to explain this better."

White Topaz then turned her fingers into puppet versions of the Crystal Gems to further go in depth about their situation. "Hey, what's this I hear about Bismuth poofing me and setting me on this path of torment and betrayal?!" her imitation of Lapis complained. "Oh no, the jig is up!" an imitation of Bismuth exclaimed. "Okay, I did poof you, Lapis, but I didn't mean to!"

"Saying you didn't mean it won't save you from me!" the shadow puppet of Lapis yelled before lunging at Bismuth, only for Garnet and Pearl to stop her.

"Top thirty reasons why Bismuth is sorry." The puppet version of Pearl stated. "Number 5 will surprise you."

"Top thirty anime deaths," puppet Lapis continued. "number one: YOUR BUTT RIGHT NOW!"

"I'm just here to be supportive!" a shadow puppet of Amethyst said as she took Lapis and Peridot's side in the tussle, ending with White Topaz making "whoop whoop whoop" sounds as she started twiddling her fingers into a big clump. "And scene!"

"Okay, I'm going to need a refresher here." Priyanka said, shocked at the bizarreness of White Topaz's show. "What does this all mean?"

"Look, the point is that Teal Zircon and all the Gems Black Rutile didn't convert are gathering everyone in Beach City to fight back against Black Rutile, and we believe Connie is the best possible candidate to lead them all." Jasper explained in brief. "If anyone else wishes to join, you're free to come along."

"But what about Steven?" Connie asked. "Surely he'd know what to do in this situation." Suddenly, the tracking drone from earlier emerged from Jasper's hair, making her and White Topaz wonder if it was following them the whole time, and dropped into Connie's hands to deliver a message from Black Rutile.

"Ah, Connie Meka-Leka-Hi-Meka-Hiney-Ho-Swanson, we meet again." The hologram of Black Rutile smirked at her message's intended recipient. "If you are seeing this message, then you're already well aware of my latest revenge scheme and how frequently you've been playing a part in my constant failures. I would kill you and your parents right here and now, but I believe that would be too easy." The very thought of being killed by such a madman unnerved the Maheswarans. "Which is I offer you this challenge! Meet me at the flying Little Homeworld in ninety minutes to face me for the fate of your wretched world, and bring company too. And for an extra challenge, Steven must not get involved in the slightest. Lose, I will kill each and every single one of you. Win?" She let out an evil chuckle. "The only winner will be me, no matter what. Allons-y!"

The drone then shut down and crumbled to pieces of metal in Connie's hand. Despite the threat to her life, it only made her more determined. "Take us to Beach City."

--

Later at Beach City, Teal Zircon was true to her word and had assembled the entirety of its citizens and then some to discuss their plans to stop Black Rutile. Along with all the Gems that escaped Black Rutile's earlier assault, there was the Barriga family and the Off-Colors, Sadie & Shep, the former Cool Kids, the Pizza and Fryman families, Mr. Smiley and Mr. Frowney, Jamie, Kevin, Onion and his friends, Vidalia, Yellowtail, and Sheena Synstylae. In addition, Teal had also managed to get into contact with Bane Jones, Beckham Jordan, Matt Monroe, Makoto Fuji, and Sam Galley. Now, all that was left was Connie and her parents to make their makeshift army complete.

"My my Teal Zircon, you assembled quite an assortment of characters here." Brenner nodded at all the humans and Gems gathered together to stop Black Rutile. "But do you think this will be enough to stop her?"

"Oh, I know so!" Teal yelled excitedly. "You know those kinds of movies and TV shows where there's a team of people who cannot function together, but they pull through regardless? That's what I'm going for here. On our own, we're just a bunch of misfits. But when we're together, now that's something special." Just then, Connie, her parents, Jasper, and White Topaz appeared behind her from a portal created by Lion. "And there's our girl of the hour! Let's give her a hand!"

Everyone began applauding as Connie walked up to Teal Zircon. "Uh, hello everybody, thank you for inviting me to your little get-together. I'm afraid I'm going to need some catching up to do on what's been going on. I don't think a funny little puppet show is enough."

"Then allow me," Brenner said before he spoke to the audience. "As some of you may not know, our 'dear friend' Black Rutile", He put "dear friend" in air-quotes. "has enacted quite possibly her greatest revenge plot yet, and I bore witness to the fruits of her labor overtime as I was assigned to be her criminal psychologist. She has assembled criminal masterminds, bigoted online personalities, more old enemies of the Gems, and forlorn Gems looking for a place to belong. I have tried multiple times to convince her that she wasn't doing the right thing, but she kept ignoring me at every turn."

"Online personalities like who?" Ronaldo raised his hand, making the rest of the crowd turn to him. "You mean Sally Grove? I've had tons of arguments with her about the Gems before."

"Precisely that," James explained. "I have no idea why she is so cruel, but she seemed perfect as one of Black Rutile's top lieutenants, using her social media influence to gather more human followers through the Internet. There is also Francis von Bowling and his cohorts from P.H.A.N.T.O.M, no doubt brought in for their vendetta against the Gems too."

"Well, I'll be." Bane Jones muttered in bemusement while preparing a technologically advanced shotgun.

"In addition, Black Rutile is now joined by this Marty fellow, who claims to have his own grudge because Steven took his son away from him." James continued, giving him strained looks from Greg and Vidalia. "Together, these scoundrels have converted multiple Gems through these strange blasters built to brainwash anyone hit by them!"

"It's because of those blasters Black Rutile took away my crew!" Nephrite sobbed into Biggs Jasper's arms.

"She took out almost the entire Famethyst!" Carnelian added.

"And like, tons of other quartz Gems too." Chest Rose stated. "Me, my sibs, Biggs, Tiger's Eye, and Cherry are the only ones left."

"Hopefully what the Black Pearls said about finding a way to restore them is true." Cherry Quartz nervously said, looking over at the Black Pearl Brigade.

"So, what can we all do?" Beckham Jordan asked. "We're all just a bunch of humans and Gems who have no idea how unprepared we are for this! Heck, I'm just a star basketball player who knows more about how to score a point than fighting battles! What would happen if one of us were to die today? Besides, Steven won't be here to help us!"

"I promise you all, I won't let that happen." Connie declared before unsheathing her sword and holding it to the sky. "The Crystal Temps will defend this planet to the end!"

"Wait, is that what we're calling ourselves?!" Kevin yelled from afar. "Why not something cooler like the Substitute Crystal Gems, or something?!"

"It's very sentimental!" Connie hurriedly replied. "Now who's with me?!"

"I am!" Orange Spodumene yelled while raising her hand.

"I am!" Kofi Pizza and Mr. Fryman shouted in unison.

"And me too!" Sam Galley added excitedly. "Also, just want to get this outta the way, but I have a bit of a crush on Amethyst."

"Me three!" Lavenderine shouted, followed by a wave of excitement from the gathered New Crystal Temps.

"Aw, what the heck, I haven't got that long a lifespan anyways." Kevin resigned himself to the cause. While Connie proudly looked over at the crowd united for a singular purpose, she felt a familiar hand touching her shoulder.

"I'm in too." Priyanka proclaimed, much to her daughter's surprise. "After that hospital incident, I feel like it's time for me to get involved in your Crystal Gem business and be on the frontlines."

"Well, someone's a little eager." Brenner smiled at Priyanka before looking over at Doug. "And what shall you do for this, sir?"

"I think I'll go look into the Sally Grove situation." Doug answered. "Her parents deserve to know that their daughter is basically selling out the human race to Black Rutile. But be sure to call me so I can still join in."

"Black Rutile told me that I have to meet her in ninety minutes," Connie announced while looking at her watch. "Well, this announcement went by quicker than expected. Anyways, let's save the world!" The New Crystal Temps then began cheering for their grand leader.

--

Meanwhile, in the dark void of space, Revanche 666 was now completely abandoned following Cinnabar and Andesine's escape from the prison. Black Pearl guards, Bismuths, and Peridots were locked in cells formerly occupied by members of the Rutile Rebels, surviving on a false hope that someone would come to save them. However, two particular prisoners weren't meant to be there. They just wanted to get in, stop a prison riot, and get out. But fate had other plans.

"How long has it been since we were trapped here by Cinnabar's plotting and my own recklessness?" Hessonite muttered to Citrine as the two languished in their prison cells. "Feels like we've been stranded here for eons."

"It's only been a few weeks, Hessonite." Citrine stated. "But yeah, it really has felt like forever. I mean, it would take a miracle for someone to notice that we're stuck here!" Suddenly, the two heard something crash through the walls. "Well, what do you know?"

"Hey, anybody here?!" Spinel yelled as she and Lemon Jade emerged from a spaceship they just crashed into the prison. "The Diamonds were getting worried that something bad happened!"

"Over here Spinel, over here!" Hessonite yelled to Spinel. "Hello, it's me, Hessonite, and yes, I am exactly who you're looking for."

"Yeah, we haven't seen you guys since you went to stop that prison breakout," Spinel answered while turning her hand into a ventriloquist dummy resembling Yellow Diamond. "Old Yeller was like 'I fear something might've gone horribly wrong on Revanche 666. I need someone to volunteer to investigate.' Luckily, I was there to oblige."

"And I simply got dragged along." Lemon Jade added. "So what did happen?"

"We thought Andesine and her entourage had surrendered, but it was all a ruse she and Cinnabar set up to escape," Citrine explained to the visitors. "Now we're all stuck behind bars with no way to leave, no way of contacting anyone outside this prison, and no way to deactivate our cells. Do either of you have any bright ideas?"

"I got one! I saw this on a TV show once." Spinel replied before she leaned on the wall between Hessonite and Citrine's cells and gave it a hard knock, which somehow forced the destabilizing fields guarding the two to deactivate. "Ey!" she added with two thumbs up. "You can thank me later."

"Finally!" Hessonite sighed with relief while shaking Spinel's hand as she emerged from her cell. "But what about everyone else?"

"Don't worry, I got this," Citrine said as she walked out of her cell and straight to the control room.

"So, where are Cinnabar and Andesine now?" Lemon Jade asked Hessonite.

"The two of them are currently on Earth aiding Black Rutile in whatever harebrained scheme she has now planned," Hessonite stated while the prison staff was released from their cells. "We need to act quickly if we want to stop all of them in their tracks."

"Roger roger, live long and prosper and all that!" Spinel exclaimed. "Come on Jade, let's chew bubblegum and kick some butt! And I'm all out of bubblegum."

"I'm not sure if I'm equipped for a fight, but whatever you say, I'll follow," Lemon said as she, Spinel, Hessonite, and Citrine boarded the ship Spinel crashed earlier and took off for Earth to bring Cinnabar & Andesine to justice.

--

"Ocean Town." Doug muttered to himself as he pulled into Beach City's sister town, easily identified by a sign declaring "STILL NOT ON FIRE." His journey ended at a shabby but homely-looking one-story house where he pulled into the driveway before getting out and knocking on the front door. An overweight, middle-aged fellow with a receding hairline, a barely shaved mustache, and clothes that looked like they haven't been washed in days soon answered. "Hello, is this the Grove residence?"

"What's it to ya?" the fat man said while pulling a half-eaten hot dog out of his pocket to shove in his mouth.

"Doug Maheswaran from Beach City." Doug introduced himself to the man while pulling out his ID. "I'm here to speak about your daughter, Sally."

"Oh good, I thought you were here about the body we found on the train tracks." The man sighed in relief before turning his head to call for someone. "Maureen!"

"What?!" what Doug assumed to be the man's wife hollered back.

"We got a cop here to talk about Sally!" the man replied before letting Doug inside and sitting him down and offering him a drink. "Here, have a shot on me."

"No thanks, I'm good." Doug rejected the offer before a skinny woman hiding her bleached blonde hair in a bandana walked into the living room. "Hello there miss, I'm here to talk to you about your daughter's recent activities."

"Ah yeah, Sally." The woman said as she and her husband sat down on the couch. "I always kept hearing her talk with that alien woman on her whatchacallit….computer. Anyways, my name's Maureen Grove and this is my husband Carl."

"Well, that alien woman is a known bigoted criminal who is plotting to destroy the world." Doug revealed, making Carl and Maureen blankly stare at each other in silence. "Something the matter, you two?"

"Shoulda known our girl would do something like this." Maureen Grove shook her head in shame. "If you think Sally's views were a product of an abusive upbringing or some kind of trauma, I'm afraid you're mistaken, officer. She was diagnosed with kajigger disorder or something."

"Antisocial personality disorder." Carl Grove corrected his wife. "What we're saying is that Sally is just not a pleasant person to be around, especially in this current era of that danged Internet. She thrives on being so smug & self-righteous and making people hate her, yet at the same time she wonders why everyone hates her. And we've tried our best to help her, but she always kept picking on us for stupid reasons! It's absurd, I tells ya!"

"So, she brought this upon herself," Doug said while writing down in his notepad. "Would you care to further elaborate on her behavior?"

"She also had this TubeTube channel that barely had any subscribers because people would rather watch cat videos, let's plays, and those creepy kids' videos," Maureen answered. "But then came that weird monster attack last year, where everything changed forever."

--

"Sally honey, time for dinner!" Carl called for his daughter while knocking on the door. "Mama's making chili cheese dogs tonight!"

"I can buy and sell you, old man!" Sally insulted her father from behind her bedroom door.

"Fair enough, just starve then because I'm a man." Carl casually replied as he walked away. "I swear, we have got to get her a therapist soon." He muttered to himself. "Dropping out of college I can understand, but she desperately needs to do something with her life."

"CARL, GET DOWN HERE!" Maureen shrieked for her husband. "SOMEONE'S INTERRUPTED AMERICAN IDOL!"

"They WHAT?!" Carl bellowed as he charged down the stairs to see what was going on. To his alarm, their TV show was cut off by the sudden appearance of Black Rutile on their television screen as she made a speech.

"Greetings to the civilians of this backwater planet. I am Black Rutile, soon to be supreme ruler of the Gem race." Black Rutile introduced herself to audiences around the world. "I come to you today because you are faced with a crisis that has been right under your noses for thousands of years now, and it can all be blamed on the Crystal Gems."

"Nothing that changing the channel won't fix." Carl declared as he picked up the remote and tried switching to another channel. Unfortunately, Black Rutile was interrupting the programming there, and on every other channel too. "What the Sam Hill is going on here?! Who would believe such malarkey?!"

"They have been living among your people since the dawn of man, and have brought numerous world-ending threats along with." Black Rutile's speech continued on Sally's computer, much to her curiosity. "From loads of monsters that were formerly members of their kind, to insane terraformers that stole the ocean for selfish purposes followed by nearly drowning thousands once they returned the water to Earth, a superweapon made from the remains of their own kind that remains buried under the Earth as we speak, repeated counts of abductions and the near-genocide of all organic life." Despite Black Rutile clearly spreading lies about the Crystal Gems, the desperate TubeTube user felt a special sort of parasocial connection to her. "But now we are faced with a new problem, and it's all thanks to one Gem: Pink Diamond. It's because of her that this monstrosity plaguing the Earth at this moment is running amok and the Crystal Gems have done nothing to stop it, or her for that matter. Should you believe this planet is worth saving, something must be done about the Crystal Gems, or you will suffer the consequences. That will be all."

With the end of Black Rutile's warning, Sally's life was changed forever. Her TubeTube channel was then completely overhauled to benefit from her newfound hatred of the Crystal Gems. They caused so much chaos and destruction, yet they're celebrated as heroes. Sally simply gives her opinion, and she's constantly villainized for it. To her, that simply wasn't fair. But what no one realized about Sally was terrified of growing past her bigoted, misanthropic mindset and becoming a better person because she believed kindness and compassion were signs of weakness. And she despised being weak.

--

"Ever since then, that Black Rutile yutz has been a bad influence on our girl." Carl finished his story. "Sally's been completely off her rocker because of her. Every time we tried setting her up with various lovers, she just kept abusing them. Especially this one feller named Fred who she kept saying had a small di-"

"Anything else I should know before I leave?" Doug asked, cutting off Carl before he could finish. "What other crimes has she committed?"

"What hasn't she committed?" Maureen replied. "Thankfully, she hasn't done anything super serious, but she's also formed lynch mobs online against random people she hates, and cyberbullied her so-called friends away. And let's not forget that she wrote some really disturbing fanfiction!" She cringed in disgust at the thought.

"Right, thank you for your time, Mr. and Mrs. Grove, I promise I'll have your daughter returned home so she can get the help she deserves," Doug said as he got up and prepared to leave, only for Carl to stop him.

"Hey, before you go, officer," Carl said before presenting Doug with a chili cheese dog. "care for a chili cheese dog? Can't save the world on an empty stomach."

"You know what? I'll take it." Doug accepted the dog before pulling out his phone. "Connie, I'll be coming back soon. Is everything ready?"

"Almost, Dad," Connie responded. "Bane Jones helped us get everybody weapons for the big fight. We just need to wait on you now."

--

Elsewhere in Washington D.C., President Eduardo Suarez, his vice president Theresa Maxwell, Wade Grant, Lloyd Waller, and his presidential cabinet remained in hiding from the forces of Reginald Anderson. Having just witnessed his family being held hostage, the White House being overtaken, and one of the secret service agents under his employment brutally beaten to near death, the president was naturally anxious about what to do next. What's more, there's no way he can contact the Crystal Gems at the moment. He was at an utter loss at what to do.

"Never seen Eddy this worked up in ages," Theresa muttered in wonder at her president's nervous pacing. "Last time I've seen him like this was when Clump seemed to have beat him in the polls."

"I wouldn't blame him," Lloyd replied. "Country's in crisis again, plus his family is in grave danger. Poor thing looks like he'll have a panic attack at any moment."

"I'll go have a talk with him," Wade said as he walked over to his chief and put a hand on his shoulder. "Mr. President, are you feeling alright? Do you need anything before we make our decision?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine!" Eduardo exclaimed bravely, a far cry from the nervous front he was just putting up. "I'm willing to give everything for this country, as a good president should!" However, his courageous smile was quickly replaced with an insecure frown. "But what can I do when my family's lives are at stake here? One wrong move and I could lose everything."

"You're right, he's giving us a very tough choice here." Wade nodded when he suddenly got an idea. "Wait, I know!" Whatever he whispered into the president's ear, Eduardo was liking what he was hearing. "You got that?"

"I like what you're saying." Eduardo nodded. "Let's do it." Just then, three men opened the doors to One Observatory Drive and walked in. The first man wore a nice suit and was balding, while his two associates were dressed in a tank top and a collared shirt respectively. "Hello there."

"Greetings Mr. President, my name is Mr. Shreds." Mr. Shreds introduced himself to the president. "These are my two associates, Tank and Collar, and we are here to deliver you to Reginald Johnson so you can relinquish your presidency."

"Just move along now and don't keep us waiting!" Collar said as he and Tank took Eduardo by the arms and guided him to their limo. "Any last words, sir?"

"Yes, I'd like to make a personal request to Reginald." Eduardo nodded. "I'd like to have a public debate with him, face to face."

"As absurd as your request is, I shall grant it," Tank replied begrudgingly, not knowing what he was in for as the limousine drove away.

"So what did you tell him?" Theresa asked Wade as the two worriedly watched Eduardo be taken away.

"You'll see." Wade gave the vice president a knowing smirk.

--

"Making yourselves comfortable, Crystal Gems?" Black Rutile asked her prisoners while paying them one last visit to their cell. "Doesn't matter to me, because I got special plans for you."

"What is it now?" Peridot muttered disdainfully. "Is it about how you're so much better than us because you're not us?"

"Whatever it is, just get it over with already," Bismuth added sadly. "I deserve it for what I put Lapis through."

"Yes, yes you did." Lapis harshly agreed. "You poofed me and then forced me to be the dumb little plaything that you'll always throw away when you don't need me."

"You're still depressed about that?!" Black Rutile groaned in irritation as the brainwashed Emerald pulled up a throne for Black Rutile to sit on. "I'm saying that this could all be avoided if you joined me! Over time, I began to realize that the Rutile Rebels aren't as different from the Crystal Gems as I thought. We all started out as nobodies, did something extraordinary that made us different from the rest of our kin, rose to the top, and earned the respect of the Diamonds, only to have all torn down by a person who didn't even care about them." She declared. "I'll admit, when I first heard about Little Homeworld, I wanted to destroy it so bad, especially when you locked me up here. But after spending some time trapped here, I, ever the opportunist, decided that I could make it into something better!"

"Like turning it into our new secret lair for example!" Aquamarine added.

"And we have your stupid bickering to thank for it!" Eyeball said as all the other Rutile Rebels threw their heads back and laughed.

"What I'm trying to say is that there are special people like us who should run the world, and then there are the disgusting humans who deliver our food and fight our wars." Black Rutile continued. "Which is why I'm offering you this one-time opportunity. Let us work together for once so we can truly bring Gems and humans together in peace and harmony!" To emphasize her point, she turned on a news report documenting the attack on the White House. "Refuse, and I shall make you pay with your lives! Bring out the Disintegrator!"

"Wait, the Disintegrator?!" Bismuth shrieked in terror as Sally walked in with a small, glowing boxlike device in her hands that she set on the table. "I thought that was outlawed eons ago! How did you get one?!"

"You'd be surprised what I can accomplish through mixing Gem technology with human garbage." Black Rutile stated while presenting the device. "For those uninformed, most likely you Amethyst, this was an ancient torture device built to execute criminal Gems by grinding them up into dust and dispersing them in the air in a beautiful yet morbid fashion."

"Curious, most curious." Francis von Bowling nodded with intrigue. "And how does it work exactly?"

"Allow me to demonstrate." Black Rutile responded before presenting a small rock she placed in the Disintegrator. She then turned it on, and the rock was instantly ground up into dust in a terrifying show of the machine's power, leaving the Gems horrified yet not surprised she would use something like that. "That oughta show you for brainwashing us all!"

"You're kidding me?" Pearl scoffed. "You claim we're brainwashing Gems against their and forcing them to join our side when that's literally what you are doing with those devices! Those aren't rejuvenating blasters, they're inculcating blasters! All these new Gems of yours say: "All hail Black Rutile! All hail Black Rutile!", but the Gems we teach would never say anything like that. We didn't force them to come here, they made that choice willingly."

"Kind of like how Lapis willingly joined me after I convinced her of how alone we were in the universe?" Black Rutile retorted, pointing to a sullen Lapis in the darkness. "Or how I convinced Sally Grove here to be a kindred spirit?"

"Yeah, that reminds me," Amethyst asked. "How could you team up with someone that obviously evil? Surely, you must have some tragic reason for doing so, right?"

"No, no tragic reason at all," Sally admitted without a single ounce of empathy in her voice. "I just like being hated. It makes me feel powerful."

"Hatred makes all of us powerful." Holly Blue agreed with Sally, with Cat's Eye by her side with her cat Blake in her arms.

"Very powerful." Cat's Eye agreed.

"Okay, we've had enough taunting, let's get to executing!" Black Rutile declared eagerly as she began choosing which Crystal Gem to disintegrate. However, her choice was pretty easy. "Bismuth, do you volunteer as tribute?"

"Wait, what?!" Bismuth muttered as the brainwashed Demantoid and Pyrope freed her from her shackles to be executed. "You won't get away with this, Black Rutile!"

"As a matter of fact, I've gotten away with it months ago." Black Rutile cruelly sneered while shoving the Disintegrator towards Bismuth. "Now, you might feel a little tingle."

"Lapis, please, I'm sorry!" Bismuth cried out for possibly the last time to Lapis, but she didn't seem to listen. All Lapis could do was turn away in shame. As Bismuth was about to be thrown into the machine and the other Crystal Gems cried for Black Rutile not to do it, the Disintegrator was suddenly stabbed with an epee, causing it to shut down. "What?"

"You!" Black Rutile yelled at Tanzanite for destroying her machine. "I have put hours upon hours into building that, and you made it all for nothing!"

"That's because you've gone too far this time, and I can't do this anymore!" Tanzanite yelled angrily while proceeding to free Bismuth, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Peridot from their restraints. "Brainwashing is one thing, but executing too?"

"Are you seriously trying to talk back to your master?" Black Rutile growled angrily. "You know how Rose lied to you, you know how she left you to die and become part of a planet-destroying abomination against your will! I was there for you, and this is how you repay me?!"

"Yes, the Crystal Gems aren't honest, but their intentions are definitely real." Tanzanite declared firmly, bringing a tear to Pearl's eye before her former student was threatened with Black Rutile's bowie knife.

"Take that back and fight for me, or pay the price." Black Rutile ordered Tanzanite to stand down, and the punk purple Gem meekly did as she was told while Navy raced up to her master's side. "Yes, Ruby?"

"We got humans and enemy Gems at 12:00!" Navy yelled hurriedly.

"Did you tell them I hate them?" Black Rutile asked while turning her bowie knife into her sword. "No matter." With a superhuman leap, Black Rutile bounded out of her lair and landed in front of the New Crystal Temps before striking a pose as she drew her sword. "Well, don't stop on my account."

"Black Rutile, we've come to finally bring you to justice!" Connie declared while raising her sword in the air. "In the name of the Crystal Gems, the planet Earth, and the entire universe, we'll punish you for your crimes. And this time, we'll make it permanent. Do you yield?"

Black Rutile just sneered at Connie's bold declaration and responded with simply "I do not." With a snap of her fingers, the other Rutile Rebels, including a reluctant Tanzanite and Lapis, soon gathered behind her to counter Connie's forces. Just then, however, the Crystal Gems leaped out from behind the Rutile Rebels to join Connie and the others, followed by Spinel, Hessonite, Citrine, and Lemon Jade crashing into Little Homeworld on their ship.

"CRYSTAL GEMS!" Garnet roared while summoning her gauntlets. "Assemble." With that, everyone behind Connie roared as they charged into battle against Black Rutile and her enforcers, along with legions of brainwashed Gems, Concrete warriors, and Cactus & Topiary Stevens once again forced to serve Black Rutile. This was a day unlike any other when humans and Gems alike found themselves united against a common foe for the first time in thousands of years. On that day, everyone in Beach City became a Crystal Gem.

--

"Of course, you would find a way to ruin my plans!" Black Rutile said as she got into an intense swordfight with Connie. The battle for Earth had already gotten off to a rousing start. Bane Jones and Beckham Jordan fought side by side against von Bowling and his men, Kevin and Vidalia were up against Marty in a mechanical war suit, and Lars had a rematch with Emerald, among many other battles. "For too long now, you've always been interfering and you didn't even know it!"

"It's called loyalty Black Rutile, something you would probably never know!" Connie retorted before going in for a stab, only to be blocked by Sally Grove fighting back with a laser sword. "And as for you!"

"Don't even try to preach to me, little girl." Sally taunted in her usual high and mighty fashion. "We all know you would've found a way to call your white savior because you have no other personality outside of being his protector! You're a disgrace to your ethnicity, brat!"

"That's what you think, bullying my daughter like that!" Priyanka retorted with a sword of her own to fight Sally and Black Rutile with. "Apologize to her at once or I will reveal everything your parents told my husband!"

"What do you mean I have to apologize?! She attacked me!" Sally said before she realized what the doctor meant. "Wait, really? Oh no, no no no no!"

"Yeah, they told me some pretty messed up stuff about you," Doug said while putting out his notepad and reading what he had written earlier, making Sally writhe in agony while Black Rutile looked disdainfully at her human charge. "Let's see, abusing everyone around you, including your own parents, refusing to grow beyond your toxic personality while also blaming it on everyone around you, that disturbing fanfiction-"

"It's only disturbing from a certain point of view, having sexual relationships with your family members is perfectly normal in some parts of the world!" Sally only kept digging herself deeper into insanity in her attempts to preserve her image, unaware that Ronaldo had been live-streaming her this entire time, and her reputation was falling apart by the second. "Hey, turn that camera off!"

"No way, this is going to make a killing on Keep Beach City Weird!" Ronaldo laughed mischievously. "Wow, these negative comments expressing how betrayed your viewers must be for how much of a hypocrite you're being are coming in by the dozens."

"It's the same story I've seen so many times." Doug shook his head in disgust as Sally had an utter breakdown in front of the Maheswarans and Black Rutile, who was just as disgusted at how pathetic her partner was. "A fine, upstanding bigot. Your nose is so close to the grindstone, you can't see anything else. Meanwhile, the world changes and grows, and you're blind to it! Ignorant and proud of it too."

"Am I glad that's not me!" Black Rutile scoffed hypocritically as Sally was handcuffed and taken somewhere safe until the battle was over. "Now where were we? Oh yes!" She immediately got right back to her clash with Connie.

--

"So, calming down Lapis." Peridot muttered as she, Jasper, and White Topaz stood in front of Lapis and Phoenix Lapis fighting Laz and Zuli. "Got any ideas?"

"You're her life partner, you should know!" Jasper exclaimed while Laz and Zuli fought for their lives. "Paz, got any bright ideas?"

"I think I might have a good idea of what to do." White Topaz declared. "Bismuth, we need your help!"

"I'm in the middle of something here!" Bismuth replied while she was fighting Andesine and Cinnabar. "Oh, you want me to make up with Lapis, right?"

"Hopefully having her back on our side will turn the tide of battle!" White Topaz suggested, causing Bismuth to knock her two opponents out and walk up to her. "Just say what you need to say and hopefully she'll listen."

"This had better work." Bismuth took a deep breath and yelled "HEY LAPIS, OVER HERE!" The four Lapises then turned to see Bismuth below. "No, not you, the one who hates me!" she corrected herself.

"What do you want now?" Lapis angrily asked as she hovered on the ground.

"Listen Lapis, I know you won't ever forgive me and the other Crystal Gems for what we did to you," Bismuth said. "but I swear, if you listen and understand we didn't know what we did, maybe we can finally start making amends."

"Wait, you mean it?" Lapis's face softened in surprise.

"Yeah, we're still your friends!" White Topaz declared happily.

"And besides, I'm the only one who gets to be all sullen and betrayed here!" Jasper added before reaching her hand out. "Just take my hand."

Lapis started smiling again, bringing smiles to Peridot and White Topaz's faces as well, and began to reach out to Jasper. However, she was quickly interrupted by Cinnabar and Andesine's groups pointing their Rejuvenation Blasters at the Crystal Gems.

"Make another move, and we'll have to reset all of you." Cinnabar declared coldly.

"Now then, any last words?" Andesine smirked.

"I got one," Bismuth stated before raising her fist at Lapis's gem. "Please don't hate me for this again!" With a single punch, Lapis was poofed yet again, this time to save her from being shot with the Rejuvenation Blaster as the Rutile Rebels began opening fire, prompting Bismuth, Jasper, White Topaz, and Peridot to scatter.

"I'll be taking this to reverse-engineer, thank you very much!" Peridot snickered as she robbed Howlite of her Blaster to experiment on and ran away with a maniacal "NYEH-HAHAHAHAHA!"

"After her!" Howlite commanded and raced after Peridot with Dalmatian Jasper, Zoisite, Amber, and Xenotime behind her.

"Check it out, I got a Rejuvenation Blaster!" Peridot said to Squaridot and IQ while presenting the stolen blaster to them. "Maybe we can work together to find a way to use it to get everyone back to normal!"

"That's some good thinking, Peridot." Squaridot complimented the other Peridot's idea before the three geniuses snuck off to get to work.

--

"So it's come to this, Tanzanite, the student versus the master," Pearl said as she took a battle stance, and Tanzanite did the same. "Tell me Tanzanite, why did you join Black Rutile instead of accepting everything as it was? I understand if you felt betrayed by Rose, but this is not a healthy way of coping."

"It's because I just wanted to save everyone from what I suffered," Tanzanite revealed sadly as she clashed with her former mentor. "My friends! My family! Everything I did was for the galaxy, for the Crystal Gems! But it was all for nothing, Pink Diamond used all of us to avoid the consequences of her actions." Despite how much Pearl tried to speak up, Tanzanite kept ranting. "I had to use my skills on friends; on family; Gems that I knew. She controlled us through lies." She then let out a strained and tearful laugh. "Homeworld, no better than the rebels Rose created. I helped terrorize my people! I wanted you to stop it, I had to stop it. I spoke out. I spoke out to Black Rutile, to save everyone from you! But when I did, I only stood with a monster. You chose Pink Diamond." Now, Tanzanite was on the verge of tears as she sobbed into Pearl's chest. "You left me, gave me no choice! The Diamonds wanted to destroy worlds, and they did. Pink destroyed mine."

"Oh, poor dear," Pearl muttered sorrowfully while holding her old student close. "But do you still believe Black Rutile is good for you?"

"I'm not sure if anyone is good for me." Tanzanite sobbed. "I don't know if Black Rutile really cares for me or if she just saw me as a tool."

"Black Rutile never cared for anyone to begin with." Pearl declared before she held Tanzanite's head in her hands. "I'm truly sorry that I made you choose this path, and I promise that there will be no more secrets between us from now on. Is that good?"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure if I can forgive myself for this." Tanzanite agreed just as she felt the business end of a Rejuvenation Blaster pressing the back of her head.

"Another last-minute betrayal, I see." Andesine grinned while preparing to pull the trigger, only for Tanzanite to smack it out of Andesine's hands with her epee before stabbing her in the chest.

"Now look what you made ME do," Tanzanite smirked as she threw what Andesine said when she shattered her back in the red Gem's face before she poofed.

--

"Okay Mr. S, here we are." Mr. Shreds said as he pulled the limo up to the White House and let Eduardo out. "Just make it quick, I'm on a tight schedule here," Eduardo said nothing as he saw his family surrounded by terrorists and Reginald smugly standing by a video camera and a podium.

"Go on Mr. Prez, don't be shy." Reginald mockingly urged Eduardo. "Just say what you need to say."

"That's exactly what I was going to say to you." Eduardo declared before trapping Reginald in a headlock. "NOW!" The SWAT team immediately overwhelmed Reginald's enforcers while Reginald tried his best to fight back, only to be met with a krav maga kick from Theresa, coming straight out of nowhere.

"Did you plan all this?!" Reginald shouted.

"Well, not necessarily," Eduardo replied as Wade and Lloyd came to handcuff Reginald. "It's just that I'm far more quick on my feet than you'll ever be."

"Dad!" Huey and Riley Suarez cried as Theresa freed them from their restraints and hugged their father.

"Oh, mi preciosos, I was so worried," Eduardo said as he hugged them back before seeing Arlene walk towards them as well. "And I surely didn't forget you, my love."

"And you never will," Arleen replied before kissing her husband. And so, the White House was saved, thanks to the president and his quick thinking. Now all he had to do was hope that the Crystal Gems were doing alright.

--

"Must I remind you of my superiority, pretty boy?" Marty taunted Kevin while showing off the capabilities of his war suit. "Face it, hiding behind all these beautiful women won't get you anywhere in life!"

"Yeah, I'm absolutely unequipped for this, but that won't stop me from trying!" Kevin exclaimed before beginning to fight back.

"How could you, Marty?" Vidalia asked her ex-husband. "I knew you were a dirtbag, but selling out the entire human race for what? Just because you're mad we disowned you!"

"Oh yeah, I'm absolutely livid," Marty agreed. "but I'm mostly just here to get even with you guys. I don't give a damn about Black Rutile's whole rebellion business!"

Meanwhile, Bane Jones, Beckham, Makoto, and Matt were all standing back-to-back against Francis von Bowling's men. "So, when this is all over, could I perhaps get an autograph?" Bane asked Beckham. "I'm a huge fan, and I consider it an honor to be fighting for Earth with you."

"I'd be more than happy to." Beckham smiled at the offer.

"Hey boys, can we pick up the pace a bit?!" Makoto said while delivering an upside-down spinning kick to Konstantin, Pavel, and Leo at once.

Above the chaos going on in Little Homeworld, Black Rutile stood atop the whirlybird tower and was not happy with how her forces were losing. "STOOOOOP THEM!" she shrieked angrily while pulling at her hair just as she turned to see Connie, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Peridot, Bismuth, Jasper, White Topaz, Spinel, Hessonite, and now Tanzanite standing behind her. "You! You ruined everything again! I could've made everything perfect!"

"You didn't want to make things perfect." Tanzanite declared to Black Rutile. "You just hated things the way they are."

"This is your final warning, Black Rutile." Garnet declared. "And this time, we won't be giving you a second chance. You and your minions are headed straight for Revanche 666 after this!"

"Fine, if I can never win, then neither should you!" Black Rutile completely snapped. "Aquamarine, Eyeball, Chrome Chalcedony, to me!"

"Ready as always, Black Rutile!" Aquamarine said as she and Eyeball fused into Bluebird Azurite, while Holly Blue and Cat's Eye arrived to make Chrome Chalcedony.

"And now, for a little surprise!" Bluebird proclaimed.

"I have a little joke for you all." Black Rutile smiled dementedly while grabbing Bluebird's hand. "What do you get when you cross a depressed loner with a society that abandons her and treats her like trash?!"

"That's not a very good joke!" Amethyst replied.

"I'll tell you what you get, you get what you deserve!" Black Rutile shrieked before she and Bluebird merged to form Pietersite, now sporting Black Rutile's new pink cape and red visor in addition to her outfit now looking different to fit Aquamarine's regeneration.

"PIETERSITE LIVES!" Pietersite bellowed loudly for all to hear and cringe in fear. "AND NOW CRYSTAL GEMS, IT IS TIME FOR THE FINAL CURTAIN CALL!"

"I don't think so!" Peridot said as she fired a Rejuvenation Blaster at the two fusions, which they dodged only for the blast to hit one of Nephrite's crew and revert her to normal. "I stole one of those blasters from Howlite and reverse-engineered them to change everyone hit by them back to normal."

"I'm free, I've been freed!" the Nephrite cheered at finally being brought back to her old self.

"What?" Pietersite muttered in horror as the Crystal Gems immediately understood what was going to happen and raced down to solid ground so they can do the same for all the other Gems Black Rutile converted. "No! No no no! Don't do that, I worked so hard!"

"Stop them!" Chrome Chalcedony added as she and Pietersite tried fighting back against the enemy, but as the Crystal Gems' forces grew with every Gem turned back to normal, they were quickly outnumbered.

"Well, we're boned," Apatite muttered as she and Amazonite prepared to leave. "Let's skedaddle!"

"I don't think that'll be necessary," Amazonite replied as she and Apatite found themselves confronted by the entirety of Beach City's population, and they weren't happy.

"Goin' somewhere?" Sheena Synstylae cracked her neck and her knuckles.

"Don't worry, you're not the only ones we'll be punishing," Lars added.

"We'll finally gain an advantage over Black Rutile!" Padparadscha Sapphire exclaimed happily.

Pietersite could barely comprehend what happened, and it was so anticlimactic too. Her forces were subdued, her weapons seized and modified to fix what she had done, and now all that was left of the Rutile Rebels was her, Aquamarine, and Eyeball once again. "Please no, just give me a second chance!"

"Not likely," Lapis said as she summoned a sawblade made of water that sliced Pietersite in half, barely giving her a chance to fight because the Crystal Gems now considered Black Rutile to be that pathetic to not even consider a grander defeat. To seal the deal, Little Homeworld was returned to its rightful place outside of Beach City with help from the Lapis Lazulis.

Black Rutile, Aquamarine, and Eyeball all fell to the ground in defeat, while the rest of the Rutile Rebels were brought together in chains. "I hate happy endings."

"Well, that should about wrap everything up!" Pearl sighed in relief once the dust settled. "Now then, it's off to Revanche 666 you all go!"

"And me too," Tanzanite added, much to Pearl's shock. "Even if I changed my ways, I still need to forgive myself for siding with Black Rutile too."

"Indeed, young Tanzanite." James began one final monologue. "At the end of the day, we are all but individuals crying for fairness in our lives. You won't get everything, but you'll get something. The Crystal Gems finally restore peace, while Black Rutile hopefully realizes how futile her schemes were. In the end, we just need to decide what is fair and what isn't."

"Oh, be quiet!" Black Rutile said as Hessonite and Spinel carted her away to the ship Andesine and Cinnabar hijacked in their prison break, while everyone was left to rejoice.

--

"So, that's all that happened?" Steven asked Connie a few days later over video chat. "Wow, sounds like you had quite the adventure."

"Yeah, and that's not even getting into what happened next," Connie stated. "First, Marty's now on the run from the law and lost everything. Then, Kevin got a key to the city."

"That's a phrase I never expected to hear." Steven laughed. "What else happened?"

"The Crystal Gems have all made up with each other and the Diamonds, and they're getting the therapy they need from Dr. Sucrose, Mr. Ikari, and Dr. Brenner." Connie continued. "Speaking of which, Brenner put Sally Grove under house arrest and is writing a book about the psychology of influencers, Neil Michaels is stuck doing ChikFlix movies to recoup his losses, Francis von Bowling is stuck in prison with Reginald Johnson, the president is still alive, and finally, the Rutile Rebels are all safely behind bars for what they've done. But I kinda doubt they'll stay there for long because evil geniuses are harder to squash than cockroaches."

"Hey, Connie!" Lapis cried while knocking on Connie's window, now back in her Crystal Gem uniform. When Connie peeked her head outside, she could see the other Crystal Gems outside her house. "You got a minute?"

"I'll call you back Steven!" Connie said before hanging up on Steven and racing outside to meet with her alien friends, no doubt to go on another adventure together. In the distance, the Officer was recording everything he saw and sending it to his masters.

--

Meanwhile, on Revanche 666, the prison was restored to order as the Rutile Rebels were locked behind the destabilizing fields in their cells.

"Hey, don't be so bummed out everyone!" Kyanite exclaimed. "We can make prison life fun!"

"Oh be quiet!" Zoisite yelled angrily.

"I did pretend to get sent to prison only to get sent to prison for real!" Amber added. "I'm getting anxious!"

"Hey, is no one going to check up on Black Rutile?" Dalmatian Jasper asked while pointing at Black Rutile sitting calmly in her cell.

"She's looking even mopier than me," Xenotime added worriedly. "I hope she's alright."

Hiding from the endless chatter of Zoisite's team, a restored Emerald, Morganite, Demantoid & Pyrope who were behind bars to repent, Black Rutile gazed emotionlessly at her hand as she wondered how it all came to this. So many months of planning have now gone to waste, once again because of the Gems' human friends. This made her finally ask herself one thing. "Is this still worth it?"

--

This went way longer than I expected, and with way too many characters I put on the cast list that didn't get a line! I've recently found it to be a bad habit of mine, and I hope to remedy that in future stories. I also think I kind of rushed this to be as big as possible while still meeting my deadline. But in the meantime, I hope you all enjoyed these past thirteen weeks and I get to enjoy a break at last and maybe pursuing either a story I haven't written yet or one I still need to finish. But for now, let's see what to come in the finale.

--

"Your Highness, we received another update from Aescul!" a snakelike alien told his master, another snake alien who was far larger and resembled a king cobra, as he received the news from their deep cover agent. "He says now might finally be the time."

"Excellent work, sir." The king cobra alien said to his subordinate while slithering away. "You are dismissed." The cobra then retreated into a mysterious chamber where he met with a shadowy figure towering above him. "It's time for the Gems to enter our contest, great Lapidarist." He declared to the shadow. "Soon, we shall return your children to you."

The shadowy figure began glowing a brilliant white light as it woke up, followed by shimmering with every possible color in existence while laying eyes upon its servant.

--

Featuring Voltaire as King Cobralan Jormagundr

TO BE CONCLUDED IN STEVEN UNIVERSE: SNAKE EYES

A FINALE THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING

[adamwatchesmovies]

Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (2013)

When I check out a foreign film, I’m looking for something different. Either show me a story Hollywood wouldn’t have the guts to or put your country’s customs and eccentricities on full display and use them to make something new. Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (which translates roughly to Brush off: Nine Lives) is not a must-see horror film. The special effects are fine for what they are, the scares are ok, the plot is nothing extraordinary but it stands out. By basing a horror film around traditional Filipino beliefs and superstitions, it guarantees you’ve never seen anything quite like it in the mainstream.

Funeral director Leni (Kathryn Bernardo) has been to too many wakes to believe in the superstitions her uncle Dencio (Janus del Prado) and his drinking buddy Marcelo (Marvin Yap) fear. When she and a group of teenagers - Cedric (Daniel Padilla), Hannah (Michelle Vito), Ashley (Miles Ocampo), Justin (CJ Navato) and Rico (Dominic Roque) - accidentally disrupt the funeral of Roman (Paulo Avelino), his ghost begins stalking them. What does this supernatural attack have to do with his wife, Lucy (Shaina Magdayao) and Leni’s nephew, Mac-Mac (Clarence Delgado)?

Think of Pagpag as a ghost story with elements of Final Destination. All of the teens broke one of the many rules of proper funeral etiquette: don’t sweep the floor, don’t bring home any of the food, don’t let your tears fall on the coffin, make sure you stop somewhere before going home to “brush off” any evil spirits who might have followed you, etc. Whether you already know these rules or not, seeing them broken and then come back in the form of ironic deaths is the best part of this movie. Most are pretty cleverly done (though one is quite clumsy and though it works as a nice “ewww!” moment, feels forced). Seeing the teens scramble to figure out what they need to do to appease Roman’s vengeful spirit is fun and some of the deaths are pretty creepy. Not creepy all the way through, but enough to ensure gore hounds have a good time.

Where the film could have used more work is the romance. Leni bumps into Cedric early in the film and they have a meetcute, which is an odd choice for a ghost story. Even if they do have chemistry, wouldn’t their union be a little awkward considering their first date coincided with the deaths of their friends and families? Another element that doesn’t really work concerns Mac-Mac. He’s been mute ever since Leni’s family discovered him several years ago under a tree so he doesn’t have much of a personality. Mostly, he’s there to dispense crucial exposition and provide a way for the film to wrap up. Though the numerous coincidences during the conclusion may be important story elements for the people of the Philippines, they will feel clumsy to westerners. Couldn’t this just be a 90-minute horrror movie that explores superstitions we’re not familiar with (or alternatively, have known since we were kids and are finally seeing utilized in a film) instead of a 105-minute movie that explores the "Pagpag" superstitions, and then a whole bunch of other stuff too? It's good to be ambitious but this film winds up diluting its scares and premise.

Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay is more of a curiosity than a nightmare-generator. Mostly, I got a kick out of it from the deaths and the sneek peak at another culture. It’s something new, which counts for a lot. (November 1, 2020)

[valleyledger]

Wellness and Professional Development Network, ToastiQueen Celebrates One Year of Empowering Women in Business

Wellness and Professional Development Network, ToastiQueen Celebrates One Year of Empowering Women in Business Upcoming events to feature local author, Felicia Thai Heath and publisher Michelle Laureano Roque Felicia Thai Heath, memoirist Spirit of a Hummingbird, Memories From A Childhood On The Run Wellness and Professional Development Network, ToastiQueen Celebrates One Year of Empowering Women…

[uniquetyphoonmiracle]

Que casualidad..acabe ayer hablando de la ARGENTINA Virginia GUIDETTI [que recorre Argentina y otros países en moto como la holandesa NORALY por la que me subí a lo alto del puente concordia con camiseta de HOLANDA cuyo REY está casado con una ARGENTINA ..tras ver y fotografiar el AVION de los ROLLING STONES en el adjunto aeropuerto de BARAJAS al comenzar su gira en MADRID 1 junio 2022..siendo mi 1er concierto su gira URBAN JUNGLE en estadio del MANZANA+eRES con GUN de teloneros presentando debut cd TAKING ON THE WORLD día que ESPAÑA ganó a KOREA 3_1 con los 3 goles de MICHEL de REAL MADRID o el HIJO del MANZANA que grito ME LO MEREZCO y que le tocó los HUEVOS a colombiano VALDERRAMA haciendo publicidad con el VALLADOLID de HELIOS=PERSONIFICACION del SOL]..y hoy veo que en hospital RAMON Y CAJAL donde he ido a rehabilitación cardíaca [como ir a un GYM pero monitoreandote]..veo que organizan un Viaje por toda ARGENTINA como hice en enero_febrero 2020 [lo primero que visite fue la TUMBA de EVITA..cuando murio un hermano de Santiago SOLARI que hizo debutar a CRISTO Gonzalez en REAL MADRID como hizo en COPA del REY en melilla y en LIGA en HELIOPOLIS=CIUDAD DEL SOL..o estadio del BETIS cuya ciudad deportiva es LUIS DEL SOL..para ser traspasado a HUESCA siendo presentado junto a IVAN LOPEZ alias IVI procedente del LEVANTE cuyo estadio visite NOCHEBUENA 2013 y tras hacer fotografiado el BUS del HUESCA frente al hotel ABBA de la Avda de AME_RICA la noche de la pelea del siglo PACMAN vs MAY_WEATHER y tras haber pasado por el bar CAÑAS=Jugador del BETIS traspasado al SWASEA =estadio LIBERTY..contra el que jugo el BETIS cuando fotografie su bus 11_8_11 frente al hotel WEST_BURY=OCCIDENTE_ENTERRAR..en CONDUIT ST de LONDRES..viéndolos por la mañana pasear aunque ya no estaba miki ROQUE por el cáncer que lo mató.. bar CAÑAS que tenía una camiseta de portugués DUDA del MALAGA que iba junto a JOAQUIN=el que mas jugo en el BETIS..en un AVION llegando a SAN SEBASTIAN cuando una TORMENTA O UN RAYO paro los MOTORES]..Viaje por ARGENTINA [de lo ultimo que visite fue la tumba de CERATI ] y URUGUAY que complete en 2023=HABEMUS PAZ de VERDAD?

Por cierto..en ese HUESCA jugaba un hijo del Argentino ESNAIDER que se le murio otro..la NOCHEBUENA de 2012 con 17 años de enfermedad Terminal

ESTA TODO FOTOGRAFIADO Y PROBADO..PERO SOLO SIRVE DE ADVERTENCIA O DEL PODER DE DIOS

[beliestelar]

Leer en algún momento

El chico de la piel de cerdo y otros relatos que jamás deberías leer - Raiza Revelles

Consumidores de pesadillas - Alfonso Orejel

KAIKI Cuentos de terror y locura

Ante el dolor de los demás - Susan Sontag

Cuando la oscuridad nos ama - Elizabeth Engstrom

Estrella distante - Roberto Bolaño

Nuestra parte de la noche - Mariana Enriquez

Anatomía de la melancolía - Robert Burton

Psicología del arte - Liev Semionovich Vigotski

La interpretación de los sueños - Freud

Un asesinato brillante - Anthony Horowitz

Lógica de la crueldad - Joan Carles Melich

El libro de los seres imaginarios - Borges

El color que cayó del cielo - H. P. Lovecraft

El poeta que rugió a la luna y se convirtió en tigre - Atsushi Nakajima

Los cansados - Michele Serra

Lo bello y lo triste - Yasunari Kawabata

Vidas frágiles, noches oscuras - Hiromi Kawakami

El ruiseñor y la rosa - Oscar Wilde

El buscador de esencias - Dominique Roques

Cuanto más profunda es el agua, más feo es el pez - Katya Apekina

Ese maldito yo - E. M. Cioran

Emma - Jane Austen

Los elixires del diablo - E. T. A. Hoffmann

Más que humano - Theodore Sturgeon

[goalhofer]

2024 olympics Brazil roster

Archery

Marcus D'Almeida (Rio De Janeiro)

Ana Caetano (Rio De Janeiro)

Athletics

Gabriel Dos Santos (São Paulo)

Douglas Hernandes (Brasília)

Jadson Lima (Arapiraca)

Lucas Marcelino (Franca)

José Ferreira (Brasília)

Erik Cardoso (Paracicabo)

Felipe Dos Santos (Americana)

Paulo Camilo (Santo André)

Renan Gallina (Curitiba)

Matheus Da Silva (Fortaleza)

Lucas Carvalho (Santo André)

Eduardo De Deus; Jr. (Campinas)

Rafael Pereira (Contagem)

Al Dos Santos (São Joaquim Da Barra)

Lucas Vilar (Limeira)

Caio Bonfim (Sobradinho)

Matheus Corrêa (Blumenau)

Fernando Santana (Ribeirão Preto)

Almir Dos Santos (Matupá)

Darlan Romani (Concórdia)

Welington Morais (Imperatriz)

Luiz Da Silva (Juiz De Fora)

Pedro Rodrigues (Parintins)

Gabriela De Sousa (São Paulo)

Lissandra Campos (Cuiabá)

Ana Silva (Contagem)

Ana Azevedo (São Roque)

Vitória Rosa (Rio De Janeiro)

Lorraine Martins (São Paulo)

Tiffani Marinho (Duque De Caxias)

Flávia De Lima (Campo Do Tenente)

Chayenne Da Silva (Nova Iguaçu)

Tatiane De Silva (Guairacá)

Érica De Sena (Camaragibe)

Viviane Lyra (Rio De Janeiro)

Valdileia Martins (Querência Do Norte)

Juliana Campos (São Caetano Do Sul)

Eliane Martins (Joinville)

Gabriele Dos Santos (Brasília)

Izabela Da Silva (Adamantina)

Andressa De Morais (João Pessoa)

Jucilene De Lima (Taperoá)

Badminton

Ygor De Oliveira (Rio De Janeiro)

Juliana Vieira (São Paulo)

Basketball

Alexey Borges (Franca)

Elio Corazza (São Bernardo Do Campo)

Marcelo Huertas (São Paulo)

Yago Dos Santos (Tupã)

Raul Neto (São Paulo)

George De Paula (Diadema)

Vítor Benite (Jundiaí)

Leo Meindl (São Paulo)

Gui Dos Santos (Brasília)

Marcos Silva (Cachoeiro De Itapemirim)

Bruno Caboclo (Osasco)

João Pereira (Rio De Janeiro)

Lucas Silva (Bauru)

Cristiano Felício (Pouso Alegre)

Boxing

Michael Trindade (Marituba)

Luiz De Oliveira (São Caetano Do Sul)

Wanderley Pereira (Curitiba)

Keno Machado (Sapeaçu)

Abner Da Silva; Jr. (Sorocaba)

Caroline De Almeida (São Paulo)

Tatiana Chagas (Salvador)

Bárbara Gonçalves (São Paulo)

Jucielen Romeu (Rio Claro)

Beatriz Ferreira (Salvador)

Canoeing

Mateus Dos Santos (Brasília)

Pedro Da Silva (Ipaussu)

Isaquias Dos Santos (Ubaitaba)

Jacky Godmann (Itacaré)

Vagner Souta (Guarantã Do Norte)

Valdenice Do Nascimento (Teresópolis)

Ana Vargas (Iturama)

Ana Vergutz (Cascavel)

Cycling

Ulan Galinski (São Paulo)

Vinícius Costa (Cabo Frio)

Gustavo De Oliveira (Carapicuíba)

Ana Magalhães (Rio De Janeiro)

Raiza Henrique (Pirenópolis)

Paola Reis (Brasília)

Diving

Isaac Filho (Rio De Janeiro)

Ingrid De Oliveira (Rio De Janeiro)

Equestrian

João Oliva (São Paulo)

Márcio Jorge (Colina)

Rafael Losano (Rio Claro)

Carlos Paro (Colina)

Ruy Filho (São Paulo)

Stephan Barcha (Rio De Janeiro)

Yuri Mansur (São Paulo)

Rodrigo Pessoa (Wilton, Connecticut)

Pedro Veniss (Rio De Janeiro)

Fencing

Guilherme Toldo (Porto Alegre)

Mariana Pistoia (São Paulo)

Nathalie Moellhausen (Milan, Italy)

Gymnastics

Arthur Mariano (Campinas)

Diogo Soares (Piracicaba)

Rayan Dutra (Belo Horizonte)

Rebeca De Andrade (Guarulhos)

Jade Barbosa (Curitiba)

Lorrane Oliveira (Nova Iguaçu)

Flávia Saraiva (Rio De Janeiro)

Júlia Soares (Colombo)

Bárbara Domingos (Curitiba)

Maria Arakaki (Maceió)

Victória Borges (Aracaju)

Déborah Barbosa (Aracaju)

Sofia Pereira (São Paulo)

Nicole Duarte (Aracaju)

Camilla Gluckstein (Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey)

Handball

Gabriela Moreschi (Maringá)

Marcela Arounian (São Paulo)

Jhennifer Dos Santos (Brasília)

Kelly Rosa (São Paulo)

Bruna De Paula (Campestre)

Mariane Fernándes (Niterói)

Tamires De Araújo (Rio De Janeiro)

Jéssica Quintino (São Paulo)

Larissa Araújo (Curitiba)

Adriana De Castro (Fortaleza)

Giulia Guarieiro (São Paulo)

Gabriela Bitolo (São Paulo)

Patrícia Machado (Rio De Janeiro)

Renata De Arruda (Olinda)

Judo

Michel Augusto (Bastos)

Willian Lima (Mogi Das Cruzes)

Daniel Cargnin (Porto Alegre)

Guilherme Schimidt (Brasília)

Rafael De Macedo (Porto Alegre)

Leonardo Gonçalves (Iguape)

Rafael Da Silva (Rolândia)

Natasha Ferreira (São Paulo)

Larissa Pimenta (São Vicente)

Rafaela Silva (Rio De Janeiro)

Ketleyn Quadros (Ceilândia)

Mayra Da Silva (Porto Alegre)

Beatriz De Souza (Itariri)

Pentathlon

Isabela Abreu (Brasília)

Rowing

Lucas Ferreira (Rio De Janeiro)

Beatriz Cardoso (São Paulo)

Rugby

Milena Mariano (São José Dos Campos)

Gisele Dos Santos (Brasília)

Yasmim Soares (São Paulo)

Mariana Nicolau (São José Dos Campos)

Luiza Campos (Porto Alegre)

Thalia Costa (São Luís)

Thalita Costa (São Luís)

Marina Costa (São Bernardo Do Campo)

Gabriela Lima (Brasília)

Raquel Kochhann (Saudades)

Bianca Silva (Guarulhos)

Marcelle Souza (Rio De Janeiro)

Sailing

Gabriel Simões (Rio De Janeiro)

João Bulhões (Rio De Janeiro)

Mateus Isaac (São Paulo)

Bruno Lobo (São Luís)

Bruno Da Silva (Florianópolis)

Marco Grael (Niterói)

Henrique Haddad (Rio De Janeiro)

Gabriella Kidd (Salvador)

Marina Arndt (São Paulo)

Martine Grael (Niterói)

Kahina Kunze (São Paulo)

Isabel Swan (Rio De Janeiro)

Shooting

Philipe Chateaubrian (Brasília)

Geovana Meyer (Joinville)

Georgia Bastos (São Paulo)

Skateboarding

Luigi Cini (Curitiba)

Augusto Dos Santos (Curitiba)

Pedro Barros (Florianópolis)

Felipe Gustavo (Brasília)

Kelvin Hoefler (Guarujá)

Giovanni Vianna (Santo André)

Raicca Ventura (São Paulo)

Gabi Mazetto (São Paulo)

Isadora Pacheco (Florianópolis)

Dora Varella (São Paulo)

Jhulia Leal (Imperatriz)

Pâmela Rosa (São José Dos Campos)

Soccer

Lorena Leite (Ituverava)

Antônia Silva (Pau Dos Ferros)

Tarciane De Lima (Belford Roxo)

Rafaelle Souza (Cipó)

Maria Sampaio (Rio Casca)

Tamires De Britto (Caeté)

Kerolin Ferraz (Bauru)

Vitória Silva (Suzano)

Adriana Da Silva (União)

Marta Da Silva (Dois Riachos)

Jheniffer Gouveia (São Paulo)

Tainá De Oliveira (São Paulo)

Yasmim Ribeiro (Governador Valadares)

Ludmila Da Silva (Guarulhos)

Thaís Ferreira (Campinas)

Gabi Da Silva (São Paulo)

Ana De Araújo (Rondonópolis)

Gabi Portilho (Brasília)

Priscila Da Silva (São Gonçalo Do Amarante)

Angelina Costantino (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Lauren Costa (Votorantim)

Luciana Dionizio (Belo Horizonte)

Surfing

Felipe Toledo (San Clemente, California)

João Chianca (Saquerema)

Gabriel Ferreira (São Sebastião)

Tainá Hinckel (São Paulo)

Tatiana Dos Santos (Kauai County, Hawaii)

Luana Silva (Honolulu County, Hawaii)

Swimming

Eduardo Moraes (Belo Horizonte)

Kayky Mota (São Paulo)

Nicolas Albiero (Louisville, Kentucky)

Guilherme Santos (Salvador)

Marcelo Chierighini (Itu)

Guilherme Da Costa (Rio De Janeiro)

Gabriel Santos (Guarulhos)

Breno Correia (Rio De Janeiro)

Fernando Scheffer (Canoas)

Murilo Sartori (Americana)

Guilherme Basseto (Ribeirão Preto)

Giovana Medeiros (São Paulo)

Maria Costa (Rio De Janeiro)

Gabrielle Roncatto (São Paulo)

Bea Dizotti (São Paulo)

Stephanie Balduccini (São Paulo)

Ana Vieira (São Paulo)

Maria Heitmann (Belo Horizonte)

Ana Da Cunha (Salvador)

Viviane Jungblut (Porto Alegre)

Table tennis

Guilherme Teodoro (Brasília)

Hugo Calderano (Rio De Janeiro)

Vitor Ishiy (São Paulo)

Giulia Takahashi (São Bernardo Do Campo)

Bruna Takahashi (São Bernardo Do Campo)

Bruna Alexandre (Criciúma)

Taekwondo

Henrique Fernandes (Caixas)

Edival Pontes (João Pessoa)

Maria Pacheco (São Caetano Do Sul)

Caroline Dos Santos (São Caetano Do Sul)

Tennis

Thiago Monteiro (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Thiago Wild (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Bea Maia (São Paulo)

Laura De Andrade (Barcelona, Spain)

Luisa Stefani (São Paulo)

Triathlon

Miguel Hidalgo (Salto)

Manoel Dos Santos; Jr. (Fortaleza)

Djenyfer Arnold (São Paulo)

Vittória De Mello (Fortaleza)

Volleyball

Arthur Lanci (Maringá)

Lukas Bergmann (Toledo)

Adriano Xavier (Murici)

André Stein (Vila Velha)

George Wanderley (Campina Grande)

Evandro De Oliveira; Jr. (Rio De Janeiro)

Bruno Rezende (Rio De Janeiro)

Yoandy Leal (Contagem)

Isac Santos (São Gonçalo)

Fernando Kreling (Caxias Do Sul)

Lucas Saatkamp (Colinas)

Thales Hoss (São Leopoldo)

Ricardo De Souza (Contagem)

Alan De Souza (São João De Meriti)

Flávio Gualberto (Pimenta)

Darlan Souza (Rio De Janeiro)

Diana Duarte (Barueri)

Tainara Santos (Jandira)

Lorenne Teixeira (Conselheiro Lafaiete)

Ana Ramos (Espinosa)

Eduarda Lisboa (Aracaju)

Bárbara De Freitas (Rio De Janeiro)

Carolina Young (Rio De Janeiro)

Nyeme Nunes (Barra Do Corda)

Thaísa De Menezes (Rio De Janeiro)

Rosa Montibeller (Nova Trento)

Macris Carneiro (Santo André)

Roberta Ratzke (Curitiba)

Gabi Guimarães (Belo Horizonte)

Ana De Souza (Rio De Janeiro)

Ana Da Silva (Belo Horizonte)

Júlia Bergmann (Toledo)

Weightlifting

Amanda Schott (São Paulo)

Laura Amaro (Brasília)

Wrestling

Giullia De Oliveira (Rio De Janeiro)

[regaladosociology2024]

References

Alzheimer’s Research UK. 2024. “Vascular Dementia Explained.” Alzheimer’s Research UK. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/vascular-dementia-explained/). 

Boise, Linda, David L. Morgan, Jeffrey Kaye, and Richard Camicioli. 1999. “Delays in the Diagnosis of Dementia: Perspectives of Family Caregivers.” American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 14(1):20-26.

BrightFocus. 2015. “Brain with Alzheimer’s Disease.” BrightFocus. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/infographic/brain-alzheimers-disease).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019. “What Is Dementia?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html).

Cronkite News. 2018. “Simulation Shows Caregivers What It’s Like to Live with Dementia.” Cronkite News. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2018/08/02/dementia-simulation/). 

Digby, Robin, Susan Lee, and Allison Williams. 2018. “The ‘Unworthy’ Patient with Dementia in Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospitals.” Collegian 25(4): 377-383. 

González-Salvador, Teresa, Constantine G. Lyketsos, Alva Baker, Linda Hovanec, Carmel Roques, Jason Brandt, Cynthia Steele. 2000. “Quality of Life in Dementia Patients in Long-Term Care.” International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 15(2): 181-189.

Hoyt, Jeff. 2024. “Assisted Living vs Skilled Nursing.” SeniorLiving.Org. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://www.seniorliving.org/compare/assisted-living-vs-skilled-nursing/#:~:text=Essentially%2C%20in%20assisted%20living%20communities,%2C%20if%20not%20all%2C%20ADLs). 

National Poll on Healthy Aging. 2017. “Dementia Caregivers: Juggling, Delaying, and Looking Forward.” National Poll on Healthy Aging. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://www.healthyagingpoll.org/reports-more/report/dementia-caregivers-juggling-delaying-and-looking-forward). 

Nicholls, Daniel, Esther Chang, Amanda Johnson, and Michel Edenborough. 2013. “Touch, the Essence of Caring for People with End-Stage Dementia: A Mental Health Perspective in Namaste Care.” Aging & Mental Health 17(5): 571–578.

Sörensen, Slivia and Yeates Conwell. 2011. “Issues in Dementia Caregiving: Effects on Mental and Physical Health, Intervention Strategies, and Research Needs” The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 19(6): 491-496.

Sörenson, Silvia, Paul Duberstein, David Gill, and Martin Pinquart. 2006. “Dementia Care: Mental Health Effects, Intervention Strategies, and Clinical Implications.” The Lancet Neurology 5(11): 961-973.

WHO QOL Group (1995) World Health OrganizationQuality of Life-100. World Health Organization Division of Mental Health, Geneva.

Youtube. 2023. “Studying Mental Health in Dementia Caregivers.” YouTube. Retrieved April 21, 2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtFI_iu2Vh8).

[equestrianempire]

Sunshine Tour: Victory for Ellen Whitaker and ‘Korlenski’ in the Ashford Farm Trophy

Derin Demirsoy with ‘O-Kannarock’ and Marie Demonte with ‘Epona Du Quesnoy’ complete the podium in this competitive 150 class.

Vejer, 9th March, 2024.  Top British rider, Ellen Whitaker had an impressive win with her lovely 9yr old mare, who is by the legendary stallion ‘Cornet Obolensky’, ‘Korlenski’ in the 1.50 m of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour,  Ashford Farm Trophy, Longines Ranking, speed class held in the Milton arena.  There were 69 horses in the class and she stopped the clock in 67.62s, over a second faster than her nearest challenger, Turkish, Derin Demirsoy with ‘O-Kannarock’ (‘Rock’n Roll Semilly’ x ‘Kannan’).  In third was the French rider who has had a plethora of good results here with various horses, Marie Demonte.  Today she was riding  ‘Epona du Quesnoy’.  In fourth was Egyptian, Abdelrahman Ikram with ‘Graduate HBC’ and fifth was Belgian,  Yves Vanderhasselt with ‘Nikita Van de Koekelberg’.

Ellen Whitaker in sella a Korlenski all’Andalucia Sunshine Tour by Mackenzie Clark

The Big Tour 1.45, was won by Czech, Ales Opatrny with ‘Holland TN’;  second was Chloe Winchester with ‘Equine América Billy Take That’;  third, Italian, Luca Moneta with ‘Jolie Coeur D’Avril’; fourth, Nicole Lockhead Anderson with ‘Chinoubet PS’ and in fifth, French rider, Guy Jonqueres D’Oriola with ‘Aloma De Grandcamp’.

There was also a Czech winner in the Big Tour 1.35, Albert Pisarik with ‘Chapo 2’.  Second was Spanish rider, Lucía Fernández Hidalgo with ‘London’s Bella’; third British, William Whitaker with ‘Lancaster’;  fourth was Japanese, Eiken Sato with ‘Chacco’s Grand Daughter PS’ and in fifth was Irish, Jack Ryan with ‘Carramba L Z’.

Spanish rider, Ismael García Roque with ‘Brazilia DK Z’ was the winner of the Medium Tour 1.45,  followed by:  Swiss, Peter Burri with ‘Dubai 64’;  Spanish Kevin González de Zárate with ‘Cantuccini 17’;  American, Michael Hughes with ‘Lazy’ and finally in fifth Luca  Moneta with ‘Folie de Chalusse’.

The Medium Tour 1.40 was won by Swedish Ebba Danielsson with ‘T-Gavoli Z’.  Second was Irish, Emily Turkington with ‘Diwali de Runya’;  third, Spanish  Álvaro Castro Román with ‘Brigitte’;  followed by Mexican, Claudia Michel with ‘Angela de Kreisker’ and Swiss rider, Yannick Jorand  with ‘Chaclago PS’.

There was a Spanish win from, Francisco de Asís Arango in the Medium Tour 1.30 with ‘City Meel’ moving well up from their fifth place yesterday in this class.  Second was British, Joe Fernyhough with ‘Calcourt Countdown’;  Yannick Jorand took third with ‘Daylight VH Maressahof Z’, and fourth was German rider,  Leonie Böckmann with ‘Four Roses 13’.  In fifth was British, Joe Fernyhough with ‘Calcourt Supersonic’.

Albert Pisarik had a second win today this time in the Medium Tour 1.20 with ‘Conada 2’.  Second was British, Joshua Hutchins with ‘Billy Serafina’;  third Spanish, Antonio Mariñas Soto with ‘Qute Hero TC’;  fourth, British, Grace Shudall Hughes with ‘For Free Z’ and in fifth, Swedish rider, Olivia Munkberg with ‘Invicta del Maset’.

British, Emma Stoker was the fastest in the Small Tour 1.40 with,  ‘Q Seven’ and finished with almost three seconds in hand over Spanish, Rubén Gómez Crespo who was second with ‘Allblack de Gressoux’.  Third was the Polish rider,  Lukasz Piksa with ‘Lucky Horse’;  fourth Spanish, Xabier Zabaleta Susperregui with ‘Arloy de Beausejour’ and fifth, Portuguese,  Nuno Tiago Gomes with ‘Chaccora’s Stakko PS’.

The winner of the Small Tour 1.30 was Mar Pérez Fernández with ‘Diane du Val’.   Second was French rider, Laura Monier with ‘Cathinka B’.  Third and fourth places went to Spanish riders, Marta Garat Macías with ‘Julieta del Amor’ and Rafa Iribarren Baptista with ‘Etincelle de la Rosa’.  Fifth was British, James Pinkney with ‘Billy Bon Soir’.

The winners of the classes in the CSI1* were: Spanish Fernando de los Santos with ‘Isba Caps’, in the 1.30;  British, Jessica Williams with ‘Miss Bubbles’, in the 1.20;  Belgian,  Juliette Berghmans with ‘D Day de Lison Z’ in the 1.10.

Tomorrow we continue with eight classes in the CSI4* including the Longines Ranking Small Tour Grand Prix: there are three CSI1* classes and the National Pony Championships continue here at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour:  which is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Government of Andalucía, through Tourism and Sports of Andalucía.

These are today’s main results, full results may be found both on our Sunshine Tour App and the official website www.sunshinetour.net where you may also follow live streaming of all the arenas or alternatively, you can watch online at Clip My Horse.  Entrance to the show is free, there are parking areas, a commercial zone and a wide choice of restaurants. 

Press release Sunshine Tour | Ellen Whitaker in sella a Korlenski all’Andalucia Sunshine Tour by Mackenzie Clark

© Rights Reserved.

[sandrazayres]

CHARLLES ANDRÉ COMANDA A FAMOSA “RODA DE SAMBA MEU AMIGO CHARLLES” EM MADUREIRA

A Roda de Samba Meu Amigo Charlles que estreou em dezembro, vem sendo um grande sucesso, no Santuário do Samba em Madureira,

com entrada gratuita

Charlles André continua com sua temporada de seu pagode com convidados, apresentando ao público a famosa “Roda de Samba Meu Amigo Charlles”, que acontece todas quintas-feiras, dias 01 e 08 de fevereiro, a partir das 18h, no Santuário do Samba, próximo à Portelinha, em Madureira, com entrada gratuita, o sambista ainda aproveita para pegar um axé de sua escola de coração e de cuja ala dos compositores ele faz parte.

Charlles também disponibilizou nas plataformas digitais, o álbum “Minha Razão de viver”, onde quatro singles desse trabalho – "Minha Razão de Viver", "Não Tive a Intenção", "Casalzão" e "Tô de Rolê" – já estão fazendo sucesso, quem assina a direção musical deste trabalho é o produtor Bira Hawaí.

Lançada nas plataformas digitais em maio de 2023, a música que dá nome ao álbum foi o primeiro single que os fãs conheceram. “Minha Razão de Viver” (Chico Roque / Sergio Caetano / Miguel Plopschi) é uma regravação do sucesso do Araketu nos anos 1990. Aliás, revisitar a década que marcou a explosão do pagode com diversos grupos – inclusive Os Morenos, do qual Charlles André fez parte – é uma tendência, já que projetos com essa pegada retrô caíram no gosto do público.

“Quando comecei minha carreira solo, costumava cantar ‘Minha Razão de Viver’ nos shows. Até porque ela tem um quê de ‘Mina de fé’, sucesso de Os Morenos, de minha autoria. Então, a escolha foi natural, combina com a sonoridade do álbum como um todo. Sem falar que costumavam me confundir com o Tatau, vocalista do Araketu”, diverte-se Charlles André.

O novo álbum, o quinto trabalho da carreira solo dele, tem outras regravações, como as românticas “Falso Amor”, música dele gravada por Os Morenos no segundo CD do grupo, e “Você de Volta” (Alexandre Pires / Marquinho Mosqueira), do repertório do Só Pra Contrariar. E tem também músicas autorais inéditas, algumas até compostas há décadas: “Quatro da Manhã” e “A tua Indiferença, ambas parcerias de Charlles André com Riquinho, que morreu há mais de 20 anos.

“Essas estavam guardas na gaveta. Eu estava esperando o momento certo para gravar, e agora chegou o momento”, conta o artista.

Há uma pegada muito carioca no álbum, com a cara do povo do samba e pagode, arranjos modernos, batuque de primeira qualidade e letras que falam da vida de qualquer brasileiro. No clima de “Tô de Rolê”, há a parceria de Charlles com Leandro FAB, “Pagodeiro de Coração”, que cai bem como um chope gelado num dia de verão, com a carioquice de um dia de praia, pagode, futebol e noitada.

Outra faixa animada é “Samba Cura” (Charlles André e Duller), que sacode numa levada que mistura samba carioca e swing da Bahia. “Essa é outra que eu já havia registrado no meu CD ao vivo com os Morenos e no DVD gravado em Salvador”, conta o cantor.

O álbum “Minha Razão de Viver”

(Direção musical é do consagrado produtor Bira Hawaí)

1. Minha Razão de Viver (Chico Roque / Sergio Caetano / Miguel Plopschi)

2. Noite de DR (Charlles André / André Renato)

3. Tô de Rolê (Charlles André / Reenam Pereyra / Michel Silva)

4. Quero Compromisso (Charlles André)

5. Não Tive a Intenção (Flavinho Silva / Paulinho Simpatia / Riquinho)

6. Forte Demais (Charlles André)

7. Casalzão (Charlles André)

8. Samba Cura (Charlles André / Duller)

9. Falso Amor (Charlles André)

10. Você de Volta (Alexandre Pires / Marquinho Mosqueira)

11. A tua Indiferença (Charlles André / Riquinho)

12. Quatro da Manhã (Charlles André / Riquinho)

13. Pagodeiro de Coração (Charlles André / Leandro FAB)

Sobre Charlles André

Charlles André tem mais de trezentas composições gravadas por diversos artistas em mais de seis milhões de discos vendidos. É músico profissional: toca cavaquinho, banjo e violão; lê e escreve partitura musical; além de produzir e fazer arranjos. Participou por nove anos do Grupo Os Morenos, saindo em 2004 para se dedicar à carreira solo, voltando dez anos depois para a realização de alguns shows comemorativos aos 20 anos de grupo.

A primeira composição de Charlles André foi “Desilusão”, feita quando ele tinha apenas 14 anos. E hoje ele é um dos mais requisitados compositores no universo do samba e do pagode. Entre suas composições gravadas por Os Morenos, estão “Mina de fé” e “Amor singular”. Mas a assinatura de Charlles André está também em sucessos, como “Tanajura”, do Negritude Júnior; “Pela vida inteira”, do Kiloucura; “Coração deserto”, do Sorriso Maroto; “Amor e amizade” e “Desejo contido”, do Exaltasamba; “Linguagem dos olhos”, primeiro sucesso da carreira solo do cantor Péricles; “Nunca se diz nunca”, gravada por Maria Rita; “Camisa 10”, o maior sucesso da Turma do Pagode; e o samba-enredo da PORTELA no carnaval de 2015, “Sou carioca, sou de Madureira”. Muitos outros artistas e grupos já gravaram músicas de Charlles André: Karametade, Arranco de Varsóvia, É o Tchan, Mumuzinho, Raça, Thiaguinho, Molejo, Sidney Magal e Pixote.

O produtor Marcos Salles foi quem descobriu Charlles André como instrumentista e o levou a tocar com bambas, como Zeca Pagodinho, Sombrinha, Reynaldo, Leci Brandão, Arlindo Cruz, Jovelina Pérola Negra e Marquinhos Sathan.

O primeiro trabalho solo do cantor e compositor, lançado em 2005, foi o álbum gravado ao vivo “Charlles André canta seus sucessos”, com 14 faixas, sendo todas composições próprias, algumas compostas em parceria com nomes conhecidos do pagode nacional. O segundo, “Ao vivo em Salvador”, saiu em 2007; o terceiro, “Cantador”, de 2016; e o quarto foi lançado em plena pandemia: o EP “Um bom brasileiro”, de 2020. E agora chegou a vez de “Minha razão de Viver”.

Serviço

Evento: Roda de Samba Meu amigo Charlles e convidados

Charlles André com sua banda Camisa 10

Dias: 01 e 08 de fevereiro de 2024 (quinta-feira)

Horário: a partir das 18h

Local: Santuário do Samba

Endereço: Estrada do Portela 600 - Madureira

Entrada gratuita

Luciano Oliveira

Assessoria de Imprensa & Comunicação

Proibido a reprodução das imagens sem autorização expressa do autor Lei 9610 de Direito Autoral

[ambipolis]

Lundi 30 janvier 2023

La gauche (im)morale

Je vous conseille vivement la lecture de ce numéro 11 de la revue Front Populaire de Michel Onfray dont le directeur de publication est Stéphane Simon.

Ce dernier qui a produit l’émission télévisée Rive droite / Rive gauche sur Paris Première signe le premier texte intitulé Contre l’esprit de chapelle fût-elle de gauche. Il déclare d’emblée ne pas s’enorgueillir de l’anti-cléricalisme « primaire » de sa famille d’instituteurs, de l’enthousiasme de son grand-père à l’évocation de races supérieures par Léon Blum, du soutien candide de son père, secrétaire d’une section locale du PCF, à la révolution culturelle de Mao et à Pol Pot, des approximations, omissions, contre-vérités des volumes des Éditions sociales.

Sans pour autant tout jeter à la poubelle, singulièrement ce que la gauche peut faire de positif « quand elle a la France au cœur et qu’elle ne rêve pas d’abolir les frontières, en un mot quand elle a le sens du peuple. »

Suit un texte remarquable de Michel Onfray intitulé la preuve par l’enfant à lire et à relire dans lequel il dénonce les descendants des Thénardier qui se prétendent de gauche et qui traitent de fascistes quiconque défend les Fantine d’aujourd’hui.

Michel Onfray signe un autre texte éclairant intitulé Leur morale et la nôtre. Pour une gauche sans barbelés ni miradors. 

Je vous recommande également Le naufrage des politiques oligarchistes par Laurent Herblay, Contre le management moderne par Barbara Lefebvre,  l’entretien de Marcel Gauchet par Jean-Baptiste Roques, Les  trahisons de la gauche » par Georges Kuzmanovic , Et maintenant la gauche Tartuffe par Régis de Castelnau, Gauche la tentation totalitaire par Frank Lanot.

Sans oublier l’international avec Poutine le dynamiteur par Guillaume Bigot et les livres avec A propos de Londres, second inédit de L-F Céline par Yannick Jaffré.

Jean-Loup ARNAUD *

[andrewmoocow]

Steven Universe Snake Eyes chapter 8: The Cosmos Quiver (originally published on October 16, 2023)

AN: And so, everything begins falling into place. Steven has some leftover drama to resolve with the Diamonds, Black Rutile's redemption arc is on the horizon, and there's a giant snake monster about to wreak havoc and destroy the cosmos. And I still need to finish my notes on the remaining few chapters on my phone! How can Steven save the universe now when there's a monster of pure, unadulterated destruction on the horizon? Is there a chance he could receive some unexpected help from someone who is also in need of help herself? Stay tuned, folks, for everything begins coming to a head here.

Synopsis: Tensions are high on Serpentes when Nosiop announces his plans for conquest, while Black Rutile ponders if he really needs her.

Cast:

Zach Callison as Steven

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl

Aurelio Voltaire as King Cobralan Jormagundr

Shirley Millner as Queen Constrictra Jormagundr

Cissy Jones as Princess Naja Jormagundr

Henry Rollins as Captain Boa

Jennifer Paz as Lapis, Laz, Zuli

Shelby Rabara as Peridot, Squaridot

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Kimberly Brooks as Jasper

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Tom Scharpling as Greg

Grace Rolek as Connie

Ron Perlman as Inner Steven

Neil Flynn as Aescul

Alexia Khadime as Sardonyx

Billie Eilish as Turquoise

Sarah Stiles as Spinel

Nicole Sullivan as Sylvia Spectre

Kari Wahlgren as Envyrno, Pyrope

Wally Wingert as Rigby Starglow

Dominic Armato as Captain Gearfeet

JP Karliak as S-L1M3

Rob Paulsen as Monty the Moarchean

Steven Blum as Earthos, Deputy Edward

Beau Billingslea as Sheriff Spiegel

Britt Baron as Michelle Angelon

Julissa Aguirre as Lady Imagineer

Terrence C. Carson as The Decimator

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Avi Roque as Cinnabar

Gina Torres as Andesine

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid

Halsey as Tanzanite

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite

Jason Marsden as Prince Nosiop Jormagundr

Keith David as Pyth

Crispin Freeman as Mr. Manco

Sam Witwer as Torius Vosania

Featuring Ray Porter as Squamata

And Tim Curry as Velhallen Beo

--

Serpentes was in chaos. Just moments before halftime of the Contest of Champions ended and the competition could resume, Prince Nosiop abruptly stole his father's throne and claimed that he would now become ruler of Serpentes in place of Cobralan, for he believed that Cobralan was incapable of ruling. In addition, he proclaimed that there was an ancient evil Cobralan was hiding from the public for years, and Nosiop intended to fight it with an army of Gems to prove that the Slytherophidians were meant to conquer.

As the Slytherophidians were sent into a frenzy, Nosiop sat confidently on his new throne while Black Rutile stood by his side. "Ah, this is what it means to take command." Nosiop grinned with his fangs out. "Watching all these worthless insects scurry about while begging for someone to give them orders. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, I agree very much, my friend." Black Rutile declared snidely when she felt someone tug on her cape, that someone being Aquamarine. "Oh, Aquamarine, fancy seeing you here. It feels like we haven't talked in a long while. What's up?"

"We have a question about that army of Gems that Nosiop mentioned." Eyeball said. "How are you going to acquire one, if I may ask? What, will we just make more Gems to serve us?"

"Ah yes, then I suppose it's time for a little history lesson." Black Rutile smirked as she played a holographic video of the Lapidarist's history lesson she spied on. "This is what is known as the Lapidarist. As the name should imply, this being is the mother of all Gems through her creation of what would eventually become the Great Diamond Authority. She possesses the power to create life, and I'm certain she also can reset all Gems to their base programming."

"Wait, what do you mean by base programming?" Holly Blue wondered alarmedly.

"This is going somewhere that I surely won't like." Cat's Eye added morosely.

"Oh, you're going to like what I have planned for her." Black Rutile declared. "Once I plead my case to the Lapidarist and she recognizes me as a poor unfortunate soul in pain and in need of help, she will answer my cries by wiping out all Gems across the universe and forcing them to return to the states from which they first originated, thus making them perfectly willing to follow my every command!"

"So, you're going to brainwash us all?!" Emerald shouted as she combed through the Rutile Rebels to confront Black Rutile. "You're simply plotting to erase everything about us, our personalities, our experiences, our lives, just to fulfill your selfish agenda?! I have done horrible things under both the Diamonds' and your command, but this is going too far!"

"Oh, come now, Emerald, you would probably do the same to make yourself more capable of getting rid of Lars." Black Rutile assured her advisor. "Really, you all should've expected that I'd do something this cruel and unusual towards others."

"Yes, like poofing us, for example?" Cinnabar, now fully reformed after being poofed earlier, declared as she and Cinnabar revealed themselves to Black Rutile. "All because we fancied ourselves better leaders than you?"

"Backstabbing two of your closest confidants was bad enough," Andesine added hotly. "but threatening to erase us all, who have pledged our lives to serve you and your goal of a brighter tomorrow for all Gems?"

"Now, everyone, I know this may seem a little rash, but I promise you all that this is for the greater good!" Black Rutile nervously said, lying through her teeth as she felt her subordinates would soon turn on her like everyone else did. "Please, you all have to listen to me!"

"We are done listening to you." Tanzanite declared fiercely. "White Topaz was right about you; you're a bad leader and a bad friend to all of us. You'd sooner throw one of us to the wolves to see if it was safe before running away at the first sight of danger than actually admit how flawed you are."

"I am not flawed!" Black Rutile shrieked angrily, tears forming in her eyes yet again. "Just please, somebody take my side for once!"

"I believe we all knew this was coming." Demantoid proclaimed harshly before turning to the other Rebels. "Come along, Rebels. Let us find somewhere else where we won't be abused."

"No, wait, please, come back!" Black Rutile yelled as she fruitlessly reached out to her now-former pawns. "You can't just leave me like this! You know the Crystal Gems wouldn't dare take you in!"

"We are well aware of that," Morganite replied coldly. "But at least they'd treat us better than you have."

"Honestly, why did I bother continuing to side with her?" Pyrope scoffed as the Rutile Rebels left their master in the dust for greener pastures, causing Black Rutile to tear up again.

"So, after all we've been through, this is how I'm treated?" Black Rutile groaned as she started crying and groveling on her knees. "What's even the point anymore?"

"To give people hope, dear Rutile," Nosiop said as he hugged his partner in crime. "So we can rip it away from them."

"Indeed, my girl." Pyth agreed with the insidious prince-turned-king. "Now come along. We'd like you to meet the rest of what we call the Serpent Society." As the two Slytherophidians led Black Rutile away from the Ouraborium, Nosiop gave Pyth a firm nod, to which Pyth replied with an evil smile.

--

Elsewhere in the stadium, Steven roamed the halls as he brooded to himself over what he had just learned from the Lapidarist and the Diamonds. Not only was White Diamond more like Pink Diamond than he realized, but the Diamonds were also hiding the fact that they did indeed commit genocide on a few planets that they had conquered. He needed time to process everything he learned, to the point where he barely realized that Nosiop had just announced his conquest of Serpentes.

"You see what sparing the Diamonds will lead you to?" Inner Steven coldly stated as Steven imagined the manifestation of his darker impulses walking alongside him. "You should've let me shatter White when I had the chance back on Homeworld. Then we wouldn't have had to suffer all of this!"

"You and I both know I would never take a life!" Steven shouted angrily at Inner Steven.

"Then what about Jasper?" Inner Steven retorted snidely.

"Okay, you raise a good point," Steven agreed. "but I'd never intentionally take a life."

"Even after my change of heart, I always found it annoying how you'd rather sit back like a coward because you think everyone deserves a second chance." Inner Steven stated. "Much like you, I never fully trusted the Diamonds and thought they would go back on their word to destroy us again at any moment. If that day ever comes, you must be ready for the worst possible scenario."

"Yes, it's true that I feel so utterly betrayed, but I don't think the Diamonds would ever go that far." Steven replied. "I just want to live my life where everyone isn't lying to me and keeping secrets that could destroy us all!"

"You know, on that note, heard the news lately?" Inner Steven added as he tapped his foot, and a voice rang out in Steven's mind-space.

"As of today, I shall now take my father's place as your ruler, for he is not fit to be a king or a Universal Lord. Let this be a wake-up call to you Slytherophidians, the Universal Lords, the Gem race, and the ignorant masses across the entire universe!" the voice of Prince Nosiop declared as a holographic image of him appeared before Steven. "I shall soon arrive with an entire army of loyal Gems at my side to face down an ancient foe my father has hidden from you for so long! We all must answer to the hand of fate, and fate has chosen me to conquer this world!"

"Who is that?" Steven asked his darker half in wonder at the prince before him.

"Prince Nosiop Jormagundr, son of Cobralan and self-proclaimed next in line to become king of Serpentes." Inner Steven revealed. "I'm sure you heard of him before. He and Black Rutile teamed up to conquer the planet and reboot the entire Gem race to turn into their slaves. Don't think you met him in person, though."

"So what, is he meant to be like the Slytherophidian equivalent to Black Rutile or something?" Steven asked.

"Close." Inner Steven answered. "I think he may share some qualities with you. But he's the answer to a very important question."

"What was the question?" Steven asked, not expecting a good answer.

"What if you were more like Pink Diamond growing up?" Inner Steven answered forebodingly. "Think of it. This boy clearly wanted to get everything he ever wanted even though he had everything handed to him on a silver platter, so he resorted to drastic measures when nobody paid attention to him. Remind you of anyone?"

"So what do I need to do?" Steven asked his inner self.

"It's quite simple, really." Inner Steven said with his figurative hands on Steven's shoulders. "You must stop history from repeating itself, or it will mean the universe's destruction and possibly beyond."

--

"What is the meaning of this?!" Cobralan roared as he slithered into the throne room upon hearing the news. "Nosiop, you better have a very good explanation of what you are doing because you are in big trouble, young man!"

"I see you've heard, my old friend." Pyth declared as he ominously snuck up behind Cobralan and grabbed him by the neck with a jagged knife in his scaly hands. "It seems your son will be getting his coronation early. But unfortunately, you won't live long enough to see him all grown up."

"Pyth, what is going on?" Cobralan asked his insidious advisor. "What is Nosiop doing? What are you doing? Answer me, blast you!"

"It's just a little something I've been working on for the past couple of years," Pyth revealed to his former king. "I notice that Nosiop wants to be seen for his great ideas, introduce him to Squamata, and then covertly guide him along as I use him to gain ultimate power." He slowly pressed the knife to Cobralan's throat. "Now then, tell me where Squamata's resting place is, and I promise you'll only come out of this with a few scars."

"I'll never tell you!" Cobralan yelled fiercely and tried spitting poison in Pyth's face, but the vizier barely reacted to the attack. "It's a secret that our family has kept for generations, and I refuse to give it up to the likes of you!"

"So that's the way it is, then." Pyth cruelly hissed as he prepared to stab the king in his throat with the knife. "Long live the king." However, his murder of the Slytherophidian king would have to wait as a loud crash was heard from above, followed by a hearty "OOOOO-HOHOHOHOHO!" that made him jump. "What was that?!"

"Good day, your majesty!" Sardonyx laughed as she smashed a hole in the throne room's ceiling to view Pyth's attempted assassination. "Am I interrupting anything?!"

"What is that thing?!" Pyth screamed in terror as Sardonyx reached into the throne room and grabbed Cobralan in her giant hand.

"Oh, pardon me for being so rude." Sardonyx giggled. "You may call me Sardonyx. I'm here with my lovely assistant, Turquoise, to rescue the fair king of Serpentes and put a stop to your dastardly schemes! Turquoise, please take care of Mr. Pyth, s'il vous plaît"

"Already on it," Turquoise replied as she conjured up some liquid metal that solidified into metallic restraints to keep Pyth imprisoned while the two fusions escaped. "Catch you on the flipside, Dorkus."

"Get back here, you two! Unhand me at once!" Pyth yelled furiously as he tried to escape his imprisonment. "Ugh, this is what happens when you've been spying on Gems for who knows how long. Eventually, they'll overpower you in every way imaginable. Now, can someone get me out of this thing?"

--

On the other side of the Ouraborium, the competitors of the Contest of Champions were trying their best to stay calm amid the chaos. Still, each had their own views about Nosiop's planned takeover of Serpentes.

"Yes, Chief, I'm already calling for backup." Sylvia Spectre said to her boss over her communication device. "Prince Nosiop will be brought to justice by sundown. What do you mean what will the king think?! Nosiop just stole his throne and said Cobralan was unfit to rule!"

"Hey Sylvie, can you talk a little faster so we can get out of here?" Envyrno complained impatiently while leaning back against the wall. "I wanna get the Abe Due Dumballa out of here and cause a little mischief already!"

"No, we cannot!" Sylvia declared sternly. "As an officer of the Coalition of Galaxies, it is my sworn duty to root out evil wherever it may lurk and bring them to justice, no matter the species. And that includes thugs like you, Envyrno."

"Oh geez, another busybody rule-follower." Envyrno groaned in dismay. "You should embrace your inner bad girl already. Let's go kill some horrible bosses together, get a purge going! Live a little! In fact, I know of this great place to hang out at a few star systems away. It's a new club that plays really great hardcore techno for a really hip young crowd."

"The answer is still no." Sylvia turned down Envyrno's offer. "Though that club does sound intriguing."

"Now you're speaking my language!" Envyrno gave a hearty chortle while putting a lava-covered arm around Sylvia's shoulder.

Meanwhile, Rigby Starglow stood up on a makeshift stage in the middle of the arena while tuning his guitar. "Good evening, folks, or whatever time it is on this planet. My name's Rigby Starglow. I'm the biggest rock star in the universe and today, I'm going to play you all a song to calm everybody down." He then began to strum on his guitar. "Breath, should I take a deep? Faith, should I take a leap?" Rigby started singing. "Taste, what a bittersweet. All my, all my life. Let me face, let me face, let me face my fears!"

Within the city of Alethinophidia, Captain Gearfeet was having the time of his life as he tipped over market stalls and broke into shops to engage in some looting. "Hee hee hee, this is the most fun I've had in ages!" he laughed happily while diving into a store window to steal its contents. "Come on, everybody, it's the end of the world. Let's get looting!"

"Stop right there, Gearfeet." Sheriff Spiegel declared as he pressed a laser pistol to the captain's nose. "We're gonna need you to hand over everything you stole so we can return them to their rightful owners."

"I dare you to try, copper." Gearfeet said as he protectively held onto his loot. "I'm not even sure who the original owners are anymore!"

"Everyone please, cease this conflict!" Michelle Angelon exclaimed as she flew down from above to get between the sheriff and the pirate. "I understand that you are on different sides of the law, but there are far more pressing matters at hand, my friends."

"Yeah, yeah, the giant space snake is a-coming, or whatever." Deputy Edward replied. "Man, haven't had a day this crazy since we fought those spice cultists back home, eh Sheriff?"

"You said it, Edward. I can still hear them now." Spiegel smirked. "He who controls the spice controls the universe!"

"Can we please get on with it?!" Gearfeet yelled. "I just wanna find a ship and go back to my crew already."

"You and us both, Captain." S-L1M3 said as he slithered to the four with Earthos, Lady Imagineer, Monty, and the Decimator behind him. "I just want to go home already. I didn't even get a chance to fight anybody!"

"I, for one, am still not satisfied with the hand I was dealt on this planet." The Decimator replied in his trademark deep, booming voice. "I demand the greatest fight these creatures could offer, yet time and again, I've been greeted with nothing but disappointment! Whatever this ancient foe Nosiop speaks of may be, it has got to give me a satisfactory challenge!"

"Whatever you say, big guy!" Monty said meekly before pulling out a photo of his wife and children back on his home planet. "Hold on, my family, I'll be home soon."

"That your fam there, Monty?" Earthos asked about the photo. "Not a bad lot, I'll say. Maybe I can visit sometime, be like the cool uncle to your kids."

"That would be so nice, Earthos." Monty replied sweetly before all the fighters gathered in Alethinophidia looked up at the sky to find that the clouds had changed. "Hey, what's that up there?"

"I believe it's a message." Lady Imagineer answered and began reading the message. "I think it says, 'Meet us at the castle at once. Signed, the Crystal Gems'."

"That just spells out B.U.T.T.," Monty said as he read the message in the sky himself. "How are you able to get all that?!"

"Call it a hunch." Imagineer smiled kindly in reply before she flew towards the castle. "Come on, everybody, follow me!"

--

"Hey, I think I can see people coming towards us!" Laz exclaimed as she, Lapis, and Zuli watched the Contest competitors race towards the castle. "Our message worked!"

"Good, but next time," Lapis said before turning to Zuli. "let's try and get straight to the point instead of just writing funny words in the sky. You're lucky this didn't end up like last time, Zuli!"

"Oh, come on, Lapis, you told me it was a good idea back in the day on Tritek!" Zuli tried shifting the blame to Lapis. "Those Gremlins didn't know what hit them!"

"Can you three please stop arguing and get back in here?!" Jasper bellowed for the three Lapides to come inside. "We need to think of a plan!"

The three terraformers hovered into the main hall of the castle, where the Crystal Gems have gathered the royal family of Serpentes, Captain Boa, Aescul, the Metals, the various contestants in the Contest of Champions, the Diamonds, Bialyoom and Meinerr, the Little Homeworld gems, the Universal Lords, and the Off-Colors together to form an alliance to save Serpentes and the universe.

"Good day to you all." Connie announced to the ragtag band of misfits. "As I'm sure you're all aware of what has been happening lately, about the announcement that Nosiop is plotting to conquer the planet with an army of Gems. Today, we have gathered you all to stop that for the good of everyone in the universe."

"I can't believe my son would do this to me." Cobralan muttered in shame and regret while looking down at his hands. "I've done so much for his happiness, and this is how he repays me? What have I done that would warrant such a reaction?"

"Do you want me to be honest with you or not?" Greg asked Cobralan.

"I'll take any answer at this point," Cobralan replied.

"To be frank, you're kind of a mediocre father," Greg admitted bluntly, much to Cobralan's shock. "What? You said you'd take any answer!"

"Don't fret, dear husband, I'm sure he's just joshing with you!" Constricta tried to cheer her husband up.

"No, I'm being serious!" Greg exclaimed. "I can definitely see you're a great & loving husband and a pretty darn good ruler to your people, but this whole contest has distanced you from your kids and their needs. I mean, Naja probably has serious self-doubt issues, and Nosiop speaks for himself."

"The human is right, father." Naja agreed with Greg. "Ever since you made me the Contest's master of ceremonies, I've had to deal with the fear of disappointing the masses, that I'd be unworthy of being a princess if I make just one mistake."

"Oh my dear, you'll never be a disappointment to me." Cobralan said as he comforted his daughter with a hug. "No matter what you do to impress the masses, you'll always be my little girl. Now, please, Naja, your mother and I urge you this one time. Please stand, stand by us."

"Okay, Father, I will," Naja replied with a sniffle. "And hopefully, we can bring Nosiop back to his senses too."

"So, what do we do now?" Amethyst asked. "The Lapidarist said we needed an ultimate fusion to stop this Squamata guy once and for all, but which one is it? Opal, Sugilite, Sardonyx, Alexandrite? Maybe even Malachite?"

"Hey, speaking of which, anybody seen Steven lately?" Pearl added. "I haven't seen him since the Lapidarist's history lesson, and I'm getting worried. Hopefully, he hasn't decided to leave Serpentes early."

"No way Steven would ever do that, not in a thousand different timelines I've examined." Garnet proclaimed. "He has to be here somewhere; we just need to know where."

"Probably still somewhere in the castle." Peridot answered. "Hopefully, he hasn't gone too far."

"I'll go search for him." Squaridot declared as she tried leaving the group, only to be stopped in her tracks when Peridot grabbed her stubby green arm.

"Oh no, you don't!" Peridot yelled. "I've known Steven longer; let me search for him!"

"No, I'll do it, you obnoxious nacho!" Squaridot argued with her triangular counterpart before the two hissed at each other and got into a slapfight.

"Spinel, you find Steven." Bismuth ordered Spinel, who gave a hearty salute and ran off.

"Hang on, Steve Summers, I'm coming for you!" Spinel yelled as she ran deeper into the castle.

"I hope Steven can find it in himself to forgive the Diamonds for lying to him." White Topaz said.

"Then again, he's just a very forgiving person in general." Aescul declared. "So this should be pretty easy for him."

--

"Finding this resting place is not easy at all!" Nosiop complained as he, Pyth, Black Rutile, and a few Slytherophidian soldiers ventured into the desert plains of Serpentes in search of Squamata's resting place. "We could've stabbed the location right out of Father, but then we had a couple of fusions ruining everything! No doubt the Crystal Gems are plotting against us as we speak!"

"Thank goodness you eventually got me out of those restraints, Black Rutile," Pyth said with a sinister smile at Black Rutile. "Now look alive. We got some friends on the other side on the horizon."

"Yes, that Serpent Society cult you told me about." Black Rutile replied. "Shouldn't there be more of us?"

"Unfortunately, most of our ranks have been lost to time, except for a few members still alive and kicking today," Pyth explained as a massive spaceship began descending upon Serpentes. Upon landing, its passengers revealed themselves to be a few faces that Black Rutile found familiar.

"Well well well, Torius Vosania." Black Rutile said upon recognizing the crime lord and estranged criminal brother of Batsputin Vosania. "Fancy meeting you here after you got brought to justice by those Pearls."

"Indeed, Black Rutile and I brought along a few new friends I met in prison." Torius declared as he revealed two more thugs by his side who had joined the brother of Batsputin in his revenge plot. One of them was Mr. Manco, the cybernetic menace of East Walleef from Sergione-29 who, much like Torius Vosania, also formed an alliance with Cinnabar in the past before the Black Pearl Brigade foiled his plans. However, the next villain was an even bigger shock to Black Rutile's core.

"No, that cannot be!" Black Rutile gasped in shock at the humanoid figure dressed in green armor with a foghat gray mask, blank red eyes, a purple cape, and a red V on his chest. "Velhallen Beo?! I thought Batsputin defeated you in the Battle of the Night! Were you in prison this whole time?"

"Indeed I was, Gem." Velhallen Beo replied with an arrogant sneer. "But now, thanks to Prince Nosiop, I can retake control of the Twilight Zone with the power of Squamata! Now tell us, where is he hiding?"

"Unfortunately, I was outsmarted by a few of the Crystal Gems before I could extort His Majesty for information," Pyth said regretfully. "Anyone else got any bright ideas?"

"Oh yes, I have one." Mr. Manco declared. "A rumor spread by a fellow prisoner named Titanius Anglesmith says that there is an ancient temple hidden beneath the surface of Serpentes, and only one may be sacrificed for the beast within to be unleashed."

"And I think we know just the sacrifice." Nosiop declared as all the members of the Serpent Society turned to Black Rutile with evil grins. "Black Rutile, would you care to help us unleash total death and destruction at the cost of your life?"

"What?! You can't just betray me like this when I've already been betrayed!" Black Rutile yelled in horror while Beo tried to grab her by the wrists. "Let go of me!"

"Don't try to fight it. You've been craving the sweet release of death, haven't you?" Beo hissed eagerly, stunning Black Rutile for a few moments before she regained her composure and tugged at Velhallen Beo's grip before tossing him over her head, causing the former Universal Lord to lose his grasp on the Gem terrorist. "What the?!"

"I have to warn Steven!" Black Rutile shouted the absolute last thing she ever wanted to say before making her escape.

"What are you waiting for, you nimrods?! After her!" Beo shouted when Nosiop put up a hand to block him.

"Leave her. She's going to bring Steven to us." Nosiop proclaimed. "Now then, anyone else care to be sacrificed? How about you, Maverick? Would you like to give up your life for my cause?"

"Uh, what?" Maverick muttered before Torius picked up the snake guard with his new and improved cybernetics and dragged him away. "I do not consent to this! I demand a two weeks' notice!"

--

Back at the Jormagundrs' castle, Steven was sitting on one of the castle battlements as he gazed up at the bright afternoon sun when he heard someone approaching him.

"Hey, Steven!" Spinel exclaimed while sitting down next to her best half-human friend. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Yeah, it's about the Diamonds." Steven said softly. "I thought I learned all I could ever learn about them, but then they whip out this whole coverup and make me even more justified in my paranoia! If it turns out someone who loved you was hiding a huge secret this whole time, how would you react?"

"You mean the whole Pink Diamond thing?" Spinel replied with a blunt expression on her face. "Yeah, I'm not sure how to react, considering she died and didn't even tell me because I was standing in the middle of the garden for thousands of years! But the point is, you can't just hold it against the Diamonds for as long as you live, especially since we got a crazy prince about to kill us all!"

"I have every right to hold it against them!" Steven argued with Spinel. "I have every right to be so wary of them, considering that they're acting like they didn't scar me for life, brainwashed my friends, and nearly killed me just because I'm family!"

"Wow, never knew you could hold a grudge, Steven," Spinel muttered in shock. "But hey, it's not like things could get any worse from here on out, right?" Just then, the ground beneath the two began shaking, almost like an earthquake had struck Serpentes. "Me and my big mouth!"

The skies began turning darker than the blackest void as a massive snake creature with green scales, a yellow underbelly, and ginormous sharp fangs emerged from afar and released a mighty roar. "I have turned hundreds upon thousands of worlds to dust in the name of darkness and devastation until I was robbed of my glory." Squamata, the fearsome god of Serpentes, roared for all to hear across the universe. "I will stride across the bones of my enemies and bask in the glow of pure evil, for all of existence shall be mine to consume!"

It turns out that forgiving the Diamonds for their past atrocities would be the least of Steven's worries.

The worst has finally come.

--

Yeah, you and your big mouth, Spinel. At long last, Squamata has been unleashed and is free to destroy all that he sees! At least until an army of Gems can bring him down for good, but it won't be the army that Nosiop desires. Plus, it'll only be a matter of time before Squamata goes out of control and betrays the Serpent Society to pursue his goal of destroying everything he sees. How can the Crystal Gems possibly survive against a creature that only knows and revels in such levels of destruction and chaos? We'll just have to wait and see.

[bolainfo]

Resmi Bergabung Chelsea , Andrey Santos Batal Bela Brazil U-20 ?

Manajemen Chelsea secara resmi telah mengumumkan perekrutan ketiganya pada bursa transfer musim dingin ini setelah mendapatkan jasa pemain muda asal Brazil , Andrey Santos.

Chelsea harus mengeluarkan dana sebesar £18 juta demi mendapatkan Santos dari Vasco da Gama sehingga menyingkirkan Manchester City dan Newcastle United yang juga tertarik dengannya.

Hanya saja , Peresmian ini membuat peluang Santos untuk memperkuat Timnas Brazil U-20 di Piala Amerika Selatan U-20 di Kolombia yang akan digelar pada tanggal 19 Januari nanti menjadi tanda tanya.

Seperti yang diketahui bahwa nama Santos masuk kedalam daftar 23 pemain Brazil U-20 yang dipilih oleh Pelatih Timnas Brazil U-20, Ramon Menezes. Hingga saat ini, Belum diketahui dengan pasti Santos bergabung dengan Tim untuk menjalani sesi latihan di Granja Comary.

Dikutip dari Lance , Santos masih harus menjalani sejumlah prosedur untuk mengurus administrasi di London. Federasi Sepakbola Brazil (CBF) pun masih menunggu kabar dari Santos mengenai kepastiannya untuk bergabung ke Skaud U-20.

Piala Amerika Serikat U-20 menjadi ajang kualifikasi Piala Dunia U-20 2023 yang digelar di Indonesia. Brazil berada di Grup A bersama Tuan Rumah Kolombia , Argentina, Paraguay , dan Peru.

Berikut daftar 23 pemain Brasil U-20:

Kiper: Kaique (Palmeiras), Kaua Santos (Flamengo), Mycael Pontes (Athletico-PR).

Belakang: Douglas Mendes (Red Bull Bragantino), Robert Renan (Corinthians), Weverton (Cruzeiro), Michel (Palmeiras), Patryck (Sao Paulo), Arthur (America-MG), Kaiki Bruno (Cruzeiro), Andre (Bahia).

Tengah: Andrey Santos (Vasco), Marlon Gomes (Vasco), Ronald (Grêmio), Alexsander (Fluminense), Guilherme Biro (Corinthians).

Depan: Stenio (Cruzeiro), Pedrinho (Corinthians), Giovane (Corinthians), Renan Viana (Athletico-PR), Luiz Guilherme (Palmeiras), Savio (PSV-HOL), Vitor Roque (Athletico-PR).

Baca Juga : Prancis Resmi Perpanjang Kontrak Didier Deschamps

[lamilanomagazine]

Pesaro, in arrivo al Teatro Sperimentale il progetto musicale “Integrale I”

Pesaro, in arrivo al Teatro Sperimentale il progetto musicale “Integrale I”.   Domenica 4 dicembre 2022 (ore 18) la 63esima  Stagione concertistica dell’Ente Concerti presenta Integrale I, il progetto di esecuzione delle Sinfonie di Ludwig van Beethoven nelle trascrizioni pianistiche di Franz Liszt. Sul palco del Teatro Sperimentale di Pesaro saranno protagonisti per l’occasione due grandi talenti del pianoforte: Paolo Marzocchi e Maurizio Baglini. Le Sinfonie di Beethoven nella trascrizione di Liszt sono una delle più alte realizzazioni pianistiche dell’Ottocento, dove il discorso musicale, estremamente fedele e rispettoso del capolavoro originale per orchestra, esalta la grande ammirazione di Liszt verso il Compositore di Bonn. L’impegno che Liszt prese solennemente nella prefazione al primo volume delle Sinfonie era di trascrivere nel modo più accurato possibile ciò che egli considerava testi sacri, rispettando ogni piccolo dettaglio, e differenziandosi così dalle tante trascrizioni allora in circolazione, rozze e troppo semplificate per restituire il valore originario della musica sinfonica. Un atto di omaggio al musicista che Liszt venerava e al quale si sentiva più vicino. Nelle parole del pianista e direttore d’orchestra Michele Campanella: “le nove Sinfonie restano di Beethoven anche al pianoforte. Liszt con umiltà e orgoglio si mette al servizio del sommo compositore”. Ancora ai nostri giorni l’approccio alle pagine lisztiane è di estrema difficoltà. Non a caso a eseguire le sinfonie saranno due pianisti affermati e di grande talento, Paolo Marzocchi e Maurizio Baglini, i quali possiedono doti di espressività, di brillantezza e di tecnica strumentale di conclamata eccellenza, apprezzati dal pubblico e dalla critica internazionale. Paolo Marzocchi, compositore e pianista, è nato a Pesaro nel 1971. Di formazione classica, ha da sempre avuto verso la musica un approccio naturale e incurante delle barriere linguistiche, dedicandosi alla composizione in tutte le sue forme, dalla musica sinfonica e cameristica al teatro, al cinema, alla radio, e alle sperimentazioni con altri linguaggi. Come compositore ha lavorato con artisti di fama internazionale, e ricevuto numerose commissioni per la realizzazione di opere pianistiche, da camera e sinfoniche, collaborando con istituzioni prestigiose e artisti internazionali, spesso ricoprendo sia il ruolo di autore che di esecutore o direttore d’orchestra. Le sue composizioni per pianoforte raccolte nell’album “Piano Works” sono recentemente uscite in un libro e sulla nuova piattaforma Martinville. È l’ideatore e il direttore artistico della WunderKammer Orchestra. Maurizio Baglini, pianista visionario con il gusto per le sfide musicali, ha un’intensa carriera concertistica internazionale come solista e camerista. Vincitore a 24 anni del “World Music Piano Master”, si esibisce presso l’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, il Teatro alla Scala, il Teatro San Carlo, la Salle Gaveau di Parigi, il Kennedy Center di Washington ed è ospite di prestigiosi festival tra cui La Roque d’Anthéron, Yokohama Piano Festival, Australian Chamber Music Festival e “Benedetti Michelangeli” di Bergamo e Brescia. La sua vasta produzione discografica per Decca/Universal comprende musiche di Liszt, Brahms, Schubert, Scarlatti, Mussorgsky e Schumann, in onore del quale sta realizzando un’integrale pianistica. Fondatore e direttore artistico dell’Amiata Piano Festival, è consulente artistico del Teatro “Verdi” di Pordenone. Biglietti: la biglietteria del Teatro Sperimentale è aperta dal mercoledì al sabato dalle 17 alle 19.30. I biglietti disponibili saranno messi in vendita anche il giorno del concerto dalle 10 alle 13 e dalle 17 fino ad inizio spettacolo. Prezzi biglietti: posto di platea € 13; posto di galleria € 10; Ridotto under 25 in tutti i settori € 5. Vendita online: una parte dei posti disponibili viene messa in vendita online; l’acquisto può essere effettuato visitando il sito www.vivaticket.it. L’acquisto online comporta un aggravio del costo del biglietto in favore del gestore del servizio. Informazioni: Ente Concerti Palazzo Gradari Via Rossini, tel. 0721 32482, info@enteconcerti.it e www.enteconcerti.it. Teatro Sperimentale Via Rossini, Pesaro, tel. 0721 387548. La Direzione si riserva di apportare al programma le variazioni imposte da ragioni tecniche o da cause di forza maggiore. Gli eventi rispetteranno tutte le procedure di legge per il contenimento della diffusione del Covid-19 previste dalla normativa vigente.  ... #notizie #news #breakingnews #cronaca #politica #eventi #sport #moda Read the full article

[uniquetyphoonmiracle]

Por cierto..tenia PENDIENTE de DESVELAR que una enfermera que me atendió en hospital LA PAZ se llamaba ALBA [=LUZ del AMANECER] CAZORLA [localidad en la que estuve la última SEMANA SANTA bajo un DILUVIO con motivo tanto porque VIRGINIA MAESTRO toco junto a las RUINAS de la IGLESIA DE SANTA MARIA el día que murió AMY WINEHOUSE en LONDRES donde yo VAGABUNDEABA detrás de KYLIE MINOGUE que entonces estaba con la gira APHRODITE LES FOLIES=LOCURAS.. novia entonces de ANDRES VELENCOSO que ese 2011 debuto en cine en la Apocaliptica FIN seguida de SEÑOR DAME PACIENCIA] como por santi CAZORLA que jugo en ARSENAL tras ser fichado desde VILLARREAL [donde vi a VIRGINIA MAESTRO en sus fiestas en MAYO 2022 como TELONERA de ANA CURRA de PARALISIS PERMANENTE que solo lanzó el cd EL ACTO=sexual..con single QUIERO SER SANTA ..por que tuvo un accidente con su NOVIO o el CANTANTE y él murió con 21 años pero ella se Salvo..y la fui a ver porque acababa de saber de la Argentina SOL_EDAD VILLARREAL nacida en LAS PAREJAS, SANTA FE como VALDANO o el VERDUGO del REAL MADRID como entrenador del TENER_I_FE en el último partido de 2 LIGAS CONSECUTIVAS a FAVOR DE FC BARCELONA y la 2da la achacan a que el AVION tuvo que regresar porque no funcionaba el AIRE ACONDICIONADO y se DESHIDRATARON teniendo que esperar 12 hrs en AEROPUERTO al que el BANQUERO CORRUPTO Mario CONDE amigo de JUAN CARLOS I les dejará su JET PRIVADO y al árbitro Gracia REDONDO que no les pitó 2 PENALTIES por lo que cuando jugaron en SAN SEBASTIAN expulsando a HIERRO porque le echo MUCHO TEATRO el portugués OCEANO le dijo QUE NO SABIA COMO JODERLOS mientras chileno IVAN ZAMORANO intentaba CALMAR y MICHEL O EL HIJO DEL MANZANA cuyo padre al fichar por el CORDOBA tuvo un accidente y nunca llegó a jugar con ellos en el Estadio ARCANGEL..le decía QUE TENIA MUCHA CARA..ESTADIO NUEVO ARCANGEL que fotografie desde el BUS SEVILLA_MADRID en SEP 2016 al que se le REVENTO UNA RUEDA a la ALTURA del PUTI_CLUB el CONEJO DE LA SUERTE entre TOLEDO Y MADRID]..que marcó uno de los dos goles de ESPAÑA a HAITI tras su devastador TERREMOTO [2010] o en 2013 en el estadio SUN LIFE de MIAMI actual HARD ROCK ..primero [2008] y último [2024] que he visitado en la MISION fuera de ESPAÑA

Por cierto..VALDANO que salio vivo de MILAGRO de un accidente de HELICOPTERO en MEXICO DF mientras sus acompañantes murieron..ficho como entrenador del TENERIFE en las últimas jornadas de la LIGA 91/92 para sustituir al INDIO SOLARI tío de SANTIAGO SOLARI [y su hermana LIZ SOLARI que mato follando al hermano de la MUJER de Walter SAMUEL, EX REAL MADRID] que como entrenador de REAL MADRID hizo debutar a CRISTO Gonzalez en LA LIGA en el ESTADIO DE HELIOPOLIS [=CIUDAD DEL SOL] o del BETIS en SEVILLA cuyo BUS Fotografie [6_08_11] en CONDUIT ST o frente hotel WEST_BURY=OCCIDENTE_ENTERRAR de LONDRES tras jugar en el LIBERTY Stadium de SWAMSEA y viendo pasear al día siguiente a sus jugadores como SALVADOR SEVILLA LOPEZ [único en la historia de la LIGA con CANAS en el pelo] o miki ROQUE [Nacido en TREMP como diseñador ANGEL CUSTODIO alias CUSTO BARCELONA] que murió un año despues con 24 años de CANCER

De TREMP también era JAVI PEREZ el REPRESENTANTE DE FUTBOLISTAS [tenia una AGENCIA junto a IVAN DE LA PEÑA LOPEZ alias EL BUDA ]..amigo de CARLES PUYOL los cuales se fotografiaron con KYLIE MINOGUE en su concierto en BARCELONA cuando se agacho en el ESCENARIO para besar a VELENCOSO en su gira APHRODITE ..y el cual a continuación murio en ACCIDENTE..y JAVI O XAVI PEREZ se llamaba también el representante de Antonio OROZCO desde su cd debut UN RELOJ Y UNA VELA hasta el cd DESTINO muriendo en el ESTUDIO por lo que sacó la REEDICION " DESTINO: ULTIMA LLAMADA" poniendo una frase de XAVI PEREZ " LO QUE SUCEDE CONVIENE"