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pendragonfics · 3 years

Text

Secret Lover

Paring: Clark Kent/Reader

Tags: male reader, female reader, no pronouns for reader, daily planet, reporter reader, secret relationship

Summary: It's just another day working for the Daily Planet until you're face-to-face with the Superman...

Word Count: 1,302

Current Date: 2020-12-07

According to the movies, it was easy to live in a romantic-comedy bubble. But no matter how hard you tried to live in a cringe Hallmark knockoff movie, there was no magic in your life. It was supposed to be great, as soon as you moved to Metropolis; but then again, you were a romantic at heart. You were just a food blogger freelancing for the Daily Planet. It was going to get better than taking photos of cupcakes and artesian cheese boards. It had to.

“Order for…?” the barista called out, frowning at the scribble. “I can’t read–”

Glancing from your phone, you recognise your order in their hand. Pushing to the front, you grab your coffee. It was unusually packed in the café, and glad for your mask, you leave the café. It’s been some time since your first debut after lockdown, and yet, you still feel some awkwardness around crowds. Luckily the streets are less filled at this hour, so the walk to work isn’t as intense.

But just as you make it into the lobby, you’re bombarded by the new intern. Jerry? Jarod? Whatever his name is, he’s distraught.

“I can’t believe my luck, you’re here,” he babbles. “I was going to pass out.”

Barely looking to him, you take a sip of your drink. As both of you enter the elevator, he goes on, but most of it is incomprehensible and confusing. “Slow down, kid.” You eye him, not jealous of whatever has made him get to this emotional state before nine in the morning. “One word at a time.”

“Channel three hundred have a news crew upstairs,” he leans against the elevator wall, out of breath. “The usual execs have food poisoning, and Ms Lane is in Illinois–” he explains.

“–What about Kent?” you blink.

“He was going to,” the intern explained miserably, “But then he ran off.”

You roll your eyes, and down the rest of your drink in a matter of seconds. The lights above the door flicker closer and closer to the top floor and you brace yourself. “Well. Hopefully, I get the promotion after this.”

The doors open, and you pass the intern your empty cup. The news crew are in the glass office walls of the meeting room, and to your surprise, there’s someone other than the semi-famous news anchor John Robbins in there; he’s unmistakable, an iconic face around the city of Metropolis, and currently, stands half-hidden behind someone you don’t recognise. But as soon as you falter, you straighten your shoulders and enter the room.

“You must be the food and culture writer,” John beamed. “___________?”

“Yes,” you looked between John and the guest in the room. Clearing your throat, you felt your face grow hot, and you corrected his assumption, “…I’m actually just a food writer, mostly freelance.” You glanced once more to the guest. “It’s surreal. I’m in a room with the Superman,” you smile.

“It’s good to finally meet the person behind the article,” he holds his hand to yours to shake. You blink. Wiping your palm on your pants before touching his, you notice his grip is firm, and cool to the touch. You’re focused on the sensations that when you realise that he’s still talking, you’ve missed half of what he’s been saying “–I liked your article about the artesian gelato.”

“That’s – thank you.”

You glance to the side and catch sight of the intern through the glass walls. He stands there, phone facing you. It’s when the flash goes off, you feel your face heat up again. But before you can move to him to cut it off, John starts blocking for the report.

“We go live in three, two…” the camerawoman announced, putting a finger down until the anchor started speaking.

“Good morning, Metropolis! I’m John Robbins, coming to you live from the Daily Planet headquarters where I have journalist _________ ___________ and the blue boy scout himself, Superman with me! It’s not every day the little person can say they were a part of a city-wide effort to reduce crime. Two weeks ago, _________’s article on the seemingly innocuous Parisian restaurant in downtown Metropolis led to the raid carried out earlier today by a joint effort of both Gotham and Metropolis police to rid the city of the underground crime family.”

The microphone moved from his hand to before your face. “So, _________? What do you think of the events, in relation to the Daily Planet?”

You put on your best smile. “Only good things. As the oldest reliable analogue news source to Metropolis, here at the Daily Planet we only tell the news as it breaks and chases the truth as far as it takes.”

“And thanks to your own article, Superman was able to take down the operation. Did you know of this illegal behaviour going on behind the restaurant’s doors? Or was this a fluke?”

“I don’t believe that _________ here knew of the illicit goings-on,” Superman answered, turning to John. “After all, they are a stellar reporter, however, that hard work clearly goes into their reviews on the restaurant scene of the city, not crime.” Superman gave a winning smile, his white teeth brighter than a doctored image for dentistry. “The breakthrough they made goes back to the lack of an interview with the sous-chef, which left them a lack of an alibi.”

“Well, there you have it, folks, straight from the mouth of our very own Superman!” the news anchor beamed, looking into the camera. I’m John Robbins, live from the Daily Planet. Now, back to you in the studio, Margot!”

As soon as the light stopped flashing on the camera, you turned to Superman, somewhat unsure of yourself; what to say, what to do with your hands. You bite your lip, but just before you went to leave the meeting room, you turn to John. He’s being dusted off with a powder puff by someone, and as his eyes are closed, you fold your arms.

“Robbins,” you smile, as sweetly as you can. Eyes still closed; you see a smug little smile on his face. But it was going to be wiped off soon enough, “The next time you accuse me of working for a Gotham mafioso ring on live television, I’ll leak your Themyscira-themed leather fetish Instagram.”

You didn’t stay to watch him pale.

Later that night, back at your apartment, you stand on the balcony holding a mug of tea. It’s not snowing yet, but despite the chill, it was a pleasant evening; you were apparently trending on Twitter under #HUMBLEBRAG, with some photos of your face cropped by teens on posted to humour blogs. Your fifteen minutes of fame was fleeting, sure, but you’d never get the look of shock on that hubris-filled man from your memory.

“Is this seat taken?”

You peer down the fire escape, to see Clark. He’s not exactly climbing the emergency stairs but flying slow enough to appear so. He’s still in his suit, like earlier, but now, he’s got an ugly holiday sweater covering his signature S.

“You own half the lease,” you smile, over your mug. “Be my guest.”

He clears his throat. “You mean Clark Kent owns the other half, not Superman,” he says, quietly, climbing over the railing.

You roll your eyes. “I still can’t believe your disguise is a pair of cheap specs.” You lean toward Clark and leave a kiss on his cheek. “And that I have to pretend I don’t know you every time you take them off.”

“What do you mean?” Clark slides the glasses down his nose and up a few times as if he’s readjusting the frames. “I’m perfectly hidden.”

“So am I,” you whisper, kissing the tip of his nose. “Can’t believe I’m Superman’s secret lover.”

#clark kent #superman #dc comics x reader #dc comics fanfic #clark kent x reader #clark kent/reader #superman x reader #superman/reader #pendragonfics #chaotic--lovely #male reader #gender neutral reader #Female reader

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queenofgotham800 · 4 years

Text

(Roman Sionis x Reader)

Requested by: @stardancerluv

Warnings: Gramatical Errors, Anxious soft Roman

Summary: Celebrating Roman's birthday will be different this year.

(A/n): I did Roman bit of OOC (out of character), hope you don't mind that. @stardancerluv, your fanfiction Gotham lockdown 2020 is awesome 😍, I highly recommend it to ya all!

It was 6 am and Roman Sionis was standing in front of mirror, looking at himself with worries. Tomorrow he was turning 35. He felt kinda old. On his birthdays he always took you to some fancy restaurant and you both did whatever he wished and wanted. But this day was not like he expected. He hoped that these worries will be gone soon.

He looked at you. You were sleeping peacefully. How did he deserved you?

He got dressed and walked out of the room to living room, which he also used as dining room and meeting place for friendly bussines.

"Boss?" Victor came to Roman and gave him two coffee cups.

"Thanks Victor," Roman mumbled and put one coffee cup down, "I'll bring that one to (Y/n)."

"Okay boss."

Roman turned and went back to bedroom. You were still sleeping and he put the cup down on bedside table, sitting next to you. He brushed his hand through your hair, kissing you on forhead.

"Babe, I brought you coffee. Victor made it."

You slowly opened eyes, just to meet Roman's beautifull ocean blue eyes.

"Good morning honey," you mumbled.

"Morning," Roman whispered.

"Oh, my god! I.. Forgot.." you suddenly yelled, getting up, running to bathroom to take a shower.

Roman walked to you, "What did you forgot?"

"Ehm..Nothing, I just have a lot for today," you turned and closed the doors.

Your oddly behavior made Roman think about his age again. Was he too old? Somewhere in his mind was lurking scary question, which he didn't wanted to bring to light: What if you don't love him anymore becouse of his age? There was few years difference between you two, but what if you preferred younger guys. What if somebody took you away from him? What if you left with that somebody?

With these thoughts Roman left down to club. There was few people, which was normal, becouse it was morning and this was night club. Tears were falling down from his eyes, so he just sat to the corner of the club, waiting for Victor.

After 30 minutes of waiting, Roman decided to call him through the phone.

"Victor? Where are you? I am waiting in club, I thought you would be here on time," Roman said.

"I.. I am sorry boss, I have terrible headache and I think it would be best if I stayed home for today," Victor said and after that, Roman cancelled the call.

"Did he bought it?" you asked Victor, giving him bags with gifts.

"Yea.. I.. Don't know he cancelled the call. Besides that, where you want to bake the cake?" Victor asked. You opened the trunk of the car for Victor who carefully put the gifts next to each other.

"That could be bad.." you entered the car and waited for Victor, "Roman has one safe house close to the Wayne building.. So there. I bought all ingredients that we need, flour and stuff."

"Yeah," said Victor. He was worrying about Roman too. You and Victor were preparing surprise birthday party for Roman, which you never did to him before so you were bit stressed about his reaction.

You started the car, leaving shopping center parking lot.

"But what if he's not going to like it? I mean.. he looked so anxious this morning."

"I noticed," Victor said and pointed to the right, "Here turn right, it's a shortcut."

"Okay, but seriously Victor. I'm afraid that if we leave him alone for whole day, he could do something bad," you said and turned to the right.

"We have to hope he's alright," Victor sighed and looked from window. When you parked your car near the safe house, your phone started beeping and you exchanged with Victor worried look.

"It's Roman," you whispered.

"Pick it up (Y/n)," Victor mouthed and you nodded.

"Hey honney, how are you," you asked Roman with a sweet tone, which you regreted afterwards, since it was very suspicious. Luckily Roman didn't noticed that.

"Hey, where are you? I can't find you anywhere, could you please come to apartment please, I am not feeling well and I need you today," Roman sounded desperate and sad. It poked your heart and you looked on Victor, putting the phone away.

"He's not feeling well," you whispered to Victor and then took the phone back to your ear.

"Babe, please, I'll be there, but I have some business to do now. But I promise i'll be back as fast as I can," you said and watched Victor to unlock the doors of the safe house.

"Okay," Roman sniffled and you wanted to run back to Black Mask club to hug him and comfort him.

"Victor, we have to be fast with baking that cake," you cancelled the call and told this to Victor who just nodded.

Whole afternoon, you two were baking birthday cake and then, when it was finished, you smiled and hoped Roman is going to like it. The cake was filled with chockolate and strawberies, decorated with flowers from sugar paste.

"Victor? Launch the operation party time," you turned to Victor who smiled and pulled out his phone, "from now on, it's mostly on you. I'll go for Roman."

You walked to the car, picking the phone calling Roman, "Hey, babe I am comming, could you please wait for me in front of your club?"

"Hey darling, sure," Roman sighed and cancelled the call.

You were sure you crossed the driving limit more than five times, but you had to be there first.

When you finaly saw the club and Roman waiting outside, you parked and exited the car.

"Roman," you hugged him, you saw that he had red eyes from crying.

"I missed you," he hugged you back and gave you quick kiss. Roman was usually confident, but when he was anxious he was either very angry or slightly depressed.

"I missed you too babe, but we have to go to the safe house, becouse I have some informations that somebody wants to attack the club today," you said, pulling him to his car.

"(Y/n)... I.. What?" Roman was upset, but exhausted.

"I'm taking you to safe house," you have him another kiss, but he moved away.

"Roman..What happened?" you cupped his cheeks. You didn't wanted to make your birthday boy sad or upset.

"Nothing, let's go," Roman entered to car, and you hoped that Victor and his friends will handle the preparations for the party.

Even after entering the safe house Roman didn't spoke to you.

"Babe, what's going on?" you asked him. Roman just hugged you and held you in his arms, "I don't want to lose you (Y/n). You mean so much to me. Please don't leave me."

You were surprised, but hugged him anyways.

"Why would you think I would leave you? Romy, you know I wouldn't leave you. I love you so much," you smiled, one tear dropped from your eye. Was this the reason he was sad?

"I just.. I'm getting old and today you have been so distant.. After a long time I felt.. Lonely," he sniffled into your jacket.

"Don't say that. I'm here now dear," you whispered and when Roman pulled away you fixed his suit, "What would you say on special dinner Mr. Sionis?"

"I would love that," Roman smiled.

These situations were so often, that neither of you were stressed. Situations where you had to hide in safe houses which were all around the Gotham.

You were calm becouse you knew this was just a distraction. Roman was calm, becouse he knew you both are safe here.

For dinner, you brought some frozen pizza in Roman's car, since you had to leave your car in front of Black Mask club becouse it was filled with gifts for Roman. Victor had keys and everything was perfectly planned. When you left the safe house 1, where Victor stayed, he called his friends to stop by, take the cake in refrigerated van. You had no idea from where those guys took it and in first place, why they had it, but you rather didn't asked. After you left with Roman to safe house 2, Victor and his friends would decorate the club.

"Babe, I think the pizza is finished," Roman looked into oven and tried to open it without burning himself.

"Ohh.. Handle it to me princess," you laughed and opened the oven to get out the yummy pizza. After it was out, Roman closed the oven and caught your hips, hugging you from behind.

"Who do you call princess, my queen?" Roman laughed and kissed your neck multiple times.

"So.. Before or after pizza?" you smirked.

Birthday day

"Romy, wake up," you whispered and gently tapped him on cheek.

"What?" he asked half asleep, half conscious.

"I am leaving you. I can't do this, I can't be with you anymore," you told him and Roman's eyes widened in fear.

Roman woke up, with drops of sweat on face. He immediately turned to your side of bed to assure you were there, with him. But you weren't.

"(Y/n)?" Roman got up, from bed. You just exited the bathroom, closing the doors behind you.

"What happened?"

"I.. Nothing, just a nightmare," Roman mumbled and went back to bed with you. You slept on his shoulder, since Roman insisted on holding you in his arms.

You weren't protesting, you felt safe.

"Love? Good Morning," Roman was sitting next to you on bed, giving you cup of coffee.

"Morning my king," you smiled and took a sip from hot coffee, "Thank you, and happy birthday Roman."

Roman smiled and gave you a kiss. You looked on clock to check time, it was 10 am. Party was planned at 8 pm and you hoped everything is going according plan. Few years ago, you asked Roman if he ever had surprise birthday party. He said that he never had one. You did not wanted to risk it back then, becouse you didn't know why he never had parties like these. Maybe he did not liked being surprised. As time went, you learned that Roman actually loved surprises and only reason why he never had this kind of party was becouse nobody ever prepared something like that for him. When you learned that, you were kind of sad for him, becouse you knew that Roman was always bringing you, but only you with him out on his birthday and he bought you expensive things. Of course you always gave him gifts, Victor did too, but sometimes you had that feeling that Roman is giving more than recieving. Once he told you that others are giving him gifts just becouse they are afraid of him. This didn't targeted you, but you knew that nobody would want Roman as an enemy.

After breakfast, Roman took you out for walk and lunch to most famous restaurant in town.

In restaurant troubles began, since Victor texted you that something is wrong with preparations.

"So, I told him to go back there and he.. (Y/n)?" Roman called your name, when he noticed you were texting with someone.

"What? I'm sorry, I.. Just.. Sorry," you looked away from phone, listening Roman's stories. You wanted to pay attention to him, since it was his birthday, but your thoughts were dwelling on the party problem.

-You have to fix it, fast. I'm with Roman in restaurant, I can't speak to you right now.-

You wrote Victor and gave a reassuring smile to Roman.

"Babe, what's wrong?" Roman asked you with raised eyebrows, slowly sipping from his glass of vine.

"I.. Got a text.. It's about bussines," you told, slipping your phone back to handbag, hoping that Roman is not going to ask anything about it.

"Can I help?"

"No!" you answered too fast and Roman noticed. You knew that his worries from yesterday didn't dissapeared and you had to hope that he's not thinking about you, cheating on him on his birthday. Roman was paranoid, of course he already thought of that, but still he wanted to enjoy his birthday with you. He frowned and put the empty glass down. He didn't wanted to think about losing you now.

"Babe, you know that if something bad happens, I'll help you with it," Roman caught your hand and you smiled.

"I know, thanks."

After lunch you both went to shopping place. Roman bought you 3 expensive dresses even when you didn't wanted him to give you gifts, becouse it was his birthday. But that was just how Roman was to you. After another coffee, you looked on watches, seeing that it would be ideal time to go back to club.

"Darling? We should go back to club."

"But babe, it's only six. At seven we have dinner in the restaurant where was our first date..." Roman started and you gave him little smile.

"Aww, that is so cute... But unfortunately we have to go back to club. Just to pick up something," you nervously hugged him, but Roman pushed you away.

"What's going on with you (Y/n)?" he was nervous and afraid.

"Nothing, just.. Please," you made puppy eyes at him and he nodded.

"Alright, alright."

Way to club was silent, but when you closed the doors on the car and went to check Roman, who was sitting in backseat as usual.

"Hey, are you going?" you knocked on car window.

Roman opened it and sticked his head out.

"No."

"Babe, c'mon, don't be so stubborn," you laughed, but already thought how are you going to get him out of the car.

"I said no."

You frowned and opened the doors.

"Don't you even think about locking yourself there, I have keys."

"Alright...I'll go, but for an exchange.. You will have to do somethi.." he leaned to kiss and you kissed him, in middle of his sentence. After you parted from eachother, Roman exited the car and you opened the doors into quiet and dark club.

"Are you sure it's safe here?" Roman asked.

"Yeah, sure," you put down your coat and ran to club.

Roman turned to you, but you weren't anywhere near.

"Babe?" he called into club, slowly approaching it.

As he entered the club, colorful lights lighted up and Roman saw group of people standing in middle of the dance floor.

"Happy birthday!!" everybody yelled and Roman covered his mouth with hands. He was surprised in a good way.

"Happy birthday babe," you slowly came to him and gave him hug.

"I... Thank you..." Roman was speechles, smiling on you, Victor and people who were there. He knew all of them very good, they were his good friends.

You gave him gift wrapped in golden paper. Roman opened it and found inside the box watches that he always wanted.

"Thank you (Y/n)," he gave you gratefull smile.

After he opened all gifts, in which were paintings and new suits, you brought cake. Roman loved it and that was when his worries about losing you dissapeared.

"Will you dance with me Mr. Sionis?" you came to him and offered him hand. Roman laughed and kissed your hand.

"Of course Mrs. Sionis," quiet slow music started to play and Roman took you on dance floor. Victor was running around with camera, assuring that there are gonna be lot photos from this birthday party.

As you danced, Roman pulled you closer and music stopped. Others clapped and you blushed, hiding your face in shoulder of your loved one.

Faster music started to play and others joined the dancing too.

Everything went good, and in late hours, when party ended, you went with Roman upstairs to shared apartment.

"Thank you. I loved this. I love you," Roman kissed you, holding you in his arms.

"I love you too," you kissed him too and he pulled you into bedroom, closing the doors.

#roman sionis #birds of prey #roman sionis x reader #roman sionis fanfiction #the black mask bop #roman sionis x oc #roman sionis imagine #the black mask #roman sionis x you #Ewan mcgregor #ewan mcgregor fanfiction #black mask x reader #The black mask x Reader

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tabloidtoc · 3 years

Text

Entertainment Weekly, February

Cover 1 of 2: Daniel Kaluuya of Judas and the Black Messiah

Page 1: Contents, second cover featuring LaKeith Stanfield

Page 2: EW insider

Page 3: Sound Bites

Page 8: The Must List -- Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci on Supernova

Page 10: Keegan-Michael Key on The History of Sketch Comedy

Page 11: All American, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

Page 12: Lana Condor on To All the Boys: Always and Forever

Page 15: Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler, Jeopardy!

Page 16: Nancy Johnson on her debut novel The Kindest Lie

Page 17: The Black Church: This Is Our Story This Is Our Song, Foo Fighters -- Medicine at Midnight

Page 18: My Must List -- Lionel Richie

Page 21: First Take -- Zack Snyder and Dave Bautista on Army of the Dead

Page 23: Dennis Quaid on Reagan

Page 24: Cover Story -- Moment of Truth -- two of the most talented stars of their generation Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield reach stunning new heights in the epic and Oscar-bound Judas and the Black Messiah

Page 28: A King’s Journey -- how director Shaka King went from oddball comedy to the powerhouse drama of Judas and the Black Messiah

Page 35: The Happy List -- for a sweeter 2021 come enjoy our catalog of tiny pleasures

Page 46: Mad Love -- how Zendaya and John David Washington quarantined together to make the red-hot romance Malcolm and Marie while Hollywood was on lockdown

Page 50: Breaking Big -- 10 rising stars poised to make waves in 2021

Page 51: Paul Mescal

Page 52: Taylour Paige

Page 53: Mateo Askaripour, Brandee Evans

Page 54: Haskiri Velazquez, Omar Apollo

Page 55: Simu Liu

Page 56: Emma Corrin

Page 57: Jasmine Cephas Jones, Reid Miller

Page 58: The Missing Star Spangled Girl -- on the cusp of breaking out in Hollywood the 27-year-old dancer, model and actress Jean Elizabeth Spangler vanished October 7, 1949 leaving behind a purse and a mysterious note and a young daughter; inside the chilling still-open case

Page 64: Name Calling for Fun and Profit -- after launching in 2017 as a Hollywood-adjacent curiosity Cameo the site that lets fans buy personalized video messages from celebrities of all strata is booming in the pandemic era

Page 68: News + Reviews -- with the release of 12 never-before-collected essays in Let Me Tell You What I Mean Joan Didion reminds readers that she’s been right about everything all along

Page 72: Movies -- Here Comes the Sun -- the 2021 Sundance Film Festival is going virtual but these movies prove it’s as exciting as ever and will kick off Hollywood’s comeback year

Page 73: Performance Spotlight -- Ruth Negga -- in the period piece Passing the Oscar-nominated actress delivers her most devastating turn yet

Page 74: Yuh-Jung Youn -- the supporting star who stole the festival breakout Minari may be new to most American audiences but she’s ready for her close-up

Page 75: 3 Questions with Viggo Mortensen

Page 76: Role Call -- Regina Hall -- the Hollywood chameleon’s eclectic career reaches wild new heights in the bonkers crime comedy Breaking News in Yuba County; Hall looks back on the parts that brought her here

Page 77: My Dark Vanessa -- she’s already made her mark as an ingenue and now with two buzzy new indies Vanessa Kirby seems prepared to take the lead

Page 80: Parental Guidance -- welcome to your new crib sheet on the best entertainment for kids from toddlers to tweens -- Q&A with Alyson Hannigan -- in Flora & Ulysses Alyson plays a romance novelist whose daughter teams up with a superhero squirrel when life starts to get nutty

Page 82: TV -- Batwoman Beyond -- as Batwoman’s new leading lady Javicia Leslie brings a fresh attitude to Gotham

Page 84: The Great North

Page 85: Big Trouble Ahead -- after its shocking fall premiere and a recent escape new hit series Big Sky ramps up, Q+A with Jared Padalecki -- after 15 years of playing Supernatural’s Sam Winchester, Jared is donning a new hat for Walker

Page 86: Drama Queen -- Queen Latifah balances the scales of justice on the reboot of The Equalizer

Page 87: New Friends on the Block -- nothing fuels all the feels like authentic female friendship on TV especially for residents of Firefly Lane

Page 88: Ted Danson on The Mayor

Page 89: What to Watch

Page 96: Music -- Q+A with Brittany Howard -- the rocker is no stranger to Grammy glory but the nominations for Jaime, Howard’s solo album named after her late sister, represent something new

Page 97: 3 Things to Know About Chika -- the Alabama rapper and Best New Artist nominee on her city and her music and her competition

Page 99: Hear Jhene Heal -- the R&B singer’s therapeutic approach to her 2020 album Chilombo netted multiple Grammy nods and a new sense of self

Page 101: Q&A with Gwen Stefani -- The Voice coach and No Doubt frontwoman’s new single and music video Let Me Reintroduce Myself is a celebration of all things Gwen

Page 102: Barry Gibb goes country -- on Greenfields the legendary Bee Gee recruited Dolly Parton and Keith Urban and more for twangy takes on his trio’s disco classics; saddle up as Gibb details his favorite moments

Page 104: Books -- 15 books we can’t wait to read in 2021 -- literary heavyweights, YA blockbusters and a flurry of family sagas -- this year is going to be a page-turner

Page 105: Author Spotlight -- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, Critic’s Pick -- How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

Page 106: Books of My Life -- Samantha Power -- the U.N. Ambassador under President Obama publishes her lauded memoir The Education of an Idealist

Page 107: Working Guy -- in his biography of the late great Mike Nichols journalist Mark Harris explores the life of the decorated director who seduced us all

Page 108: Come As You Are -- acclaimed novelists R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell coeditors of the new erotic anthology Kink discuss sensuality, shame, and the changing face of desire in literature

Page 112: The Bullseye

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stardancerluv · 3 years

Text

Gotham Lockdown 2020

Part 17a

Summary: You finally see Roman’s inner sanctum

Warning: towards the end...implied and promises of future smut (daddy/dommy Roman) Gotham Lockdown Chapter 11a referenced here when reader almost dies & here is the last chapter

As Roman stood in the elevator with you, he couldn’t believe he was doing this. Years ago this would have never happened. This would always be his inner sanctum.

A struggle in him raged. He wanted to go on a rampage for what had almost happened to you. Sure those directly responsible paid but he was still angry. If this had been years ago. They’d still be downstairs begging for relief. Not that he softened because of you but he worked smarter. He did not like the idea that you so easily could have been snatched away from.

As the elevator dinged and as he led you over to the door. He could remember how this was where Victor and him would take people who wronged him. Victor would even keep his trophies there.

Deep down, he had grasp onto how grateful he was that, whoever or whatever was looking over had not called you to death’s icy embrace. He was not ready or did he even want to contemplate what life without you would be like.

So he took you here, to his inner sanctum ever since he had acquired the building. At first, it had been just Victor and him. When Doll-Face’s showed where her loyalties lied, she went in.

You were the woman he loved. He would have never planned on this. He knew he’d never be able to keep everything mum, about what he did from you. Damn reporters and the stories they publish. He had always wanted you to not have this side of him clouding your mind or heart. You already were his beauty or his darker, beast like nature. The beast you showed love.

*****

He paused before putting in the code. “Y/N,” It almost felt funny calling you by your name but this was serious. “I am showing you this because of your nightmare,” He inhaled. “And because I almost lost you.” He swallowed.

“Roman, I will never leave you.”

“You didn’t see...”

You placed a finger on his lips and he stopped talking. Knots formed in the pit of his stomach, he was realizing more and more these days how much he changed.

“I know.” You whispered. “I fought to live, I fought to be with you. And if anything, “ he saw you look away before looking back at him. “would ever happen to you, I’ll be there and fight for you.”

To be honest, things had been going fairly well despite being shot by a couple of hoodlums that he honestly could not even imagine anything worse happening. Not many wanted to mess with him any more.

He drew close and took your hand, and put it over his heart. “I will always fight. I will till my dying breath.”

*******

He brushed aside your tears that came from his words. “Baby. No tears. We’re so close to Christmas.” He whispered and you nodded.

You shivered in your tank top and shorts. You were dressed for the cozy, warmth of upstairs. Not this dank parking garage. Though, he held you close brushing aside the tears that had blossomed in your eyes at the words he spoke.

When you heard him speak like this it shook you to your core. You thanked your lucky stars, that he was the man who had your heart.

He punched in a code and opening the heavy door, “Come on in.” He welcomed you.

It was considerably warmer and the entire atmosphere was words different from dark and shadow filled garage with its concrete walls.

The room opened up, and was far bigger then you could have guessed. It had wonderful wood paneling and wooden floors with some elegant tiled floor in other places. You smiled as you took it all in.

Tucked into the wall before you there were more suits, long coats, and an entirely different array gloves. You turned and raised an eyebrow. “More suits? Clothes?”

He smirked, “These are bulletproof.”

“Oh..oh...well that makes a lot of sense.” You nodded. You were surprised you had not thought of it.

Turning, you saw what looked like a small arsenal of guns and their respective ammo. Along with rows of knives that came in all sorts of shapes an sizes.

Continuing further in you gasped as you saw an entire wall of masks. “There are so many.” You remarked.

He came up along side you. “One, has to be ready for any occurrence.” He shrugged.

You smiled at him. “I can only imagine.”

Seeing a large table you went over and just marveled at all the maps that were there.

“I thought you had a lot upstairs.”

He smirked. “One can never have enough maps. Especially, with my ever growing territory.”

Tears that had subsided blossomed once again. “You have a photo of us on your desk down here?”

Picking up and glanced at the old photo of the two of you. He came around and wrapped his arms around you. Turning, you did the same.

You smiled up at him. “Do you remember that first Halloween?”

He smiled, “You were so lovely.”

“You had a magnificent dress made for me.”

A smug smile spread across his face. “You were a fantastic inspiration.”

*****

As the two of you watched, A Muppet Christmas Carol with Roman, you began to get a hankering for the sugar cookies you made earlier. “I’ll be right back?” You whispered and kissed Roman’s cheek.

“Want me to pause?” He held up the remote.

You shook your head. “I won’t be gone that long.”

Once in the kitchen, you put some cookies on a plate. You also made a point of grabbing some of the baby tubes of frosting. You had not frosted all the cookies since you knew that Roman sometimes liked them plain or sometimes he enjoyed putting on his own frosting on them.

You stopped as you watched him chuckled over the dialogue between Rizzo the Rat and Gonzo. Sometimes, he could be really cute.

You came back and easily tucked back under Roman’s arm. He smiled and took the plate from you. “We’ll keep them here.” He placed the plate in his lap. Looking, up at him you raised an eyebrow. “You better not gobble them all up, Mr. Sionis.”

He smirked, “No promises.” And he grabbed one.

Grabbing a cookie you added the extra frosting then happily enjoyed it. A few moments later you did again but not before giving him another sidelong glance. He glanced down at you before he took one himself.

When you did, you got a playful idea. Glancing, one final time you grabbed one of the tubes of frosting. You opening it, you squeezed a small spot on his hand as it rested on you. You licked it away.

Roman’s elegant profile was still illuminated by the twinkling lights from the tree and the tv.

You honestly couldn’t believe you had done that. Rolling your eyes, he could inspire the most wicked thoughts. So you put the tube down, and turned your attention back to the movie.

Feeling something you glanced down. A spot of frosting landed on your own hand, while he frosted his own cookie.

“Oh? Did I get some on you?” You brought your hand up before and but his hand took yours and his warm lips that took the frosting away.

“You didn’t think I noticed what you did?” His voice had grown deeper, his fingers idly traced the hem of your shorts. He put what was left of the plate of cookies on the end table.

Your heart picked up speed. “No, no of course not.” You stumbled a little.

He smiled, he turned off the movie. “Come here baby.” Easily, he pulled you onto his lap.

You watched as he left squeezed a little of the frosting where his throat met his chest. He gave you a wordless challenging look. You moved, so your lips and tongue moved together. You felt as his dipped back into the cushions of the sofa.

Once you pulled back he looked at you with hooded eyes. You took the frosting tube from his hand, “Roman” you breathed and drew a small sugary line up your throat.

He shifted but then you let him pull you close. His hands held you just so then his mouth and lips were on you. A soft moan came from you. “Yes.” Was all you say.

Yet, he didn’t stop when the frosting was gone. He continued to lick and nibble on you. You trembled.

“Daddy, always makes you feel good doesn’t he?” His words rasped in your ear.

You licked your lips. “Yes.”

A dark chuckle came from him. “Shall, I continue or should I keep you in my lap where you belong as we continue to watch the movie?”

@darling-i-read-it @spn-obsessed-dean @vintagemichelle91 @xxxeatyourh3artoutxxx @ewanfuckingmcgregor @zodiyack @angel98624 @frenchgirlinlondon @nebulastarr @emyliabernstein @thepeachreads @itsknife2meetu @omghappilyuniquebouquetlove @nomnomnomnamja @poe-kadot26 @top-rumbelle-fan @babydoll97 @hazel-nuss @vcat55 @feelthemadnessinside @rosionis @queenofgotham800 @brookisbi @peachthatdrinkslemonade @johallzy @foreverhockeytrash @frostypenguinoz @starwarsslytherin @proffesionalclown @chogisss @dance-like-russia-isnt-watching @shantellorraine @xxinvisiblexx @pooshnulooshnu @speedypartyducksuitcase @blondekel77 @corey-clown @drarrylov3r @i-cant-hear-you16

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scrambledgegs · 4 years

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Too Late the Hero

It was Harvey Dent who uttered the famous lines, “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” A foreshadowing statement, as Dent later on personifies his very words when he goes on to become Two Face in the “The Dark Knight” Batman movies.

This statement cannot be any truer, and we all can recount both real-life and fictional characters who easily represent this notion. The true-to-life “villains” we know of today may have actually started out as idealists, heroes, or savior-like archetypes that we used to looked up to – and looked past whatever side blemishes they also possessed in order to justify their actions. I think the best contemporary example of this – is the person whom Filipinos notoriously love to discuss nowadays – the person that needs no introduction, President Duterte.

About to Croak?

President Duterte has recently been the talk of the town all the more when rumors circulated that he may have contracted COVID-19, while other rumors pointedly said that he was already on his deathbed. To augment such rumors, it was said that he may have allegedly even flown to Singapore to have himself checked. His office was quick to quash any such news by posting proof of life photos of the President, where he is seen to be eating a meal with the first family in Davao. Well, one thing we can all agree on however, is that he did not look his best.

The more significant and underlying message in this recent raucous is that, the general consensus on social media is that many had their fingers crossed for a new President. It looks like Duterte’s star power is quickly fading.

RUDY and RODY

I was reminded of a conversation that a friend and I had around three weeks ago. During our usual, light political banter, I suddenly remembered how my parents used to compare President Duterte to American political icon, “Rudy” Giuliani. Quite serendipitously (and as though Netflix read my phone messages or possibly my mind), minutes later, I came across a new Netflix documentary entitled “Fear City: New York vs. The Mafia” where Giuliani is documented to have played a significant role in.

This true crime documentary examines the rise and fall of organized crime in New York in the 1970s to early 1980s. It narrates the dark tale of how the Big Apple once transformed into the playground of underbelly operations of The Mafia – composed of the five major Italian-American crime families and their sophisticated network of ruthless henchmen. Law enforcers could not put a stop to their rings of crime, or even implicate them, and others that dared come close, found themselves or their loved ones in a rather, messy situation. These crime families of Italian descent were basically your true-to-life gangsters from which The Godfather Trilogy was based on.

Batman, Robin and Commissioner Gordon in Gotham City

Bringing down the Mob back then was a feat everyone thought impossible. Nevertheless, joint forces between the FBI and Giuliani (then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; 1983 -1989), and his handpicked team of prosecutors were able to do so – and with much required grit and tenacity. Giuliani especially, was credited to be the single piece of rice that tipped the scale in this momentous moment in the history of criminal justice. After which, Giuliani’s political career began to skyrocket. Despite losing his first election in 1989, he eventually gets elected Mayor of New York in 1993, and then reelected in 1997 to hold the position until 2001.

During his term as Mayor of New York, Giuliani’s most popular platform was his “toughness on crime.” Such that, the gentrification, revitalization and “clean-up” of New York and significant decrease in crime rates during those heyday years are largely attributed to him. His appointment of NYPD Chief of Police, Bill Bratton also proved effective, and is often the popular topic of business case studies today. Bratton did not resort to brute force alone. In fact, he was said to be data-driven, resourceful and efficient. His non-traditional, out-of-the-box thinking, many would agree, had indeed brought about real, lasting positive change in New York.

Giuliani was also known for making popular what is known as the “perp walk”, wherein he would orchestrate public arrests, worthy of media frenzies and major headlines, of high-profile suspects, usually of white-collar crimes. The nature of these arrests garnered some criticism of course, but it was not enough then to tarnish his image and push him far away from the good graces of the American people, especially New Yorkers. He is also highly commended for his post-9/11 (2001) disaster responses and was even knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for these tremendous efforts. He was even named TIME magazine's Person of the Year in 2001.

Fall from Grace

However, fast forward years later to now 2020, many of Giuliani’s constituents and longtime supporters who once held “America’s Mayor” of the highest esteem, often say that the Rudy Giuliani of the past is long gone. Embroiled in various controversies and investigations, not to mention issues that involve being President Trump’s current legal adviser, he has said to have become the very type of white-collar “perps” he used to round up and arrest. It is quite unfortunate, isn’t it, these kind of tragic hero to zero stories. Time is not on his side now, but who knows if there is still a chance for a comeback.

Rudy Giuliani’s story sounds very familiar.

Rody

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in Davao, Philippines to be exact, during the same time that Rudy Giuliani was rising to fame, there lived and breathed another Mayor with a very similar tough guy image – Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte. An attorney as well, he also began his career in the prosecutor’s office.

Photo taken from The New York Times: Rodrigo Duterte posing with an Uzi submachine gun in 1994, when he was mayor of Davao City in the Philippines.

Duterte Harry

Duterte “made his bones” by allegedly taking crime into his own hands. Before assuming the Presidency, he was known as the gun-toting, smart-talkin’, fearless and tough Mayor who cleaned up Davao which back then, was supposedly a war-torn region due to the emergence of the New People’s Army (NPA) post Marcos-regime. People nodded in approval because he produced “quick” results.

If Rudy Giuliani had his Chief of Police, Bill Bratton and the NYPD, Rody Duterte had a comparable squad as well. With the help of his elite unit of police enforcers, coined as the “Davao Death Squad” (DDS), they were able to arrest crime suspects, such as alleged (but non-convicted) drug dealers and petty thieves and parade them throughout the streets, for behold, all to know and see. This sounds like the Filipino version of a perp walk. In extreme cases, sometimes suspects were allegedly found dead in alleys or eskinitas, their bloody bodies mutilated.

Yet, it could be said that quite a number of Davaoenos, as well as Filipinos beyond the Mindanao region, supported this kind of vigilante method because they felt safer, and they felt that finally, the wheels of justice were turning. To simplify this narrative by using a fictional analogy again, it is the same train of thought on why we have a great admiration for Batman and the like.

Many believed this was what the Philippines truly needed - a “strongman” to discipline the country, which to be fair, is an idea that can understandably seem like the right and sound solution, given the Philippines’s web of problems. Not many are willing to further dissect, assess and accept what is truly needed to lead the Philippines. Duterte’s notoriety thus gained much popularity, and his savior persona spread like wildfire throughout the country, propelling him to the Presidential seat in 2016.

One-Trick Pony in a Small Pond

Four years later, come 2020, and here we are, amidst a terrible pandemic with no signs of turning the tide in favor of a victory. I’ve heard one too many times, friends and colleagues say how they despise being a Filipino, and are looking for opportunities to leave and start a new life elsewhere immediately. I can’t say I blame them.

The once highly respected and beloved Davao Mayor has become the Philippines’s Public enemy number one, for reasons we all know today such as, but not limited to:

Militaristic and shotgun approaches instead of “comprehensive, scientific and systematic policies” to mitigate the pandemic (Read: Lives vs Livelihood Tradeoff?, August 5, 2020)

Lack of economic and fiscal planning and No transparency on stimulus packages and foreign loans (Read: A Perfect Storm, May 22, 2020)

Preferential treatment towards those in positions of power and unequal application of the law (Read: On lockdown and pushed over the edge, April 30, 2020)

Playing Russian Roulette on community quarantine implementations

Deflecting faults and shortcomings through the “Pasaway citizen” narrative

Demeaning local government leaders/efforts when they come up with their own local initiatives

Putting China’s interests ahead of the Philippines (Read: From Ugly Duckling to Black Swan, April 3, 2020)

And some of the more specific controversies that we can’t help but feel overwhelming emotions for:

Trial of Maria Ressa and his attack on free press and journalism

Shutdown of ABS-CBN which includes 11,000 employees to lose their jobs during a time like this

Inaction of recent PhilHealth scandal

Perhaps si Mayor should have stayed as Mayor, or perhaps evolved to a different role beyond public service, instead of eyeing gargantuan tasks too big for him to handle. He may have been “effective” as Davao’s Mayor, but running a country is a whole different ballgame.

It was in fact, the late Miriam Santiago, during the final 2016 Presidential debate held in Dagupan, Pangasinan (April 24, 2016) who pointed out, “We are not choosing a manager, administrator, etc. We are choosing the next President of the Philippines for the next 6 years.“ She even went on to enumerate three minimum criteria that a President must have in his or her arsenal in order to effectively lead, such as “1) Academic Excellence; 2) Professional Excellence, and 3) Moral Integrity” – all of which majority Filipinos flippantly shrugged off as useless qualities. I agreed with her which is why I voted for Mar Roxas. Maybe those who voted for Duterte regret this decision now, and hopefully see the wisdom behind Santiago’s statements.

As I’ve said many times over, Duterte peddled a dream that the Philippines can only be great again with an “iron-fisted” leader, and sadly but quite expectedly, our misinformed voters ate it all up - hook, line and sinker. (Read: ORAS NA, April 26, 2016).

I’d like to believe that Duterte perhaps started out as an idealist, with the genuine desire to carve out change where he thought he could. However, somewhere along the way, he lost himself and what he stood for when he let his ego get in the way. I think he himself now knows, but cannot admit to the public, that a one-trick pony has no business leading a highly complex, difficult and problematic country such as the Philippines.

More Analogies in 2020: The Year of the Rat led by the Pied Piper

Other than Duterte, three other political personalities that will forever be remembered as the shameful faces of the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines are Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Speaker of the House Allan Peter Cayetano and the ever-infamous, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque. I surmise history will not be so kind to them, and their roles and decisions in this crisis will continue to be told on, even when “this is all over.”

Infestation of Rats

These three loyal lackeys of Duterte can be likened to the rats in the children’s fairy tale of the Pied Piper who is no less than Duterte. Roque, Cayetano and Duque seem like educated and smart people, leaving no other explanation for their horrible decisions, except that they have long sold their souls to Duterte, and are in too deep to back out now. They’ve let themselves fall under some kind of spell. A consolation in the story of the Pied Piper, is that the entranced rats follow the Pied Piper’s hypnotizing music to their eventual demise and drown at sea. The Pied Piper however, just leaves them there and walks on. Seems like a foreboding scenario, figuratively speaking.

It would be best if the story ended there. However, we find that the Pied Piper, like our very own version, is a vengeful one, and will stop at nothing until he has accomplished a personal vendetta towards whomever crosses him. In our Pied Pier’s skewed view, he feels that his opponents have gravely wronged him, or have been incredibly ungrateful for all the “work” he has achieved. His next plan of action is to hit them where it hurts the most – by getting to the children or those “most vulnerable and without a voice”. Seizing the power of his position, he is able to demonize multitudes through his filthy words, terrorizing laws and drug wars. (Read: Dead Kids, February 20, 2020).

In so many dark metaphors, in the dead of the night, while everyone cluelessly sleeps, the Pied Piper plays his hypnotizing song that “vulnerable communities” are uncontrollably drawn to, forced to follow, or fooled into blindly following, until they all disappear without a trace, possibly never to be found again.

Light at the end of a Long Tunnel

However, I think our Pied Piper may have made a costly miscalculation. He may have robbed the country blind and killed countless lives (directly and indirectly), while we ignorantly slept, but he has ignited a fire. He has seemed to awoken a sleeping giant – a sleeping giant, unified in anger against this administration and what it stands for. Is Change Coming?

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dccomicsnews · 4 years

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WARNING! THESE IMAGES MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR HARLEY QUINN FANS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

The Coronavirus lockdown has kept everyone waiting, or in some instances salivating, for new comics to arrive. James Tynion IV’s Batman books more than most. Thankfully, DC Comics is run by a caring and sharing bunch of individuals, who have sent us another sneak peak at Batman #93. This eagerly anticipated issue features the first round of a battle for the ages: it’s Punchline vs. Harley Quinn!

Enjoy these interior pages featuring awesome art by Guillem March and Javi Fernandez, and don’t miss this issue when it hits comic book stores and participating digital retailers on Tuesday, June 23!

PUNCHLINE VS. HARLEY QUINN, ROUND ONE!

Batman #93 Features the Biggest Showdown of 2020

In Batman #93 (on sale June 23), The Designer finally crosses swords (literally) with Batman, as he reveals his grand plan for Gotham’s worst criminals to finally take control of the city! And if that’s not enough, this must-have issue features the showdown that every comic book fan has been waiting for, as Punchline squares off against Harley Quinn!

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Batman faces off with the Designer as “Their Dark Designs” nears its epic climax! In the last year, Batman has lost more than he could have imagined, and now he faces a cost so dear it will change the course of his life. And there is worse on the horizon. Amid all the horror, he can feel the drumbeat of battle. “The Joker War” is coming, and Gotham City will never be the same!

Batman #93 (“Their Dark Designs,” Part 8)

Written by James Tynion IV Pencils by Guillem March and Javier Fernandez Colors by Tomeu Morey and David Baron Standard Cover by Tony S. Daniel and Tomeu Morey Harley Quinn Variant Cover by Francesco Mattina

On Sale Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Wow… These images are killer, hopefully not for poor Harley! I was already super excited for this book, but now I.m chomping at the bit to see Punchline vs. Harley Quinn!

Images and Press Release Courtesy of DC Entertainment

First Look: Punchline vs. Harley Quinn Round One! Batman #93 WARNING! THESE IMAGES MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR HARLEY QUINN FANS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED The Coronavirus lockdown has kept everyone waiting, or in some instances salivating, for new comics to arrive.

#Batman #david baron #DC comics news #Francesco Mattina #Guillem March #Harley Quinn #James Tynion IV #Punchline #Steve J. Ray #Tomeu Morey #tony s daniel

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thatsnotcanonpodcasts · 4 years

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Science Comics, FDA Greenlit & Critical Role

Finally, a way to read comics in class without your teacher complaining! Real life scientists are producing educational comics to teach cool science stuff. And they're FREE! Check them out, they have some pretty good explanations for a bunch of different topics.

The FDA has recognised the ability of video games to help with therapy and greenlit a game for treating ADHD suffers. I can't wait for a game to help you deal with idiots, but we'll get there one day.

Where did Matt Mercer's Vox Machina come from? Now you can read both of the first two seasons of the Critical Role prequels in a hardback omnibus. Wait, didn't we already do comics this week? Oops. Anyway, watch Critical Role. It's really good.

This week, Professor took to the skies in Sky Rogue and DJ set us up the bomb in Valorant.

Real Life Scientists making comics

- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/real-life-scientists-inspire-comic-book-superheroes-science-literacy

- https://www.jkxcomics.com/

- https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59ab7c15e4fcb5c602a09465/t/5a08e052e2c483d6cb8cf769/1510531187492/JKXComics_EBV+and+the+Replication+Dance.pdf

A video game for kids with ADHD is greenlit by the FDA

- https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/15/fda-akili-adhd-endeavorrx/

Dark Horse to Release 'Critical Role' Hardcover Omnibus

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-horse-release-critical-role-hardcover-omnibus-1296484

Games Played

Professor

– Sky Rogue - https://store.steampowered.com/app/381020/Sky_Rogue/

Rating: 3.5/5

– Valorant – https://playvalorant.com/en-us/

Rating: 3/5

Other topics discussed

The Last of Us Part 2 game review : Not as Good as It Thinks It Is

- https://www.thewrap.com/the-last-of-us-part-2-review-not-as-good-as-it-thinks-it-is-ellie-naughty-dog/

Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann calls out journalist Jason Schreier for Anne Frank joke

- https://www.ginx.tv/en/video-games/naughty-dog-s-neil-druckmann-calls-out-journalist-jason-schrier-for-anne-frank-joke

G.I. Joe - Give Him The Stick : Parody of G.I. Joe's Public Service Announcements created by Fensler films

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXFdPTaCtkc

Victoria's sudden spike in coronavirus cases could result in localised lockdowns

- https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/victorias-sudden-spike-in-coronavirus-cases-could-result-in-localised-lockdowns-c-1113679

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) (formally called Human gammaherpesvirus 4, is one of the nine known human herpesvirus types in the herpes family, and is one of the most common viruses in humans.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein%E2%80%93Barr_virus

Once Upon a Time….Life (French animated series which tells the story of the human body for children.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time..._Life

Cells at Work! (Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akane Shimizu. It features the anthropomorphized cells of a human body, with the two main protagonists being a red blood cell and a white blood cell she frequently encounters.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cells_at_Work!

Cells at Work! CODE BLACK (spin-off written by Shigemitsu Harada, illustrated by Ikuta Hatsuya, and supervised by the author of the original, Akane Shimizu. Similar to the original, the series is set in a world of anthropomorphic cells working in a body. It follows a the life of a rookie Erythrocyte, AA2153, and a Neutrophil, U-1196, as they work in a poorly maintained, middle-aged body burdened by issues such as stress, smoking, drinking and the like, causing complications in the cells' work and living environment.)

- https://cellsatwork.fandom.com/wiki/Cells_at_Work!_CODE_BLACK

Inside Ralphie (Magic School Bus episode) (Third episode of Season 1 of the animated children's series The Magic School Bus. While Ralphie hosts a TV broadcast from his sickbed, his classmates seek to discover the cause of his illness.)

- https://magicschoolbus.fandom.com/wiki/Inside_Ralphie

For Lunch (Magic School Bus episode) (Second episode of season one of the animated children's series The Magic School Bus. Ms. Frizzle's students explore Arnold's digestive system after he accidentally swallows his miniaturized classmates.)

- https://magicschoolbus.fandom.com/wiki/For_Lunch

Food and Drug Administration ((FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counterpharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines,biopharmaceuticals,blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), cosmetics, animal foods & feed and veterinary products.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration

Ritalin (Methylphenidate, sold under the trade name Ritalin among others, is a stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is a first line medication for ADHD. It may be taken by mouth or applied to the skin.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate

Tali Health (Tali Health creates game based programs to improve attention in children. TALi TRAIN is a clinically validated digital training and treatment program that addresses the world’s leading reported early childhood issue-attention difficulties, a key feature in conditions including ADHD and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).)

- https://talihealth.com.au/

Michele Assarasakorn (comic artist | colorist on ISOLA / Gotham Academy/ Critical Role)

Twitter : https://twitter.com/msassyk

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/msassyk/

Critical Role Wiki (A Place Documenting the Current History of Exandria)

- https://criticalrole.fandom.com/wiki/Critical_Role_Wiki

The World of RWBY: The Official Companion (RWBY lore book)

- https://www.amazon.com/World-RWBY-Official-Companion/dp/1974704386

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Library Edition: Series I & II Collection at Amazon

-https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-Machina-Origins-Collection/dp/1506721737

Ace Combat (Ace Combat is a hybrid arcade-style flight action video game franchise mainly developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Combat

LUFTRAUSERS (shoot 'em up video game developed by Netherlands-based indie developer studio Vlambeer and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows, OS X,Linux, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.)

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/233150/LUFTRAUSERS/

Guns of Icarus (Guns of Icarus Online is the original PvP steampunk airship combat game that laid the groundwork for the expanded Guns of Icarus experience, Guns of Icarus Alliance.)

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/209080/Guns_of_Icarus_Online/

PS5 Reveal Event & Every Next Gen Game announced

- https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-reveal-event-every-nextgen-game-announced-by-s/1100-6478266/

Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was a fatal incident in the United States space program that occurred on Tuesday, January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The failure was caused by the failure of O-ring seals used in the joint that were not designed to handle the unusually cold conditions that existed at this launch.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster was a fatal incident in the United States space program that occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. During the launch of STS-107,Columbia's 28th mission, a piece of foam insulation broke off from the Space Shuttle external tank and struck the left wing of the orbiter.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster

The Slo Mo Guys - How a TV Works in Slow Motion

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BJU2drrtCM

Winnie the Pooh could be banned from Shanghai Disneyland as a result of an ongoing meme used to criticize China's leader

-https://www.businessinsider.com/winnie-the-pooh-shanghai-disneyland-meme-2018-11?r=AU&IR=T

Obama & Xi Jinping as Tigger & Winnie The Pooh

- https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsXrZ-6UwAUHGRx?format=jpg&name=900x900

Shout Outs

11 June 2020 – Playstation 5 reveal - https://deadline.com/2020/06/sony-playstation-5-revealed-videogames-1202957140/

Sony lifted the veil to reveal the PlayStation 5, the video game console it hopes will be a significant lure for consumers this holiday season. In a live-streamed video presentation lasting more than an hour, Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed new details for the PS5, including its design and lineup of new games. Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto will be included for free, and there are two dozen other games heading to the platform. The unit’s two-tone design is a shift from previous versions and gives off distinct imperial stormtrooper vibes. PS5 will be available in both a standard model with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive, and a digital model without a disc drive. One of the biggest series of all time, Grand Theft Auto, will be coming to PS5, with enhanced and expanded versions of Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online to launch on PS5 in the second half of 2021.

15 June 2020 – Rare stone ginger beer bottle from 1930s-era sells for record price - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-15/ginger-beer-bottle-sells-for-huge-price/12353574

A rare ginger beer bottle from the 1930s, made for a Warwick soft drink company, has sold for a record price in Toowoomba. It has collectors encouraging people to check their sheds and old farm dumps for possible 'buried treasure'. The hammer fell at $17,500 for the stoneware Doneley and Butler bottle. The little green lip at the top is what set it apart from bottles worth a fraction of that price."These bottles are extremely rare, there have only been two or three found in perfect condition," said auctioneer Graham Lancaster."That colour combination of glazes makes it unique worldwide."He said the Warwick bottle set a record price locally, and quite possible a world-record, for an antique crown-seal soft drink bottle of its type.

16 June 2020 – Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins turns 15 - https://comicbook.com/movies/news/batman-begins-anniversary-the-dark-knight-christopher-nolan-christian-bale/

As the '90s progressed, the image of Batman on the big screen began to descend into the realm of campiness previously seen in Adam West's take on the character back in the '60s TV series and movie, which started to sour audiences on the character entirely. After a variety of reports emerged about a new take on the character in the early '00s, fans were given Christopher Nolan's gritty and grounded origin story for the character in 2005, debuting Christian Bale as the Dark Knight. This new take on the character harkened back to some of the more grounded interpretations of the character, while adding just enough whimsy to remind audiences that this was still a comic book movie. Batman Begins went on to take in $371 million worldwide, a fraction of the figures that subsequent superhero movies would go on to earn, That film's success might not have been groundbreaking, but it set the stage for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, with some audiences considering those films to be the best comic book films of all time, both of which earned major box office hauls and the former earning Heath Ledger a posthumous Oscar for his performance as the Joker.

18 June 2020 – Dame Vera Lynn passes away at 103 - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53091856

The singer was best known for performing hits such as We'll Meet Again to troops on the front line in countries including India and Egypt. Six weeks ago, ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE Day and during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dame Vera said simple acts of bravery and sacrifice still define our nation. A week later, she became the oldest artist to get a top 40 album in the UK, beating her own record when her greatest hits album re-entered the charts at number 30. Born in London's East Ham in 1917, Dame Vera's singing talent was discovered at a young age and by age 11 she had left school to pursue a full-time career as a dancer and singer. Lynn devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer. She was held in great affection by Second World War veterans and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century. Paying tribute, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the singer's "charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours". "Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come," he said. She died at the age of 103 in Ditchling,East Sussex.

19 June 2020 – Sir Ian Holm passes away at 88 - https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jun/19/ian-holm-dies-alien-chariots-of-fire-bilbo-baggins

Sir Ian Holm, an acclaimed British actor whose long career included roles in Chariots of Fire and The Lord of the Rings has died. A star of stage and screen, Sir Ian won a Tony Award for best featured actor as Lenny in Harold Pinter's play The Homecoming in 1967. He won a British Academy Film Award and gained a supporting-actor Oscar nomination for portraying pioneering athletics coach Sam Mussabini in the hit 1982 film Chariots of Fire. His other well-known film roles include Ash in Alien, Father Vito Cornelius in The Fifth Element, Chef Skinner in Ratatouille, and Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series. Sir Ian was knighted in 1998 for his services to drama. He died from Parkinson’s disease in London.

Remembrances

16 June 1804 – Johann Adam Hiller - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Adam_Hiller

German composer,conductor and writer on music, regarded as the creator of the Singspiel, an early form of German opera. It is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles,songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk-like. Singspiel plots are generally comic or romantic in nature, and frequently include elements of magic, fantastical creatures, and comically exaggerated characterizations of good and evil. In many of these operas he collaborated with the poet Christian Felix Weiße. Furthermore, Hiller was a teacher who encouraged musical education for women, his pupils including Elisabeth Mara and Corona Schröter. He was Kapellmeister of Abel Seyler's theatrical company, and became the first Kapellmeister of Leipzig Gewandhaus. To Hiller has been given the credit of being the originator of the Singspiel, the beginning of German comedy opera as distinct from the French and Italian developments. The most important of his operas were: Lottchen am Hofe (Lottie at court, 1760),Der Teufel ist los (The devil is loose, 1768), and Poltis, oder Das gerettete Troja (Poltis, or Troy rescued, 1782). The lyrics of all his Singspiele were of considerable musical value, and were long popular. Among his sacred compositions are: A Passion Cantata, Funeral Music in Honor of Hasse, a setting of the one hundredth Psalm; and a few symphonies. He died at the age of 76 in Leipzig.

16 June 1858 – John Snow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Snow

English physician and a leader in the development of anaesthesia and medical hygiene. He is considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology, in part because of his work in tracing the source of a cholera outbreak in Soho, London, in 1854, which he curtailed by removing the handle of a water pump. Snow's findings inspired the adoption of anaesthesia as well as fundamental changes in the water and waste systems of London, which led to similar changes in other cities, and a significant improvement in general public health around the world. John Snow was one of the first physicians to study and calculate dosages for the use of ether and chloroform as surgical anaesthetics, allowing patients to undergo surgical and obstetric procedures without the distress and pain they would otherwise experience. He designed the apparatus to safely administer ether to the patients and also designed a mask to administer chloroform. He personally administered chloroform to Queen Victoria when she gave birth to the last two of her nine children, Leopold in 1853 and Beatrice in 1857 and was still not yet knighted, leading to wider public acceptance of obstetric anaesthesia. John Snow studied chloroform as much as he studied ether, which was introduced in 1847 by James Young Simpson, a Scottish obstetrician. He realised that chloroform was much more potent and required more attention and precision when administering it. Snow first realised this with Hannah Greener, a 15-year-old patient who died on 28 January 1848 after a surgical procedure that required the cutting of her toenail. She was administered chloroform by covering her face with a cloth dipped in the substance. However, she quickly lost pulse and died. After investigating her death and a couple of deaths that followed, he realized that chloroform had to be administered carefully and published his findings in a letter to The Lancet. Snow was a skeptic of the then-dominant miasma theory that stated that diseases such as cholera and bubonic plague were caused by pollution or a noxious form of "bad air". The germ theory of disease had not yet been developed, so Snow did not understand the mechanism by which the disease was transmitted. His observation of the evidence led him to discount the theory of foul air. He first published his theory in an 1849 essay, On the Mode of Communication of Cholera, followed by a more detailed treatise in 1855 incorporating the results of his investigation of the role of the water supply in the Soho epidemic of 1854. By talking to local residents (with the help of Reverend Henry Whitehead), he identified the source of the outbreak as the public water pump on Broad Street (now Broadwick Street). Although Snow's chemical and microscope examination of a water sample from the Broad Street pump did not conclusively prove its danger, his studies of the pattern of the disease were convincing enough to persuade the local council to disable the well pump by removing its handle (force rod). Snow later used a dot map to illustrate the cluster of cholera cases around the pump. He also used statistics to illustrate the connection between the quality of the water source and cholera cases. He showed that homes supplied by the Southwark and Vauxhall Waterworks Company, which was taking water from sewage-polluted sections of the Thames, had a cholera rate fourteen times that of those supplied by Lambeth Waterworks Company, which obtained water from the upriver, cleaner Seething Wells. Snow's study was a major event in the history of public health and geography. It is regarded as the founding event of the science of epidemiology. He died from stroke at the age of 45 in London.

16 June 1869 – Charles Sturt - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sturt

Charles Napier Sturt, British officer and explorer of Australia, and part of the European exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers, establishing that they all merged into the Murray River, which flows into the Southern Ocean. He was searching to prove his own passionately held belief that an "inland sea" was located at the centre of the continent. Sturt found the conditions and climate in New South Wales much better than he expected, and he developed a great interest in the country. Sturt received approval from Governor Darling on 4 November 1828 to explore the area of the Macquarie River in western New South Wales. The party faced the ordeal of rowing back upriver on the Murray and Murrumbidgee, against the current, in the heat of an Australian summer. Their supplies ran out and, when they reached the site of Narrandera in April, they were unable to go any further. Sturt sent two men overland in search of supplies and they returned in time to save the party from starvation. But Sturt went blind for some months and never fully recovered his health. By the time they reached Sydney again, they had rowed and sailed nearly 2,900 kilometres of the river system. Sturt believed that it was his destiny to discover a great salt water lake, known as 'the inland sea', in the middle of Australia. At very least, he wanted to be the first explorer to plant his foot in 'the centre' of Australia. In August 1844, he set out with a party of 15 men, 200 sheep, six drays, and a boat to explore north-western New South Wales and to advance into central Australia. They travelled along the Murray and Darling rivers before passing the future site of Broken Hill. They were stranded for months by the extreme summer conditions near the present site of Milparinka. When the rains eventually came, Sturt moved north and established a depot at Fort Grey (today this site is within Sturt National Park). With a small group of men, including explorer John McDouall Stuart as his draughtsman, Sturt pressed on across what is now known as Sturt's Stony Desert and into the Simpson Desert. Unable to go further, he turned back to the depot. Sturt made a second attempt to reach the centre of Australia, but he developed scurvy in the extreme conditions. His health broke down and he was forced to abandon the attempt. John Harris Browne, surgeon on the expedition, assisted Sturt, took over leadership of the party and, after travelling a total of 3,000 miles (4,800 km), brought it back to safety. He died from heart failure at the age of 74 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

16 June 1977 – Wernher von Braun - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun

German and later American aerospace engineer and space architect. He was the leading figure in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany and a pioneer of rocket and space technology in the United States. While in his twenties and early thirties, von Braun worked in Nazi Germany's rocket development program. He helped design and develop the V-2 rocket at Peenemünde during World War II. Though a member of the SS, following the war he was secretly moved to the United States, along with about 1,600 other German scientists, engineers, and technicians, as part of Operation Paperclip. He worked for the United States Army on an intermediate-range ballistic missile program, and he developed the rockets that launched the United States' first space satellite Explorer 1. In 1960, his group was assimilated into NASA, where he served as director of the newly formed Marshall Space Flight Center and as the chief architect of the Saturn V super heavy-lift launch vehicle that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. In 1967, von Braun was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, and in 1975, he received the National Medal of Science. He advocated a human mission to Mars. Von Braun also developed the idea of a Space Camp that would train children in fields of science and space technologies, as well as help their mental development much the same way sports camps aim at improving physical development. Von Braun took a very conservative approach to engineering, designing with ample safety factors and redundant structure. This became a point of contention with other engineers, who struggled to keep vehicle weight down so that payload could be maximized. As noted above, his excessive caution likely led to the U.S. losing the race to put a man into space with the Soviets. He died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 65 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Famous Birthdays

16 June 1801 – Julius Plücker - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Pl%C3%BCcker

German mathematician and physicist. He made fundamental contributions to the field of analytical geometry and was a pioneer in the investigations of cathode rays that led eventually to the discovery of the electron. He also vastly extended the study of Lamé curves. In 1836, Plücker was made professor of physics at University of Bonn. In 1858, after a year of working with vacuum tubes of his Bonn colleague Heinrich Geißler, he published his first classical researches on the action of the magnet on the electric discharge in rarefied gases. He found that the discharge caused a fluorescent glow to form on the glass walls of the vacuum tube, and that the glow could be made to shift by applying an electromagnet to the tube, thus creating a magnetic field. It was later shown that the glow was produced by cathode rays. Plücker, first by himself and afterwards in conjunction with Johann Hittorf, made many important discoveries in the spectroscopy of gases. He was the first to use the vacuum tube with the capillary part now called a Geissler tube, by means of which the luminous intensity of feeble electric discharges was raised sufficiently to allow of spectroscopic investigation. He anticipated Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff in announcing that the lines of the spectrum were characteristic of the chemical substance which emitted them, and in indicating the value of this discovery in chemical analysis. According to Hittorf, he was the first who saw the three lines of the hydrogen spectrum, which a few months after his death, were recognized in the spectrum of the solar protuberances. In 1865, Plücker returned to the field of geometry and invented what was known as line geometry in the nineteenth century. In projective geometry, Plücker coordinates refer to a set of homogeneous co-ordinates introduced initially to embed the set of lines in three dimensions as a quadric in five dimensions. The construction uses 2×2 minor determinants, or equivalently the second exterior power of the underlying vector space of dimension 4. It is now part of the theory of Grassmannians, to which these co-ordinates apply in generality (k-dimensional subspaces of n-dimensional space). He was born in Elberfeld,Duchy of Berg,Holy Roman Empire.

16 June 1915 – John Tukey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tukey

John Wilder Tukey, American mathematician best known for development of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm and box plot. The Tukey range test, the Tukey lambda distribution, the Tukey test of additivity, and the Teichmüller–Tukey lemma all bear his name. He is also credited with coining the term 'bit'. Early in his career Tukey worked on developing statistical methods for computers at Bell Labs where he invented the term "bit" in 1947. n 1970, he contributed significantly to what is today known as the jackknife estimation—also termed Quenouille–Tukey jackknife. He introduced the box plot in his 1977 book, "Exploratory Data Analysis". He is also the creator of several little-known methods such as the trimean and median-median line, an easier alternative to linear regression. He also contributed to statistical practice and articulated the important distinction between exploratory data analysis and confirmatory data analysis, believing that much statistical methodology placed too great an emphasis on the latter. Though he believed in the utility of separating the two types of analysis, he pointed out that sometimes, especially in natural science, this was problematic and termed such situations uncomfortable science. Tukey coined many statistical terms that have become part of common usage, but the two most famous coinages attributed to him were related to computer science. While working with John von Neumann on early computer designs, Tukey introduced the word "bit" as a contraction of "binary digit" The term "bit" was first used in an article by Claude Shannon in 1948. In 2000, Fred Shapiro, a librarian at the Yale Law School, published a letter revealing that Tukey's 1958 paper "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" contained the earliest known usage of the term "software" found in a search of JSTOR's electronic archives, predating the OED's citation by two years. This led many to credit Tukey with coining the term, particularly in obituaries published that same year, although Tukey never claimed credit for any such coinage. In 1995, Paul Niquette claimed he had originally coined the term in October 1953, although he could not find any documents supporting his claim.The earliest known publication of the term "software" in an engineering context was in August 1953 by Richard R. Carhart, in a RAND Corporation research memorandum. He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

16 June 1909 – Archie Carr - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Carr

Archie Fairly Carr, Jr., American herpetologist,ecologist and a pioneering conservationist. He was a Professor of Zoology at the University of Florida. In 1987 he was awarded the Eminent Ecologist Award by the Ecological Society of America. He made extraordinary contribution to sea turtle conservation by way of bringing attention to the world's declining turtle populations due to over-exploitation and loss of safe habitat. He started out as a high school science teacher before becoming a college professor. He published numerous books and articles, including Ulendo: Travels of a Naturalist in and out of Africa, High Jungles and Low, So Excellent a Fishe (about his green turtles), The Windward Road and several Time-Life books such as The Everglades and The Reptiles. He was also the author of the Handbook of Turtles, and with Coleman J. Goin, Guide to the Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes of Florida. While a serious scientific and nature writer, he also had a remarkable sense of humor, which led him to publish the parody of scientific taxonomic keys - his A Subjective Key to the Fishes of Alachua County, Florida, affectionately known as the "Carr Key". Carr was also known for his efforts in conservation, especially for sea turtles, helping convince Costa Rica to establish Tortuguero National Park in 1975. He was a co-founder of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, which helps to save and monitor sea turtles in Tortuguero,Costa Rica. He was often joined in his conservation work by his wife Marjorie Carr, who was a major advocate for conservation in her own right. In 1952 Carr was awarded the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. He was born in Mobile, Alabama.

Events of Interest

16 June 1884 – The first purpose-built roller coaster, LaMarcus Adna Thompson's "Switchback Railway", opens in New York's Coney Island amusement park. - https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-roller-coaster-in-america-opens

Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson, traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride. The new entertainment was an instant success and by the turn of the century there were hundreds of roller coasters around the country. For five cents, riders would climb a tower to board the large bench-like car and were pushed off to coast 600 ft (183 m) down the track to another tower. The car went just over 6 mph (9.7 km/h). At the top of the other tower the vehicle was switched to a return track or "switched back" (hence the name). The new entertainment was an instant success and by the turn of the century there were hundreds of roller coasters around the country.

16 June 1911 – IBM founded as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company in Endicott, New York. - http://www.techgetz.com/history-of-ibm/

In 1911 the company that leased Unit record equipment, especially Hollerith punched cards and card readers to government bureaus and insurance agencies, became the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR). Thomas J. Watson (1874-1956) took over in 1924, using the name “International Business Machines.” IBM expanded into electric typewriters and other office machines. Watson was a salesman and concentrated on building a highly motivated, very well paid sales force that could craft solutions for clients unfamiliar with the latest technology. His motto was “THINK”; customers were advised to not “fold, spindle or mutilate” the delicate cardboard cards.

16 June 2012 – The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a classified 469-day orbital mission. - https://www.space.com/16110-secret-x37b-space-plane-landing.html

The unmanned X-37B spacecraft, also known as Orbital Test Vehicle-2 (OTV-2), glided back to Earth on autopilot, touching down at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:48 a.m. PDT (8:48 a.m. EDT, 1248 GMT). The landing brought to an end the X-37B program's second-ever spaceflight, a mission that lasted more than 15 months with objectives that remain shrouded in secrecy. The X-37B stayed in orbit for 469 days this time, more than doubling the 225 days its sister ship, OTV-1, spent in space last year on the program's maiden flight. Officials at Vandenberg said the spacecraft conducted "on-orbit experiments" during its mission. Exactly what the spacecraft, which is built by Boeing, was doing up there for so long is a secret. The details of the X-37B's mission, which is overseen by the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office, are classified, as is its payload. This secrecy has led to some speculation, especially online and abroad, that the X-37B could be a space weapon of some sort — perhaps a sophisticated satellite-killer. Some experts also suspect that the vehicle may be an orbital spy platform. "This is a test vehicle to prove the materials and capabilities, to put experiments in space and bring them back and check out the technologies," Richard McKinney, the Air Force's deputy undersecretary for space programs.

16 June 2016 – Shanghai Disneyland Park, the first Disney Park in Mainland China, opens to the public - https://www.dw.com/en/distinctly-chinese-disneyland-opens-in-shanghai/a-19332984

Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney resort in Mainland China and the sixth worldwide, celebrated its historic Grand Opening today, culminating one of Disney's most ambitious projects ever. The wonder and imagination of Disney greeted the people of China in magical new ways as the gates opened to Shanghai Disneyland, a theme park like no other with the biggest, tallest castle in any Disney park, the first pirate-themed land and Disney's most technologically advanced park to date. Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang cut a red ribbon together, signaling the Communist Party's endorsement of the $5.5 billion (4.87 billion euro) resort - one of the largest foreign investments in China. The lavish ceremony featured a children's choir singing "When You Wish Upon a Star," as well as actors dressed as Sleeping Beauty, Donald Duck, and other Disney characters dancing on stage. The entrance of the park is called "Mickey Avenue" instead of "Main Street USA." Stores feature Minnie Mouse in traditional quipau dresses and the Wandering Moon Teahouse is modeled after a building in eastern China. Shanghai Disney Resort is filled with immersive Disney storytelling, thrilling attractions, spectacular live entertainment and memory-making experiences designed to inspire and delight Chinese guests. The world-class vacation destination includes a magical theme park with six themed lands, two imaginatively designed hotels, a Disneytown shopping and dining district, and Wishing Star Park recreational area.

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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