#gravestone elite series

[figuramacollectors]

FULL REVEAL! - VAMPIRE HUNTER D ELITE EXCLUSIVE STATUE

Join the wait list to be alerted as soon as preorders open on SEPTEMBER 3RD AT 11:00PM JST: https://figurama-collectors.com/products/vampire-hunter-d-d

The team at Figurama Collectors is honored to present a groundbreaking accomplishment in striking design—the Vampire Hunter D Elite Exclusive Statue. This is a feat brought to life by painstaking consideration of the detail present in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and through inspiration from the original Vampire Hunter D artworks of Yoshitaka Amano. Various swappables allow for diverse facial expressions and arm positions, with two display options for the vampire hunter’s elegant longsword.Following the culmination of an intense battle in a graveyard teeming with red-eyed ghouls, the Marcus Brothers hear the approaching sound of a galloping horse. D appears atop a hill marked with gravestones, catching a purposeful arrow from the bounty-hunting group in mid-air. As his cybernetic horse rears, his dark silhouette rises in contrast with the full moon behind him. This fateful moment is immortalized in high-quality polystone, with the form of D and his horse rising above a slanted base inspired by the graveyard. Three ghouls crawl from the watery depths below, reaching for him through craggly branches. We hope that you enjoy our special touches, such as the realistic rock detail in the base, and the intricate textures of D’s armor and cybernetic horse.Each 1/6-scale statue includes an exclusive A3-size art print and autographed Certificate of Authenticity by Figurama Collectors CEO Mr. Shanab and the legendary Yoshitaka Amano, illustrator for the Vampire Hunter D novels!

Series: Elite Exclusive Statue

Size: 1/6 scale (Approximately H79 x W65 x D56 CM).

Certificate of Authenticity: Signed by Figurama Collectors CEO, Mr. Shanab, Concept Artist Daniel Kamarudin, 3D Artist Carlos Cruz, and Illustrator Yoshitaka Amano.

Includes: Exclusive A3 art print, Certificate of Authenticity, two portraits for D, two swappable left arms, two swappable right arms, two longsword options.

Materials: Polystone, Metal Diecast, PU, PVC

Creative Director: Mr. Shanab / Figurama Collectors Development Team

Concept Artist: Daniel Kamarudin

3D Artist/Sculptor: Carlos Cruz

Painter: Three Eyes Studio

DISCOUNT: Paying by PayFort or Axes Payment with a secure card (VISA, Mastercard, American Express, JCB) will take $45 off shipping costs.

SHIPPING: Warehouses in Asia, the USA, and Europe ensure the lowest shipping rates possible.

#figurama #fc #amano #yoshitaka #yoshitaka amano #vampire hunter d #vampire hunter #vampire #elite exclusive #statue #collectible

[mandyloves2read]

✰✰✰𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨✰✰✰

Fractured Reign by Caitlyn Dare

Gravestone Elite #3

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow what a fantastic ending to this trilogy! I’ve been rooting for Bexley and Mia since the beginning these two have been through it and after the ending of Tarnished Crown I honestly didn’t see how they could overcome the major obstacles in their way but I was pleasantly surprised when I started this book picking up almost immediately where the last left off it was fast paced and consuming just as all books I’ve read by this author! The twists and turns the secrets the lies the betrayals this story had it all and we finally get all the answers we’ve been waiting for some revelations come to light some shocking truths this story was emotionally intense heartbreaking fast paced and all consuming I could go on and on about why you should read this story but I’m going to stop here and just say if you haven’t started this series yet what are you waiting for do it ! This is a must read from this author and I can’t stress it enough READ THIS STORY!!! Amazing! Brilliantly written addictive storyline fantastic plot twists phenomenal characters this story had it all !

⠀

* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book *

⠀

Blurb:

When Mia wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there, she braces herself for bad news.

⠀

But nothing can ever prepare her for the truth.

⠀

Betrayed by the very people who were supposed to protect her, Mia no longer knows who to trust.

⠀

All Bexley wants is to fix things for the girl he loves, and keep those around him safe.

⠀

Even if it means embracing his legacy.

⠀

Can Bexley and Mia fight their own demons while fighting the enemies closing in around them...

⠀

Or will it be too late to save each other?

⠀

Fractured Reign is the conclusion to Mia and Bexley's dark and twisted story.

⠀

Fractured Reign in the final book in the Gravestone Elite trilogy. It is a DARK BULLY ROMANCE and contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. You have been warned.

⠀

The Gravestone Elite Trilogy is now complete and is FREE in KU!!

⠀

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ehX7qj

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ulzUur

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3aZkuo4

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/33fZsx6

⠀

Start the Series NOW!!!

Shattered Legacy (Gravestone Elite #1)

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3qBFEhj

⠀

TARNISHED CROWN (Gravestone Elite #2)

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3kL8zh5

⠀

#book review #arc review #romance blog #romance books #book reccs #arcreader #mustread #bookshelf #bullyromance #caitlyndarebooks #fivestarreads #booklover #booksbooksbooks #gravestone elite series #kindleunlimited

[thelostsmiles]

Benedict Cumberbatch reacts to his Emmy nomination.

He received his sixth Emmy nomination as actor in a limited series for his portrayal of the titular character in Showtime’s pitch-black dramedy “Patrick Melrose.” The show, about an Englishman struggling with rampant addiction rooted in memories of sexual abuse at the hands of his father, is based on a series of autobiographical books by Edward St. Aubyn. The show is as searing as it is hilarious — a heady mixture that attracted Cumberbatch from the start. The actor is currently in London working on another project and says he completely forgot it was Emmy nominations day.

Where were you when you got the good news?

I was in a car going home from East London where we’re doing some filming for a show about Brexit, and my phone just blew. I thought, ‘Whoa, what’s going on here, is there a malfunction?’ But then I saw, ‘Congratulations, huge love,’ and what not, and that’s how I found out. It was quite lovely.

Did you expect the honor?

If your ambition grows beyond getting the part and doing it well, you’re in a lot of trouble as an actor. You don’t hold your breath for things like this — you do the work and you move on. I’m really happy about this because it means the project has another life with more focus on it. And that is really the reward of this because we’re so proud to be associated with these extraordinary masterpieces [the books]. We all came to give them new life and new shape and a new audience. So being at the right age and place in my career to play this role with a killer cast and superb direction — for all of us in every department — we came to this project feeling that was reward enough. It’s an embarrassment of riches, to use that phrase, but we’re not going to be embarrassed, we’ll enjoy it and have a great night.

This is your sixth Emmy nomination and you are now tied with Laurence Olivier for the second most ever nominations in the limited series category. Is that an insane feeling?

It’s amazing. I don’t know what to say about that really. That’s something to put on your gravestone. I don’t know — yeah, I’m speechless. That’s my very English reaction to that. Maybe I should try other categories? Art direction?

Given the dark material, viewers might find themselves laughing at times that seem inappropriate. Was adding this comic, almost absurd touch to such dark material intentional?

The rich truth of life is that joy and sorrow, happiness and despair, don’t live in separate corridors and never meet — whether it’s getting the giggles at a funeral or finding something amusing in the worst possible situation and being wry. It’s necessary and true and it’s what makes this material have a universal appeal. He lives in a very white, privileged, elite section of society, but addiction doesn’t just manifest on one social rung—this isn’t unique to just one part of society. So you should feel awkward [like] “I’m laughing at somebody who looks like they’re about to die on drugs, and then I’m having something wrenched out of me and I’ve taken a 180-degree turn into pathos.” I’m always taken by brutal offerings that go to the extremes. It’s all there in the books.

Patrick Melrose is such a complex character. How did you go about owning him?

That’s one of the great draws to the material — you get to do those sharp turns and that’s a challenge. You don’t feel you’re beating one rhythm, and you can afford nuance. It works, and you sort of hold your hand over your mouth and laugh at the same time, and I think it pulls you in as well. He’d be very difficult company in real life, but when you realize the core of pain that it comes from, and when you see how charming and witty he can be, it’s a marvel. That’s kind of what turns him into a hero because he shifts from being a victim into being a survivor at the end of the story, and that’s a very potent theme in our time. As a child, he managed to speak truth to power.

What was the most challenging thing about playing a character who is so far down the rabbit hole with substance abuse?

The physicality. It was very important to me that it wasn’t just one energy— that all the substances had their moments of screen time. But you see the struggle with the abuse of his cocktail of drugs in the first episode and later, sobriety being this dull, dead patch with him being haunted by fractured memories because he has yet to admit what happened. It is hard to be in a place that’s quite dull — to accept that and play that and change the tempo. It affected everything from vocalization to physical movement. I also had conversations with [St. Aubyn] about what he remembered and witnessed in others. Things would be described to me and I would play-act it, and fit it into my body, and manifest it. In a way it comes with a health warning because it’s pretty full-on despite the comedy in hiding. The two communities I was most keen to validate in my performance were those who suffered child abuse and those who suffered addiction. That head space [of trying to imagine being sexually abused] was the hardest. Being high or recovering and having delirium tremors — I had to sprain every muscle in my neck — but that was an easier place to go than putting oneself in the position of imagining that horror. And when you know you’re playing a veiled alter ego of the writer … I can’t speak highly enough about him as a human being and an extraordinarily gifted writer … it’s very upsetting.

Was it hard to end the show? Or does it feel good to wrap a limited series and move on without worrying about a Season 2?

It was hard. Although it leaves on a profoundly inspirational act of quiet heroism and it feels complete. By the end of his mother’s funeral and wake in Episode 5, that’s a complete character arc. But I was sad to say goodbye to him. I spent deliriously, wonderful, terrifying, joyful, shocked hours with him in the pages of the book, and with him as a person. So for me, that doesn’t stop. He’s a friend for life. I’m the lucky guy who gets to continue my friendship with the source of Patrick Melrose.

The LA Times

#Benedict Cumberbatch #los angeles times #emmy awards #2018 nominations #he’s so humble and i’m so very proud

[studiocheered]

SMALL SOULS

materials: concrete, leaves

Here we see a little pole shaped like a gravestone. The yellow paint on the concrete has faded, suggesting the tests of time and the elements. Leaves, also in faded yellow as if peeled off the pole, are spread around like debris or like the reflecting lights coming off a disco ball. I like how the two materials resemble the polarities ‘nature’ and ‘culture’.  Some people think SMALL SOULS makes an allusion to the famous novel series by Louis Couperus. They interpret the ensemble as a depiction of the relationship between bourgeoisie and elite. But actually it was drawn from my personal life. I only wanted to say something about an old memory, and how it throws a light or a shadow on everything. Which is why it is located in Enschede.

#art #artistsontumblr #enschede

[bookboleynreads]

Teaser! Fractured Reign (Gravestone Elite #3) by Caitlyn Dare

Teaser! Fractured Reign (Gravestone Elite #3) by Caitlyn Dare

FRACTURED REIGN (Gravestone Elite #3) by Caitlyn Dare Release Date: May 6thAdd to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR3Preorder FRACTURED REIGN (Gravestone Elite #3)https://amzn.to/31ClsBi Start the Series NOW!!!SHATTERED LEGACY (Gravestone Elite #1)Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3qBFEhjAmazon UK: https://amzn.to/3p19b3AAmazon CA: https://amzn.to/39IVIHcAmazon AU: https://amzn.to/3p770vyTARNISHED…

View On WordPress

[aion-rsa]

How Batman #14 Became a “Very Serious Book” in The Lost Boys

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

“Actually, I’m looking for a Batman #14.”

In the vampire-killing continuity of The Lost Boys, that intriguing humble-brag by Corey Haim’s Sam Emerson could very well be the definitive way to declare yourself amongst the elite of geekdom. Yet, while the 1987 film—notably from future Batman film franchise director Joel Schumacher—was rife with riffs directed at the hitherto untapped masses of comic book fandom, this shout-out to a Golden Age issue would, indeed, make it “a very serious book, man,” as Corey Feldman’s Edgar Frog famously replied. Moreover, the reference would pay emotional dividends in a made-for-video sequel.

The scene was expository for The Lost Boys, in which young Sam, new to the California community of Santa Clara, wanders into the comic shop of Frog Brothers Edgar (Feldman) and Alan (Jamison Newlander), who immediately scope him out as someone who doesn’t quite belong in their nerdy, secret-vampire-hunting hub, especially with the loud-even-for-1987 shirt he’s sporting. However, that’s when Sam drops the Batman #14 gauntlet, wiping away the siblings’ incredulous grimaces, leading to the further revelation—apocryphal as it may be—by Alan that there are “only five in existence,” to which Sam retorts with a cocky composure, “Four, actually, I’m always looking out for the other three.”

With a few lines, a vampire-hunting alliance for the ages had been forged—all thanks to the mere mention of an early Batman issue!

So, what the deal with Batman #14? As World War II raged on the book was published by DC on October 10, 1942, post-dated for January 1943. Plot-wise, it wasn’t a particularly important or exceptional book, divided—per the norm of the era—into separate stories.

The first was “Prescription for Happiness,” in which Batman and Robin help an old drug store owner fight off criminals who’ve taken it over to use as their base. “Swastika Over the White House,” which was wartime red meat, had the Dynamic Duo thwarting a Nazi spy who posed as a photographer. Lastly, “Bargains in Banditry” showcased a plot by the Penguin to act as a criminal agent of sorts, selling price guides to other criminals to easily commit pre-planned crimes. Interestingly, after being thwarted by our heroes Penguin was abruptly (even for 1942) sentenced to death, which briefly left his fate up in the air.

DC Comics

Consequently, Batman #14 doesn’t seem to bear any intrinsic connections to The Lost Boys. In fact, while its status as an early Batman comic makes it valuable in its own right, it’s not believed to be “only five in existence” rare, and a 9.8 graded copy apparently goes for around $54,000. Rather, it is generally believed that the reference was simply an example of the late director, Schumacher (who worked off a script by Jan Fischer and James Jeremias), showing off his stripes as a Batman fan. Yet, it did serve as an eight-years-early foreshadowing of his controversial tenure with that franchise for 1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin. Indeed, it seems to be an esoteric-sounding throwaway line that sounded geeky enough for mainstream audiences, many of whom were getting their first exposure to a subculture that now permeates the zeitgeist.

However, the specter of Batman #14 would once again grace The Lost Boys mythos in 2010’s Lost Boys: The Thirst, the second of the franchise’s generally unknown made-for-video sequels. Pertinently, the film, which positions Feldman’s returning Edgar Frog as the protagonist, happened to be in the works when Corey Haim—who expressed his desire to be in the film—tragically passed away on March 10, 2010. Such an appearance would have reversed his character’s apparent fate in a mid-credits scene from the previous sequel, 2008’s Lost Boys: The Tribe, in which Sam was revealed to have become a vampire. Thus, The Thirst heavily implies that Vampire Sam was staked by Edgar.

Warner Home Video

Naturally, The Thirst hit the Haim nostalgia hard, first with a flashback from the original film showing the aforementioned Batman #14 encounter between Sam and the Frog Brothers and notably reveals that Sam was NOT bluffing about having the coveted book, as it is shown in the possession of Edgar, to whom it was willed. Subsequently, in a heartbreaking meta scene, we see Feldman (who’s clearly mourning his real-life close friend,) as Edgar visiting Sam’e grave, showing that he died in 2008, which canonizes the character’s teased death in The Tribe. However, the geeky feels don’t stop there, since Edgar then takes out the fateful comic and proceeds to leave it on Sam’s grave. Indeed, it is worth pointing out that he left a book possibly worth as much as $50,000 on a gravestone and walked away. It’s an amazingly heartfelt gesture, but ouch!

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Regardless, The Lost Boys has maintained its status as a modern classic, and was recently on the verge of being rebooted as a CW television series, although those prospects were essentially nixed even before the pandemic altered every industry variable. And as for Batman #14, the price of the “very serious book” in question becomes a bit more reasonable below the 8.5 grade—that is, if $5,000 is reasonable.

The post How Batman #14 Became a “Very Serious Book” in The Lost Boys appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3qOYZfB

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

[itsiotrecords-blog]

http://ift.tt/2uvG5QN

Interest in the life of Pablo Escobar, the richest and most successful criminal in history, has increased lately thanks to his portrayal by actor Wagner Moura in the Netflix original crime drama series Narcos. And it’s just as well: Escobar’s journey from the son of a poor Colombian farmer to all-powerful drug lord reigning over a global cocaine smuggling empire is a harrowing and fascinating tale. At his peak from the 1970s to the 1990s, the billionaire Escobar was one of the seven richest men in the world and practically ran the global drug trade; everyone in Colombia feared and respected him. As the head of the Medellin Cartel, Escobar’s thirst for power and money was insatiable. He proved to be a formidable opponent to the U.S. and Colombian governments and one of the most elusive criminals in history, despite being hunted by the Colombian police, U.S. Special Forces, and vigilante groups like Los Pepes. Unlike many criminals who like to lay low and live in the shadows, Escobar lived a lavish lifestyle and loved to flaunt and spend his wealth. Due to his rebel image and the money he spent in the poor neighborhoods of Colombia, he was powerful and popular, and anyone – even state officials, presidential candidates, and judges – who stood in his way would surely end up dead. Though he was shot and killed after what was described as the largest manhunt in history, his legacy remains.

Here are 15 unbelievable facts about Pablo Escobar, the staggering figures of his wealth, his global drug empire, and the long shadow of his criminal legacy.

#1 From Humble Beginnings Pablo Escobar was born in Rionegro, Colombia on the first of December, 1949 as the third of seven children. His father was a farmer and his mother was an elementary schoolteacher. He’s thought to have begun his criminal career as early as his teens by sandblasting and re-selling stolen tombstones to local smugglers, though this was denied by his brother Roberto Escobar, who claims the gravestones were legitimately acquired from cemetery owners. Escobar also made money as a teen selling counterfeit high school diplomas for the Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana of Medellín, where he studied for a period but dropped out. This eventually led to other petty crimes like stealing cars and selling fake lottery tickets and contraband cigarettes on the street. The young Escobar had a childhood ambition to be a millionaire by the time he was 22 and told his mother he would be “big” someday.

#2 The King Of Coke If the name Pablo Escobar is synonymous with anything, it’s cocaine. At the height of his power in the 1980s, Escobar’s Medellin Cartel supplied 80 percent of the global cocaine market (largely over the Florida coast into the U.S.), smuggling 15 tons of cocaine each day – that means four out of every five Americans doing cocaine were snorting Escobar’s product. The sudden popularity of cocaine in the U.S. was a great boost to Escobar’s wealth and power as head of the Medellin drug cartel, and he quickly became the most powerful man in Colombia. Escobar’s drug empire had extensive infrastructure for smuggling, including 142 planes, 20 helicopters, 32 yachts, and 141 homes and offices, not to mention countless cars and trucks, and even two remote-controlled submarines specifically set aside or transporting cocaine to the United States.

#3 Who Says Crime Doesn’t Pay? Pablo was the richest criminal in history, with an estimated worth of $30 billion. Escobar made the Forbes list of billionaires seven years in a row from 1987 to 1993, and in 1989 he was estimated to be the seventh richest person on the planet. By the mid-1980s the cartel was bringing in an estimated $420 million a week, an absurd sum amounting to $22 billion annually. Pablo was earning so much that each year his accountants would write off 10 percent of the money (about $2.1 billion) because rats would eat it in storage, or it would be lost to water damage, mold, or would just disappear. He also spent $2,500 a month on rubber bands to hold the bills. Escobar purchased a Learjet specifically to transport his cash. While in hiding, Pablo’s daughter Manuela got sick and he burned about $2 million to keep her warm.

#4 Owned Lavish Properties Escobar spent lavishly– he owned over 800 homes and villas, living a life of luxury. His extravagant holiday getaway of Hacienda Napoles was a palatial estate spread over 5,000 acres with pools, bullrings, a garden with 100,000 fruit trees, gigantic cement dinosaurs, and a private zoo filled with hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Escobar was known to host both family vacations and cocaine-fuelled parties with the Colombian elite. After his death, Hacienda Napoles was torn apart by people looking for legendary stashes of drugs and money. Ownership passed to the government in 2006. Escobar’s hippos have escaped and become feral, still roaming the grounds to this day. The Hacienda was converted into a theme park in 2014 with an Escobar museum, a water park, a guided safari, replica caves, and aquariums. Pablo’s ruined house and burned classic car collection are still accessible to the public.

#5 Worked As A Bodyguard & Was A Millionaire By Age 26 In his younger years, Escobar got his start in organized crime as a racketeer and a dealer (and smoker) of Colombia’s potent marijuana. Prior to getting involved in the drug trade though, the legendary Pablo Escobar worked as a bodyguard and part-time thief. During this time, he allegedly made a quick $100,000 in ransom for the kidnapping of a Medellin executive. Soon after, he began working for contraband smuggler Alvaro Prieto, who operated around Medellin. It was during this time the 26-year-old Escobar deposited $100 million Colombian dollars (around US $3 million) in his bank account, finally accomplishing his childhood dream. Pablo would use his shrewd and hard-working ways to climb the hierarchy of the cartel until becoming its boss. Pablo married Maria Victoria Henao Vellejoin 1976, when she was 15 and he was 27.

#6 He Was Nicknamed “Robin Hood” Even though Escobar’s actions led to the destruction of countless lives, including the working class communities of Colombia, some of the populace still idolize him to this day. There’s a solid reason for this: Escobar pumped millions into local communities. He handed out massive sums of cash to the poor, built housing for the homeless, constructed 70 community soccer fields and even a zoo, earning him the nickname “Robin Hood.” Escobar also gave money to and helped build hospitals, churches, parks, and schools, and funded a number of social programs to help Colombia’s poor, including food programs and building 1,000 electrified brick houses with indoor plumbing and gardens (residents only had to pay for water and electricity). Escobar became something of a folk hero, and residents of the poorer regions of Colombia still make pilgrimages to his grave in the style of a saint.

#7 He Offered To Pay Colombia’s National Debt The unprecedented success of Escobar’s global drug empire birthed his biggest fear – being extradited to the United States. Escobar famously vowed that he would rather die than spend time in an American jail cell. He was so concerned with changing the laws of extradition to eliminate any chances of this that he attempted to strike a jaw-dropping deal with Colombian authorities. Escobar offered to personally pay Colombia’s entire foreign debt of $10 billion – in cash – to change the laws. Needless to say, they declined the offer. Pablo supposedly made the offer after fleeing to Panama when he was tied to the assassination of Colombian Justice Minister Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, who was trying to prosecute cocaine traffickers. The fact that it was even considered a possibility says something about Escobar’s power and wealth.

#8 Developed The “Silver Or Lead” Policy Escobar’s criminal empire was a well-oiled machine that had shady dealings with the Colombian system. Its main tools were corruption and intimidation, a policy for dealing with law enforcement and government which Pablo himself referred to as “plata o plomo” – literally “silver or lead,” but colloquially meaning that you can either accept money or face bullets. As a policy it proved effective; Escobar’s cartel bribed countless Colombian state officials, judges, and police. Of course, many also refused to cooperate, which led to the deaths of hundreds of police, politicians, and civilians. The death toll for the long-running drug wars between Escobar’s Medellin Cartel and its rival, the Cali Cartel is estimated to be in the thousands. Overall, it cost Colombia around $1 billion per year both for army, police, and counter-terrorism operations and to repair buildings leveled by the cartels’ bombings.

#9 Ordered Assassinations, Bombings, And Possibly A Siege Escobar was allegedly responsible for the 1989 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan, an enemy of the cartels who was leading in the polls until he was shot to death by hired gunmen. He was also connected to the bombings of both Avianca Flight 203 and the DAS Building in Bogota. Though the extent of his involvement is disputed, the Netflix series Narcos makes reference to the fact that Escobar allegedly bankrolled the 1985 Palace of Justice siege, in which members of the left-wing 19th of April Movement, a guerrilla group also known as M-19, broke into the Supreme Court. M-19 was paid to seize the building and burn all the papers related to cocaine smugglers who were under threat of extradition to the U.S. for trial (of which one was Escobar). The siege resulted in the murders of roughly half of the Court’s judges.

#10 He Cleverly Hid Money And Drugs Like a good pirate, Escobar was crafty when it came to storing away his ill-gotten money. According to people in the cartel’s inner circle, it was common to see literal truckloads of cash on a daily basis; at his children’s birthday parties he had a habit of stuffing the pinatas with money instead of candy. Storage units were rented to store it all and when they ran out of space there, Escobar used to pay people to store his money in the walls and basements of their homes. There were hundreds of these Caletas surrounding Escobar’s compound, containing upwards of $5 million each. Pablo was said to have smuggled cocaine in the tires of cars, and later the tires on the landing gear of planes. They also liquefied and smuggled cocaine in jeans, liquor, coffee, and even Coca-Cola.

#11 He Was Elected To Congress When he was a boy, the young Pablo would often say he would grow up to be President of Colombia. While he fell short of achieving this goal, his popularity and extraordinary wealth did get him elected as an alternate member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. He ran as a candidate for the Liberal Renewal Movement but had to leave because of strong opposition from the campaign of Luis Carlos Galan. Escobar then became part of a small dissident faction called Liberal Alternative. During his time in parliament, Escobar oversaw construction of houses and football fields in the towns he frequented, which earned him some popularity among the locals. However, Colombia soon became the murder capital of the world in part thanks to Pablo’s drug network, and he eventually had to resign due to political pressure.

#12 Built His Own Luxury Prison After assassinating a presidential candidate in 1991, Escobar was on the authorities’ radar more than ever. Eventually, they convinced him to surrender under the conditions that he could help design his own prison. Escobar was incarcerated in his own self-designed luxury prison known as “La Catedral,” or the Cathedral, which was equipped with patios, a casino, a nightclub, a soccer field, a barbecue pit, and a spa. He also built another nearby compound for his family and was even allowed to receive visitors. Colombian authorities were not allowed within three miles of the prison, and Escobar himself got to choose who was imprisoned with him and who worked there. He continued to run his cocaine empire from within by phone, after which the government tried to forcefully move him to a “real” prison – Escobar quickly escaped.

#13 Involved In Professional Football Escobar’s pitch projects led to him developing friendships with athletes who would go on to become professionals. A lifelong fan of soccer and gambling, the drug kingpin allegedly became the chief financier of the Atletico Nacional in the 1980s. Escobar helped bankroll the team and buy many of the country’s top players in preparation for the championships. Atletico Nacional went on to win the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious football tournament in South America, in 1989. Referees were threatened in the league, including at the Copa Libertadores itself. Eventually, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) sanctioned Colombian clubs in the 1990 championships. Although Atletico Nacional was allowed to play as the previous champions, they had to play their matches in Chile to avoid further incidents. The 1989 Campeonato Profesional was canceled after the assassination of referee Alvaro Ortega in Medellin.

#14 Responsible For Over 4,000 Murders Pablo Escobar was responsible for killing an estimated 4,000 people, including a presidential candidate, a Justice Minister, an attorney general, more than 200 judges and over 1,000 police officers, government workers, and journalists. While Escobar may have been generous in giving shares of his wealth to his local communities, he remains one of the most notorious and bloodthirsty crime lords of all time. Though the exact figures will likely never be known, anyone who stood in Escobar’s way ended up massacred or assassinated. In 1989, a truck bomb exploded outside the headquarters of the Administrative Department of Security (DAS), killing 52 people and injuring about 1,000 more. The explosion levelled several city blocks and damaged more than 300 buildings. It was widely believed to be the work of the Medellin Cartel, who was trying to assassinate the director (he escaped unharmed).

#15 His Death Remains A Mystery Pablo Escobar’s reign of terror was brought to an end when he was gunned down at the age of 44. Cornered by Colombian National Police in 1993 after an electronic surveillance team tracked his radiotelephone transmissions to a barrio in Medellin, a fierce firefight between Pablo and his bodyguard and the police ensued. They attempted to escape by running over the rooftops of houses into a nearby alley, but both were shot dead. To this day, no one is entirely sure who fired the shot into Escobar’s left ear. It may have been the result of the firefight or a possible execution-style scenario. Some, like Pablo’s brothers, believe that the wound was self-inflicted since Pablo had vowed to shoot himself in the ear should he ever be captured. Whatever the case, his funeral was a mass event and  25,000 people attended his burial in Medellin.

Source: TheRichest

#IoTRecords

[mandyloves2read]

BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 📚📚📚

FRACTURED REIGN by @caitlyndarebooks is NOW AVAILABLE!!

The Gravestone Elite Trilogy is now complete and is FREE in KU!!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ehX7qj

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ulzUur

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3aZkuo4

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/33fZsx6

Start the Series NOW!!!

Shattered Legacy (Gravestone Elite #1)

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3qBFEhj

TARNISHED CROWN (Gravestone Elite #2)

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3kL8zh5

Blurb:

When Mia wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there, she braces herself for bad news.

But nothing can ever prepare her for the truth.

Betrayed by the very people who were supposed to protect her, Mia no longer knows who to trust.

All Bexley wants is to fix things for the girl he loves, and keep those around him safe.

Even if it means embracing his legacy.

Can Bexley and Mia fight their own demons while fighting the enemies closing in around them...

Or will it be too late to save each other?

Fractured Reign is the conclusion to Mia and Bexley's dark and twisted story.

Fractured Reign in the final book in the Gravestone Elite trilogy. It is a DARK BULLY ROMANCE and contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. You have been warned.

✨My review is coming for the last book ! ✨

#romance books #romance blog #book reccs #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #mustread #arcreader #booklover #bullyromance #sexyreads #steamyromance #newadultromance #caitlyndarebooks #romancereader #romancereads #fivestarreads

[bookboleynreads]

Cover Reveals!! Gravestone Elite Trilogy by Caitlyn Dare

Cover Reveals!! Gravestone Elite Trilogy by Caitlyn Dare

Gravestone Elite, a brand-new, dark, bully romance trilogy from bestselling author Caitlyn Dare is coming SOON!!! CHECK OUT THESE GORGEOUS COVERS!!Photographer: Armando AdajarModel: PatrickThe First book in the series, Shattered Legacy is coming March 4th and is available for preorder!!Preorder Shattered Legacy #1 TODAY!Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rYjN55Add Goodreads: Shattered Legacy Book #1:…

View On WordPress

[bookeverlasting]

#teasertuesday Who's ready for Gravestone? Gravestone Elite, a brand-new, dark, bully romance trilogy by Caitlyn Dare is coming SOON!!! The First book in the series, Shattered Legacy is coming March 4th and is available for preorder!! 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮 #1 𝙏𝙊𝘿𝘼𝙔! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rYjN55 𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨: Shattered Legacy Book #1: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR1 Tarnished Crown Book #2: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR2 Fractured Reign Book #3: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR3 𝘽𝙇𝙊𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙐𝙋 𝙉𝙊𝙒 https://forms.gle/T7oJxfrQqy4eEiLS6 #gravestone #gravestoneeliteseries #caitlyndarebooks #darktrilogy #darkromance #bullyromance https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ9rdw9AbfW/?igshid=x43rq42tu30c

#teasertuesday #1 #2 #3 #gravestone #gravestoneeliteseries #caitlyndarebooks #darktrilogy #darkromance #bullyromance

[bookeverlasting]

Gravestone Elite, a brand-new, dark, bully romance trilogy by Caitlyn Dare is coming SOON!!! The First book in the series, Shattered Legacy is coming March 4th and is available for preorder!! Preorder Shattered Legacy #1 TODAY! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rYjN55 Add the Trilogy to Goodreads: Shattered Legacy Book #1: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR1 Tarnished Crown Book #2: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR2 Fractured Reign Book #3: https://bit.ly/GravestoneGR3 https://www.instagram.com/p/CJxQWoYAdui/?igshid=14aw1t4hgq5z3

#1 #2 #3