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L'Amerigo Vespucci è un veliero della Marina Militare costruito come nave scuola per l'addestramento degli Allievi Ufficiali dei ruoli normali dell'Accademia Navale.
La decisione di costruire l'Amerigo Vespucci venne assunta nel 1925, allo scopo di sostituire l'omonima nave scuola; un incrociatore a motore e a vela, ormai prossimo alla radiazione, che fu posto in disarmo nel 1928 e ormeggiato nel porto di Venezia per essere adibito ad asilo infantile, riservato agli orfani dei marinai.
Il Vespucci fu progettato insieme al gemello Cristoforo Colombo nel 1930 dall'ingegnere Francesco Rotundi, tenente colonnello del Genio Navale e Direttore dei cantieri navali di Castellammare Stabia (Napoli), riprendendo i progetti del veliero Monarca, l'ammiraglia della Real Marina del Regno delle Due Sicilie, poi ribattezzato Re Galantuomo quando fu requisito dalla Marina piemontese dopo l'invasione delle Due Sicilie. I progetti ricopiati erano dell'ingegnere navale duosiciliano Sabatelli ed erano custoditi a Castellammare Stabia insieme alle tecnologie necessarie alla costruzione di questa tipologia di imbarcazione.
La nave-scuola fu varata il 22 febbraio 1931 e il 15 ottobre 1931, nel porto di Genova, ricevette la bandiera di combattimento nelle mani del suo primo comandante, Augusto Radicati di Marmorito. Il suo compito fu quello di affiancare il Cristoforo Colombo nell'attività di addestramento, fino al termine della seconda guerra mondiale, quando per l'effetto degli accordi internazionali, il Cristoforo Colombo dovette essere ceduto all'URSS, quale risarcimento dei danni di guerra.
Dal 1946 al 1952 è stata l'unica nave scuola a vela della marina militare italiana fino all'entrata in servizio dell'Ebe, un brigantino goletta costruito nel 1921 ed acquistato dalla Marina Militare nel 1952. A partire dal 1955 e stata affiancata da un altro veliero acquistato dalla Francia e ribattezzato Palinuro. Attualmente l'Amerigo Vespucci è la più anziana nave della Marina Militare ancora in servizio.
Il motto della nave, ufficializzato nel 1978, è «Non chi comincia ma quel che persevera» ed esprime la sua vocazione alla formazione ed addestramento dei futuri ufficiali della Marina Militare. I precedenti motti sono stati: «Per la Patria e per il Re»; sostituito nel 1946 con «Saldi nella furia dei venti e degli eventi».
L'addestramento si svolge attraverso le Campagne Addestrative. Queste Crociere d'Istruzione, effettuate già 71 volte, avvengono con itinerari diversi; in particolare questa nave scuola si è recata in Nord Europa 37 volte, 20 in Mediterraneo, 4 in Atlantico Orientale, 7 in Nord America, 1 in Sud America e 1 circumnavigando il Globo.
Oltre all'addestramento in particolare nell'ultimo decennio, ha spesso avuto il compito di ambasciatore sul mare dell'arte, della cultura e dell'ingegneria italiana,[1] presentandosi in molti dei più importanti porti del mondo in particolari occasioni come ad Auckland (Nuova Zelanda) nell'ottobre 2002 in occasione della 31° edizione dell'America's Cup e più recentemente ad Atene nel 2004 per le Olimpiadi ed a Portsmouth nel 2005 per la commemorazione della battaglia di Trafalgar ove ha avuto un ruolo di primo piano.
È un veliero che mantiene vive le vecchie tradizioni. Le vele sono ancora in tela olona, le cime sono tutte ancora di materiale vegetale, e tutte le manovre vengono rigorosamente eseguite a mano; ogni ordine a bordo viene impartito dal comandante, tramite il nostromo, con il fischietto; l'imbarco e lo sbarco di un Ufficiale avviene con gli onori al barcarizzo a seconda del grado dell'ospite.
Nel 2006, a 75 anni dall'entrata in servizio, ha ricevuto presso l'Arsenale Militare Marittimo della Spezia pesanti lavori di manutenzione con la sostituzione completa dell'albero di trinchetto per sopraggiunti limiti di usura, ricostruito fedelmente all'originale ricorrendo alle artigianali tecniche dell'epoca; la sostituzione di alcune lamiere a scafo richiodate da abili artigiani e la riconfigurazione del locale ausiliari con impianti di recente concezione.
immaginatevi la mia gioia nel vedere un assembramento di rocchetti nella nebbia,
gioia subito seguita dallo sconforto nel constatare che sono anni che non guardo la situazione sforzi sul disarmo, pare che ci sia molto da leggere in proposito per dissipare la nebbia, partendo da:
e ieri mi sono pure persa la partenza della www.vendeeglobe.org
skipper italiano
e le donne
good cruising you all.
As the female closes the distance between her and myself I notice her reaching to a holster on her belt behind her back. Given how her blaster was thrown from her grasp when I pushed the groupback it would seem to suggest she’s reaching for a lightsaber or a second blaster. Her desperation to the close the gap implies a close combat weapon, thus a lightsaber is more likely.
Regardless for what she’s reaching for, she’s still reaching for a weapon and I must be prepared to disarm her. With that I ignite my blade and take a defensive stance.
I sense a great deal of anger from this young one. Hatred, targeted towards me.
Thal: Mira no!
Rotun: Mira?
Evidently she’s been using a false alias in front of the Rodian that all but confirms that she is a jedi, otherwise why conceal your identity?
She quickly confirms her jedi identity when the hilt of her blade comes into view and she ignites it. Purple blade, shoto length. Evidently she’s more skilled with a saber than she is the force, a weakness to exploit.
Her blade clashes against my own but my cybernetics allow me to anchor down and not be moved by the force of the blow.
Vader: There is a great deal of hatred within you child.
Mira: I will avenge my master!
Vader: Revenge is not the jedi way.
Mira: What do you care about the jedi way Skywalker!?
I freeze on the spot.
How does she know?
Vader: Who told you that lie?
Mira: I was there when you ransacked the temple. I saw you slay my master in the library with my own eyes!
Vader: The jedi were traitors. They had to be destroyed.
Mira: Even the younglings?
I pause. Not a moment goes by that I don’t hear their screams echoing throughout the force. It is the one action I truly regret during my attempts to quell the jedi rebellion. The younglings couldn’t defend themselves, and yet I slaughtered them without a second thought. Perhaps the fate of Padme and my child were repercussions for my actions that night….Padme……….Why……..Why did you bring him to Mustufar?
This is all your fault Padme. We could have lived a happy life together. We could have destroyed Palpatine and raised our child in a galaxy that we controlled. You destroyed our future. You destroyed Anakin Skywalker’s future.
You murdered me Padme, and the force punished you for your actions.
Now the force must punish the jedi for their treachery. For using the force for their own benefit. For allowing Obi-Wan to pervert my destiny.
Obi-Wan…..
I know you’re still out there, old man. Hiding in the shadows hoping that I never find you. But we will meet again Kenobi, and on that day I will avenge my family.
In anger I lash out at the young jedi stod before me. Bashing my blade against hers in a barrage of blows forcing her to step back as to not lose her balance.
Vader: Even the younglings.
Mira: You’re a monster Skywalker. You’re nothing but a shadow of your former self.
Vader: Anakin Skywalker has been dead for over a year. He was exterminated along with the rest of your kind.
Mira: Well clearly your extermination didn’t go as planned. Here am I! A jedi knight stood right in front of you! Living and breathing!
Vader: A matter which will be quickly rectified.
With that I charge forward towards her with my saber ready. Today the missing two hundred becomes one less…..
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Special thanks to Kaiju Dan for editing in the lightsaber blade.
IL 20
di Sara Deganello e Francesco Franchi
Illustrazioni di Laura Cattaneo
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Obama e Medvedev hanno firmato l’accordo per la riduzione dei rispettivi arsenali nucleari. Eppure nel mondo le spese militari continuano a crescere.
E con loro le vendite delle aziende del settore
They all look the same, dress the same way, use the same facial expressions and body language but each will tell you he's "doing his own thing" Interactions, mirroring consists of the parent imitating the infant's expressions while vocalizing the emotion implied by the expression. This imitation helps the infant to associate the emotion with their expression, as well as feel validated in their own emotions as the parent shows approval through imitation. Studies have demonstrated that mirroring is an important part of child and infant development. According to Kohut's theories of self-psychology, individuals need a sense of validation and belonging in order to establish their concepts of self. When parents mirror their infants, the action may help the child develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-control, as they can see their emotions within their parent's faces. Additionally, infants may learn and experience new emotions, facial expressions, and gestures by mirroring expressions that their parents utilize. The process of mirroring may help infants establish connections of expressions to emotions and thus promote social communication later in life. Infants also learn to feel secure and valid in their own emotions through mirroring, as the parent's imitation of their emotions may help the child recognize their own thoughts and feelings more readily.When we meet others for the first time, we need to assess quickly whether they are positive or negative towards us, just as most other animals do for survival reasons. We do this by scanning the other person's body to see if they will move or gesture the same way we do in what is known as 'mirroring'. We mirror each other's body language as a way of bonding, being accepted and creating rapport, but we are usually oblivious to the fact that we are doing it. In ancient times, mirroring was also a social device which helped our ancestors fit in successfully with larger groups; it is also a left-over from a primitive method of learning which involved imitation.Additionally, individuals are likely to mirror the person of higher status or power within the situation. Mirroring individuals of higher power may create an illusion of higher status, or create rapport with the individual in power, thus allowing the person to gain favor with the individual in power. This mechanism may be helpful for individuals in situations where they are in a position of bargaining with an individual who possesses more power, as the rapport that mirroring creates may help to persuade the higher status individual to help the person of lower status. These situations include job interviews, other work situations such as requesting promotions, parent-child interactions, and asking professors for favors. Each of these situations involve one party who is in a more powerless position for bargaining, and another party who has the ability to fulfill the person of lower status's needs, but may not necessarily wish to. Thus, mirroring can be a useful tool for individuals of lower status in order to persuade the other party to relinquish goods or privileges for the lower status party.Mirroring generally takes place subconsciously as individuals react with the situation. Mirroring is common in conversation, as the listeners will typically smile or frown along with the speaker, as well as imitate body posture or attitude about the topic. Individuals may be more willing to empathize with and accept people whom they believe hold similar interests and beliefs, and thus mirroring the person with whom one is speaking may establish connections between the individuals involved.
One of the most noticeable forms of mirroring is yawning - one person starts and it sets everyone off. Dr. Robert Provine found that yawning is so contagious you don't even need to see another person yawn - the sight of a wide-open mouth is enough to do it. It was once thought that the purpose of yawning was to oxygenate the body but we now know that it's a form of mirroring that serves to create rapport with others and to avoid aggression - just as it also does for this pictured boat and yawning building.
Wearing the same outfit as another woman is a mirroring no-no. But if two men show up at a party wearing the same outfit, they could become lifelong friends.
Non-verbally, mirroring says 'Look at me; I'm the same as you. I feel the same way and share the same attitudes.' This is why people at a rock concert will all jump to their feet and applaud simultaneously or give a 'Mexican Wave' together. The synchronicity of the crowd promotes a secure feeling in the participants. Similarly, people in an angry mob will mirror aggressive attitudes and this explains why many usually calm people can lose their cool in this situation.
The urge to mirror is also the basis on which a queue works. In a queue, people willingly co-operate with people they have never met and will never see again, obeying an unwritten set of behavioral rules while waiting for a bus, at an art gallery, in a bank or side by side in war. Professor Joseph Heinrich from the University of Michigan found that the urges to mirror others are hardwired into the brain because co-operation leads to more food, better health and economic growth for communities. It also offers an explanation as to why societies that are highly disciplined in mirroring, such as the British, Germans and ancient Romans successfully dominated the world for many years. Mirroring the other person's body language and appearance shows a united front and doesn't let either get one-up on the other
Mirroring makes others feel 'at ease'. It's such a powerful rapport-building tool that slow-motion video research reveals that it even extends to simultaneous blinking, nostril-flaring, eyebrow-raising and even pupil dilation, which is remarkable as these micro-gestures cannot be consciously imitated.
Creating the Right Vibes
Studies into synchronous body language behavior show that people who feel similar emotions, or are on the same wavelength and are likely to be experiencing a rapport, will also begin to match each other's body language and expressions. Being 'in sync' to bond with another person begins early in the womb when our body functions and heartbeat match the rhythm of our mother, so mirroring is a state to which we are naturally inclined.
When a couple are in the early stages of courtship it's common to see them behave with synchronous movements, almost as if they are dancing. For example, when a woman takes a mouthful of food the man wipes the corner of his mouth; or he begins a sentence and she finishes it for him. When she gets PMT, he develops a strong desire for chocolate; and when she feels bloated, he farts.
When a person says 'the vibes are right' or that they 'feel right' around another person, they are unknowingly referring to mirroring and synchronous behavior. For example, at a restaurant, one person can be reluctant to eat or drink alone for fear of being out of sync with the others. When it comes to ordering the meal, each may check with the others before ordering. 'What are you having?' they ask as they try to mirror their meals. This is one of the reasons why playing background music during a date is so effective - the music gets a couple to beat and tap in time together. Mirroring on a Cellular Level
American heart surgeon, Dr Memhet Oz, reported some remarkable findings from heart recipients. He found that, as with most other body organs, the heart appears to retain cellular memories, and this allows some patients to experience some of the emotions experienced by the heart donor. Even more remarkably, he found some recipients also assume the same gestures and posture of the donor even though they have never seen the donor. His conclusion was that it appears that the heart cells instruct the recipient's brains to take on the donor's body language. Conversely, people suffering from disorders such as autism have no ability to mirror or match the behavior of others, which makes it difficult for two-way communication with others. The same goes for drunk people whose gestures are out of sync with their words, making it impossible for any mirroring to occur.
Because of the phenomenon of cause and effect, if you intentionally assume certain body language positions you will begin to experience the emotions associated with those gestures. For example, if you feel confident, you may unconsciously assume the Steeple gesture to reflect your confidence, but if you intentionally Steeple you will not only begin to feel more confident, others will perceive that you're confident. This, then, becomes a powerful way to create a rapport with others by intentionally matching their body language and posture.
Mirroring Differences Between Men and Women
Geoffrey Beattie, at the University of Manchester, found that a woman is instinctively four times more likely to mirror another woman than a man is to mirror another man. He also found that women mirror men's body language too, but men are reluctant to mirror a woman's gestures or posture - unless he is in courtship mode.
When a woman says she can 'see' that someone doesn't agree with the group opinion she is actually 'seeing' the disagreement. She's picked up that someone's body language is out of sync with group opinion and they are showing their disagreement by not mirroring the group's body language. How women can 'see' disagreement, anger, lying or feeling hurt has always been a source of amazement to most men. It's because most men's brains are simply not well equipped to read the fine detail of others' body language and don't consciously notice mirroring discrepancies.
Men and women's brains are programmed differently to express emotions through facial expressions and body language. Typically, a woman can use an average of six main facial expressions in a ten-second listening period to reflect and then feed back the speaker's emotions. Her face will mirror the emotions being expressed by the speaker. To someone watching, it can look as if the events being discussed are happening to both women.
A woman reads the meaning of what is being said through the speaker's voice tone and his emotional condition through his body language. This is exactly what a man needs to do to capture a woman's attention and to keep her interested and listening. Most men are daunted by the prospect of using facial feedback while listening, but it pays big dividends for the man who becomes good at it.
Some men say 'She'll think I'm effeminate!', but research with these techniques shows that when a man mirrors a woman's facial expressions as she talks she will describe him as caring, intelligent, interesting and attractive.
Men, on the other hand, can make fewer than a third of the facial expressions a woman can make. Men usually hold expressionless faces, especially in public, because of the evolutionary need to withhold emotion to stave off possible attack from strangers and to appear to be in control of their emotions. This is why most men look as if they are statues when they listen.
The emotionless mask that men wear while listening allows them to feel in control of the situation, but does not mean men don't experience emotions. Brain scans reveal that men can feel emotion as strongly as women, but avoid showing it publicly.
What to Do About It if You're Female
The key to mirroring a man's behavior is in understanding that he doesn't use his face to signal his attitudes - he uses his body. Most women find it difficult to mirror an expressionless man but with males this is not required. If you're a woman, it means that you need to reduce your facial expressions so that you don't come across as overwhelming or intimidating. Most importantly, don't mirror what you think he might be feeling. That can be disastrous if you've got it wrong and you may be described as 'dizzy' or 'scatterbrained'. Women in business who listen with a more serious face are described by men as more intelligent, astute and sensible.
When Men and Women Start to Look Alike
When two people live together for a long time and have a good working relationship, they often begin to look alike. This is because they are constantly mirroring each other's facial expressions, which, over time, builds muscle definition in the same areas of the face. Even couples who don't look facially similar can appear similar in a photograph because they use the same smile.
n 2000, psychologist Dr John Gottman of the University of Washington, Seattle, and his colleagues, discovered that marriages are more likely to fail when one partner not only does not mirror the other's expressions of happiness, but instead shows expressions of contempt. Instead, this opposite behavior affects the smiling partner, even when they are not consciously aware of what is happening.
Do We Resemble Our Pets?
You can also see mirroring occur in the pets some people choose. Without realizing it, we unconsciously tend to favor pets that physically resemble us, or that appear to reflect our attitudes. To demonstrate the point, here are a couple of examples: too far and presume that our model of body language and social interpretation applies to a dog's body language.
Be careful however not to extrapolate the metaphor too far and presume that our model of body language and social interpretation applies to a dog's body language.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
The next time you attend a social function or go to a place where people meet and interact, notice the number of people who have taken the identical gestures and posture of the person with whom they're talking. Mirroring is the way one person tells another that he is in agreement with his ideas and attitudes. One is non-verbally saying to the other, 'As you can see, I think the same as you.' The person with the highest status often makes the first moves and the others copy, usually in pecking order.
In the image above it is apparent by virtue of the facial expressions and other body language that there is a good rapport between the US President's wife Michelle Obama, of informally superior status, and a university president. If Michelle changes her body posture, one might expect there is a reasonably good chance the gentleman will unconsciously emulate her posture, indirectly demonstrating they are of the same mind. Mirroring happens among friends or between people of the same status and it is common to see married couples walk, stand, sit and move in identical ways. Albert Scheflen found that people who are strangers studiously avoid holding mirror positions.
Matching Voices
Intonation, voice inflection, speed of speaking and even accents also synchronize during the mirroring process to further establish mutual attitudes and build rapport. This is known as 'pacing' and it can almost seem as if the two people are singing in tune. You will often see a speaker beating time with his hands while the listener matches the rhythm with head nods. As a relationship grows over time, the mirroring of the main body language positions becomes less as each person begins to anticipate the other's attitudes, and vocal pacing with the other person becomes a main medium for maintaining rapport.
Never speak at a faster rate than the other person. Studies reveal that others describe feeling 'pressured' when someone speaks more quickly than they do. A person's speed of speech shows the rate at which their brain can consciously analyze information. Speak at the same rate or slightly slower than the other person and mirror their inflection and intonation. Pacing is critical when attempting to make appointments by telephone because voice is your only communication medium.
Intentionally Creating Rapport
The significance of mirroring is one of the most important body language lessons you can learn because it's a clear way in which others tell us that they agree with us or like us. It is also a way for us to tell others that we like them, by simply mirroring their body language.
If a boss wants to develop a rapport and create a relaxed atmosphere with a nervous employee, he could copy the employee's posture to achieve this end. Similarly, an up-and-coming employee may be seen copying his boss's gestures in an attempt to show agreement when the boss is giving his opinion. Using this knowledge, it is possible to influence others by mirroring their positive gestures and posture. This has the effect of putting the other person in a receptive and relaxed frame of mind, because he can 'see' that you understand his point of view. Before you mirror someone's body language, however, you must take into consideration your relationship with that person. Let's say, for example, a corporate employee has asked for a pay rise and is called into his manager's office. The employee enters the office, the manager asks him to sit down and assumes the Catapult with a Figure-Four showing the employee a superior, dominant attitude. But what would happen if the subordinate then instinctively copied the manager's dominant body language while discussing the potential salary increase? A boss might perceive a subordinate's mirroring behavior as being pushy or impertinent
Even if the employee's manner of speaking and phrasing was typical of a subordinate, the manager could feel affronted by the employee's body language, placing the employee's pay increase request in doubt and perhaps posing a threat to his future promotability. Mirroring is also effective for intimidating or disarming people who deem themselves 'superior' and try to take control of situations. Accountants, lawyers and managers are notorious for using superiority body language clusters around people they consider inferior. By mirroring, you can disconcert them and force a change of position. But never do it to the boss. Through mirrored multi-tasking, these business associates are taking their minds off what can seem an awkward encroachment on their personal zones.
Who Mirrors Whom?
Research shows that when the leader of a group assumes certain gestures and positions, subordinates will copy, usually in pecking order. Leaders also tend to be the first of a group to walk through a doorway and they like to sit on the end of a sofa, table or bench seat rather than in the center. When a group of executives walks into a room, the person with the highest status usually goes first. When executives are seated in the boardroom, the boss usually sits at the head of the table, often furthest from the door. If the boss sits in the Catapult, his subordinates are likely to copy in order of their importance within the group You can see this in a meeting where people 'take sides' with others by mirroring their body language. This lets you see who will vote with you and who will vote against you.
Mirroring is a good strategy to use if you are part of a presentation team. Decide, in advance, that when the team spokesperson makes a gesture or takes a posture when speaking, the entire team will mirror. This not only gives your team the powerful appearance of being cohesive, it can frighten the hell out of competitors who suspect something is up, even though they can't quite figure out what it is. When presenting ideas, products and services to couples, watching who mirrors whom reveals where the ultimate power or final decision-making ability lies. If the woman makes the initial movements, however small, such as crossing her feet, lacing her fingers or using a Critical Evaluation cluster and the man copies, there is little point in asking him for a decision - he doesn't have the authority to make it. When we rub both of our eyes simultaneously, it is as if we are telling our psyches, "I wish I never saw that", or "I can't believe he did that". We are trying to wipe it from our minds. People will also display this body language tell when recalling a past event in the "mind's eye".
Group Mirroring
It happens on fall season Sundays in American football stadiums around the country. Suddenly, 50,000 individuals became a single unit, almost a single mind, focused intently on what was happening on the field - that particular touchdown grab or dive into the end zone. Somehow, virtually simultaneously, each of those 50,000 people tuned into what the other 49,999 were looking at.
Becoming part of a crowd can be exhilarating or terrifying: The same mechanisms that make people fans can just as easily make them fanatics. And throughout human history we have constructed institutions that provide that dangerous, enthralling thrill. The Coliseum-like stadiums that host American football games or soccer games throughout the world are, after all, just modern knockoffs of the massive theater that housed Roman crowds cheering their favorite gladiators 2,000 years ago.
In fact, recent studies suggest that our sensitivity to crowds is built into our perceptual system and operates in a remarkably swift and automatic way. In a 2012 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, A.C. Gallup, then at Princeton University, and colleagues looked at the crowds that gather in shopping centers and train stations.
In one study, a few ringers simply joined the crowd and stared up at a spot in the sky for 60 seconds. Then the researchers recorded and analyzed the movements of the people around them. The scientists found that within seconds hundreds of people coordinated their attention in a highly systematic way. People consistently stopped to look toward exactly the same spot as the ringers.
The number of ringers ranged from one to 15. People turn out to be very sensitive to how many other people are looking at something, as well as to where they look. Individuals were much more likely to follow the gaze of several people than just a few, so there was a cascade of looking as more people joined in.
In a study in Psychological Science, Timothy Sweeny at the University of Denver and David Whitney at the University of California, Berkeley, looked at the mechanisms that let us follow a crowd in this way. They showed people a set of four faces, each looking in a slightly different direction. Then the researchers asked people to indicate where the whole group was looking (the observers had to swivel the eyes on a face on a computer screen to match the direction of the group).
Because we combine head and eye direction in calculating a gaze, the participants couldn't tell where each face was looking by tracking either the eyes or the head alone; they had to combine the two. The subjects saw the faces for less than a quarter of a second. That's much too short a time to look at each face individually, one by one.
It sounds impossibly hard. If you try the experiment, you can barely be sure of what you saw at all. But in fact, people were amazingly accurate. Somehow, in that split-second, they put all the faces together and worked out the average direction where the whole group was looking.
In other studies, Dr. Whitney has shown that people can swiftly calculate how happy or sad a crowd is in much the same way.
Other social animals have dedicated brain mechanisms for coordinating their action - that's what's behind the graceful rhythms of a flock of birds or a school of fish.
Summary
Mirroring someone's body language makes them feel accepted and creates a bond and is a phenomenon that occurs naturally between friends and people of equal status. Conversely, we make a point of not mirroring those we don't like or strangers, such as those riding with us in a lift or standing in the queue at the cinema.
Mirroring the other person's body language and speech patterns is one of the most powerful ways to build rapport quickly. In a new meeting with someone, mirror his seating position, posture, body angle, gestures, expressions and tone of voice. Before long, they'll start to feel that there's something about you they like - they'll describe you as 'easy to be with'. This is because they see themselves reflected in you. A word of warning, however: don't do it too early in a new encounter as many people have become aware of mirroring strategies. When someone takes a position you have one of three choices - ignore it, do something else or mirror it. Mirroring pays big dividends. But never mirror a person's negative signals.
westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/...
Note the RATO bottles used for Assisted Take-Off attached under the rear fuselage. Nuclear bomb (disarmed) under the fuselage too.
#1: Thee Silver Mt. Zion: 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons(Montréal, Canada)
Though my brother in law may cringe at this, without a doubt, Thee Silver Mt. Zion put out the best album this year. I know they aren't for everyone but when Efrim Menuck sings, his sense of passion and desperation...the way he communicates devastation speaks to me in a way that makes me think...this, this is the reason why music is here.
I know some have criticized Thee Silver Mt. Zion as pretentious but as someone who has been following Efrim Menuck from Godspeed You! Black Emperor to this point, I feel more than anything it's disarming and also...well, honest. Every time I put on this record, I feel a storm of emotion inside of me waiting to pour out. It startles me but I can't help it. When Efrim sings "Some hearts are true," it's the most hopeful moment. When Efrim sings "One Million Died to Make This Sound," my body was meant for collapse. He's singing my thoughts. He's singing my fears, my prayers. All that is in me is coming out of that dear man's throat.
And let's not forget the strength of the instrumentation and the joint choral effect (of the tra la la band) the album and live performance takes on. It creates the sense we're all in this together and we're all feeling it together. We may each have 13 blues for thirteen moons but we're sharing it together and, in a way, that redeems this pitiful life.
It's true that Thee Silver Mt. Zion, particularly because of Efrim's pained vocal delivery, is an acquired taste. If, like me, you acquire it, you'll probably never let it go.
#2 Karkwa: Le Volume du Vent
(Montréal, Canada)
Yes, another band from Montréal but this one sings in French! Ok, I literally first heard this band for the first time yesterday...skeptical? How 'bout if I told you that they are at times like, as Bill Pearis ( soundbites.typepad.com/soundbites/) aptly describes , a French Canadian Radiohead?
The album begins with a real intensity with Le Compteur before settling down into tracks like Oubile Pas, Le Frimas, and Le Temps Mort later on.
Well, anyhow, I'm in love with this record. It's passionate but also very melodic and urgent at the same time. Sort of like being simultaneously heavy and ethereal. Too bad they won't accept my American money but you can buy this most recent album on itunes. Have a listen...if melodramatic songs are your thing, I think you'll be pleased:
#3 Portishead: Third
(Bristol, UK)
I know there were many who were disappointed with this album but, if you're like me, you're grasping for just about every last scrap Beth Gibbons will give you
Now, I know this one is a little unpredictable and I know it's also a bit inconsistent. The album starts out with a startling track, "Silence" that builds in a completely hypnotizing way (especially if you are listening to it for the fourth time that night whilst editing photos at around 3:30 am when you begin to realize the next day is coming.) It cuts you off just as you truly sense the overall motion of it, though and the jarring effect is a testament to just how effective the song is.
"Machine Gun" has a similar overall feel and I think it could be said that it's Beth Gibbons at her most overtly powerful. But, we must also try to appreciate the random unpredictability of the album overall which I feel Beth Gibbons makes work in a very atypical way. Quite a few of the tracks are those that cannot be easily taken out of context and they are also the kinds of songs you need to give some extra time to. In a way, it feels like we see a portrait of a woman in all of her moods and this feels not only right but very honest. Just listen to "The Rip" as the day starts to peak through the dark curtain of night and you'll see what I mean.
www.myspace.com/portisheadalbum3
#4 The High Dials: Moon Country
(Montréal, Canada)
If you were to ask me what genre of music I love the most, above all others, I would look at you and say, without any hesitation: Psychedelic. It's something within me that I can't describe. Oh, shoegaze is wonderful and punk has it's place but it's the psychedelic music that speaks to me most. Without it, life is a very bleak place indeed.
That said, The High Dials have put out their third full length double album, Moon Country, and it is magnificent. What amazes me every time I hear the band on album or see them play is how utterly talented every member is. I feel most alive by listening and, even though they are playing songs in the genre that made bands like The Pretty Things and Love great, every time I listen to The High Dials, it seems so fresh to me. In other words, even though the influences peaked so long ago, there's such a joy and bliss renewed that comes to me. It's like I was experiencing it for the first time and it's wonderful. This album as well as 2005's War of the Wakening Phantoms are stellar and if you get a chance to see them live, do whatever you can not to miss it. As I told lead singer Trevor Anderson recently when I saw him play a show in Chicago, "I swear, if aliens were to land on this planet and hold everyone hostage, demanding even just one reason why the entire human race shouldn't be obliterated, I would play them your music."
"How can you be so sure, " he said, "that the aliens wouldn't like reggae dub better?"
#5 Spiritualized: Songs in A&E
(Rugby, England)
I really thought Spiritualized had lost it. Seriously! I felt 2003's Amazing Grace was just an album full of rehashed melodies from previous albums and that, frankly, Jason Pierce was starting to lose his magic. Then, another proper full length live album took five years to emerge. In that time, Pierce was going through so many issues including a serious hospital stay. No doubt he did some soul searching to produce this brilliant album, complete with tracks that suggest the power and energy of "Electricity" such as "You Lie You Cheat" but with a delicateness that suggest a fallen angel as in "Sweet Talk." Don't tell me I'm the only one that cries every time I hear "Death take your fiddle."
Needless to say, the gospel choir Pierce chose to back him up both live and on album was one of the best musical decisions he's ever made. Jason, you set my soul on fire.
profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile...
#6 Juana Molina: Un Dia
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Dear Juana,
You make my days complete...how could anyone be so complex and yet so soothing. I listen to you in my darkest hour and you are so comforting and at the same time incredibly intriguing as a songwriter...your compositions of songs work in a way no American songwriter that I know of can come close to. You are the reason why music will never die. In this modern age, you can be innovative and still provide a sense of stability somehow to this ever changing world. For that, no words seem to do you justice. You are creative in a way that mere syllables strung together seem almost wrong to describe as they are not enough.
Your devoted listener,
Kirstie
#7 The Magnetic Fields: Distortion
(Boston and NYC)
It probably comes to some of you as no surprise that I am a fan of Stephin Merritt's wry and insightful lyrics...his way of analyzing relationships and intimacy in a way that few can. I have such a history with this band, beginning so long ago when I was a college student. I loved all of Merritt's stories and even his lyrics when he was most jaded. I couldn't settle for one disc of the 69 Lovesongs...I had to have all three.
Distortion is not without a great deal of classic Merritt wit but the great guitar fuzz effect on much of the album makes it even more engaging to listen to. In a way the feedback and lo fi quality of it makes it seem dated but it's the kind of dates that got you through many of your years so far.
It's always interesting to me how live they tend to strip this down into an acoustic set. Both have their Merritt but I greatly prefer to hear the songs in this way with their full energy realized and without the strange personality of Stephin's making me feel more than slightly uncomfortable.
www.myspace.com/themagneticfields
#8 Orouni: Jump Out the Window
(Paris, France)
Orouni came out with his/their second full length album this year and the only way I'd like these magical songs better is if they were sung in French. Instead, they are sung in English but with a rather enchanting accent.
The cello arrangements are really lovely and so are the beautiful backup vocals of Mina Tindle, Mlie, and Emma. There's a real depth that Orouni has reached at times lyrically and some don't strike you at first but get stuck in your head with the accompanying melody line. There's an odd sense of innocence to the songs, especially the melodies, that make them all the more endearing like a bunch of comforting friends.
#9 Clinic: Do It!
(Liverpool, England)
Ok, you know those times when it's 8am, your parents are visiting in less than 24 hours and you've slept only about five in the last three days???? Well, you may be crawling to the shower and broom but, before that, do yourself a favor and put on Clinic's Do It! It's the get yourself in gear and get some work done type of album. Oh, and also, you might have to take some breaks to dance. Though I found Clinic's live show a little shticky with the surgical masks and the Hawaiian shirts, their live sound even more so brought out these gems.
Even though it's really upbeat overall and just gives me so much more artificial energy, I think Clinic is probably more of an acquired taste, especially relative to more typical music in all three genres of rock, pop, and even dance. Mainly, it's the overly nasal vocals that might turn some off again.
Funny thing about Clinic, when Walking With Thee hit the independent radiowaves back in 2002, I was so repulsed with the sound of it. I literally couldn't stand it and the college radio station in Chicago (WLUW) played it to death! I got to the point where I was changing the radio station any time the title track was played. I HATED Clinic. I wanted to scream how much I hated them! Why were they taking up space on the airwaves, I wanted to know!?!?!
Then, one day I woke up. It was still 2002 and it was on a Sunday. I looked out of the window and it was pouring rain. I turned on the radio but that didn't have what I was looking for. What did I want? Need? Crave with every fiber of my being? That's right! I had to have Walking With Thee and I would travel across the city at warp speed during a thunderstorm just to have it. I tell you this story just so if you're turned off for the first time, realize those songs you listen to might somehow come back to haunt you...they have very strange powers.
#10 Lost Wisdom
(Washington and Canada)
A joint venture between Phil Elverum of Mount Eerie fame and Julie Doiron has led to such lush and beautiful melodies that really resonate. The chemistry and dynamics of their two voices work together so well it recalls the harmony and beauty of the way Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sang together so long ago at times, only if Art was a female. Hmmm...imagine the possibilities that might have brought!
Una cornice di cristalli impreziosisce anche la più semplice erba di campo donandole una bellezza disarmante ... destinata a scomparire col primo raggio di sole!
Vieni e guarda la luna e non dirmi di averla già veduta, perché stasera è immensa e nuova, disarmante e sorprendente, per chi ha gli occhi stanchi di capire. Fabrizio Caramagna
...get it? Because she lost her drill arm? (I'm sorry)
Yes, this is the real one. Yes, she still has dem hips. But really, Korgot is a very close second to my favorite build of this project (after Vizuna). Her... "unique" build (and large purple drill arm) really helps her stand out from the rest.
Aver paura d'innamorarsi troppo
non disarmarsi per non sciupare tutto
non dire niente per non tradir la mente ......
INNAMORARSI: VIVI IN UN MONDO IRREALE
An Advanced Recon Force trooper, Boomer participated in the Battle of Ryloth. Sometime after the capital city, Lessu, was liberated by the Grand Army of the Republic, Boomer, along with Captain Rex, went on an AT-RT night patrol around the city of Resdin. The clones eliminated a large number of battle droids, but were ambushed and taken captives by a bounty hunter named Cad Bane. Bane needed the clones alive to protect the gravity weapon, which he had stolen from the CIS, from the battle droids ordered to retrieve it. He had attached explosives to the clones' binders and promised to let them go if they co-operated with them. Rex and Boomer had no choice but to agree. They defeated several waves of droids, until Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano arrived for help, following Rex's signal. The Jedi managed to capture the Duros and ordered Boomer and Rex to disarm him. Forcing Bane to co-operate in turn, the Jedi and clone troopers decided to use his transport, The Sleight of Hand. Bane was forced to carry the weapon to the ship, while the Jedi guarded him and Rex and Boomer went ahead to clear the way for them. At the ship, the Jedi were ambushed by the Skakoan, Kul Teska, the creator of the gravity weapon, and a fight ensued, in which the Jedi were at a disadvantage until Rex and Boomer arrived for help. The clones used their weaponry against Teska and he was forced to retreat in Bane's transport, taking the gravity weapon and Bane himself with him.
Custom Decals by Fine Clonier
Application by Xero_Fett
Custom Helment by Arealight
Featured in Tomorrow Never Dies, the "Bulletproof Beemer" came equipped with a security system that would deliver electrical shocks via the door handles to would-be thieves unless disarmed by Bond's Ericsson mobile phone.
The car also had 2 secure compartments hidden behind the section of the dashboard where the airbag supposedly was (and could only be opened by Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) sliding his finger from right-to-left on a hidden fingerprint-scanner located directly under the "SRS Airbag" logo). These two compartments (after being revealed when the "airbag-compartment" flips up) could be each opened by pressing a button on the 'door' of the [respective] compartment itself. The left compartment slid out a tray with a integrated "cut out" intended to hold Bond's Walther PPK, as well as a silencer for the gun. The right compartment (also a "slide-out" tray) was basically an empty tray to hold anything that would fit in it. In the movie, the right compartment was used by Bond to store the "red box" which contained the [American] GPS Encoder stolen by Carver's henchman (and pseudo-"I.T. guy") Henry Gupta. The 750iL could be remotely driven and controlled via Bond's Ericsson phone, which opened up to show an LCD screen displaying the driver's view of the car (that would have front-mounted hidden microscopic cameras, to allow the remote-control "driver" to see what was in front of the car). Weapons and defense systems included unguided explosive rockets mounted in a hidden hatch in the roof which replaced the car's standard sunroof, self-sealing and re-inflating tires, a retractable cable-cutting device mounted underneath the front hood emblem, tear gas sprayers, and caltrops that dropped from a dispenser hidden behind the extendable rear bumper to shred the tires of any following cars.
Features: Ballistic bulletproof armored body panels, bulletproof and impact-proof glass all round (although a 40mm Grenade projectile fired from a rifle launcher wielded by one of Carver's henchmen managed to pierce and hole the front windscreen, but not shatter it), security system which electrocutes intruders through the door handles unless disarmed by Bond's Ericsson mobile phone, security compartments hidden behind section of dashboard where airbag is (the compartments are accessible only by Bond sliding his finger from right-to-left on a hidden fingerprint-scanner located directly under the "SRS Airbag" logo), can be driven and controlled completely remotely by Bond's Ericsson mobile phone, retractable cable-cutter, tear gas sprayers, and a rear-mounted caltrop dispenser.
[Text from Jamesbondwiki.com]
www.jamesbondwiki.com/page/BMW+750iL
This Lego miniland-scale BMW E38 750iL Saloon - (Tomorrow Never Dies 1997) has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 101st Build Challenge, titled - 'A Matter of Life and Death!'. In this challenge, any vehicle can be built that associates with the themes of life or death.
"Well, this place ain't creepy."
"Christ, bombs? Should we be here?"
"We have a mission to complete, so yes."
"Well I'm gonna start disarming every bomb I see. Hair's standing on end enough already..."
Fucking Washington drones breaking into my home. You made a mistake. Bet you worthless spooks never even felt war. You're about to, though. Nothing I want more than to see big brother bleed....
*KK-BAANG*
"AAHh---"
"OH SHIT, LOUIE!!"
"OPEN FIRE!!!"
*RATATATATATATAT*
*K-BANG*
*K-BANG*
There are two halves of me.
But warmth can grow both in the dusk as in the light.
*
This picture might be an attempt to express what Music means to me.
I have over 1000 CD's and many many gigabytes of mp3's.
A few of my favourite musical artists are mentioned on my wimpers flickr profile page.
*
Being disarmed in the face of a tyrant is a mistake a free people get to make only once.
Live free, stay armed.
Pink is my colour
Pink is the sweet side of wild
Quite mild
Like a little lost baby child
Of all the colours compiled
Pink is romantic and disarming
All pink roses are ever so charming.
Captured in flower shop (France)
Ruthven Barracks were built by George II’s government between 1719 and 1721 following the Jacobite rising of 1715. They were to house garrison infantry to police the area and enforce the Disarming Act of 1716.
The barracks are situated on the site of the medieval castles of the Comyns and the Gordons, of which only the well still remains. The strategic importance of the site is obvious – visible from miles around, it dominates the head of the Spey valley.
For king and country
Ruthven Barracks could hold two companies of soldiers – about 120 men – and their officers, but it’s unlikely it was ever fully garrisoned. They were housed in two piles of three-storey barracks with a parade ground between them. Each pile had six rooms, with men sleeping 10 to a room and two to a bed.
Towers projecting from opposite corners of the protective wall housed the officers’ quarters, as well as:
•a guardroom
•a prison
•a bakehouse
•a brewhouse
The stables beyond the barracks, added on orders of Major General Wade in 1734, could hold up to 30 horses. They were used by dragoons protecting troops marching along the military road.
The second rising
The garrison saw action 26 years after it was first built, during the 1745 Jacobite rising.
In late August of that year, 300 Jacobites besieged the barracks, but were held off by the 12 redcoats inside. Just one of the barracks’ troops died, ‘by foolishly holding his head high over the parapet’, according to his sergeant.
The Jacobites returned in February the next year, this time with heavy guns. The garrison soon surrendered to Gordon of Glenbuchat’s men’
. The rising and the fall
The Jacobites were soundly defeated by the redcoats at the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746. The remainder of the army regrouped at Ruthven to await word from their leader, Bonnie Prince Charlie.
His message arrived on April 20, reading ‘Let every man seek his own safety in the best way he can’.
‘The answer, under existing circumstances, was as inconsiderate in Charles as it was heartbreaking to the brave men, who had sacrificed themselves in his cause,’ Chevalier Johnstone said.
Care must be taken to disarm this bomb, any movement can trigger the mechanism and BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
See how a movement can be fatal here
"One caramel macchiato and one black coffee."
Barry watched Iris from a table located in the back of the coffee shop. Jitters had been a meetup spot the two frequented ever since highschool. While the coffee wasn't five-star quality, the atmosphere of the shop & it's owners made up for it.
Barry's mind, however, was elsewhere.
"Don't ever stop… being a hero. You might have to fight a few knuckleheads like me… but it'll be worth it."
The event replayed in Barry's head over and over again. The man smiled as his final moments occurred… smiled as Barry failed him.
"You sure you don't want any pastries?" Iris asked, causing Barry to refocus. "You usually always get one when we come."
"Ah- y-yeah…" he mumbled, accepting the drink. He took a quick sip before placing the cup down, turning his head to stare out the frosted window. "Not hungry."
Iris looked at him with a cocked eyebrow as she sat down. "Barry," she started, placing her own cup down, "are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah… why?" he asked, turning back to her.
"Because that's a plain black coffee you just drank…" she said, motioning to his cup. "You don't touch the stuff unless it's got at least three scoops of sugar and drowned in milk."
"Oh… guess it's not that bad," he replied, forcing a small smile. "Really, I'm fine."
"Barry, I don't know if I should be more insulted that you think your girlfriend would buy that, or that a reporter would," she said with a frown. Reaching across the table, she took hold of his hand. "You've been… off all day today, Barry, yesterday too. I won't force you to tell me… but you don't need to fake a smile." After a moment of silence, Iris squeezed Barry's hand before pulling away.
Barry bit the inside of his cheek to stop his mouth from opening. He wanted to tell her everything. He wanted someone on the outside to talk to, to confide in. Someone that wasn't a veteran superhero or in the line of duty, just a normal person.
The woman's phone pinged, causing Barry to raise his head, an inward sigh of both relief and disappointment. The woman across from him checked the device, sighing as she stood.
"I'm sorry Barry, my boss needs me downtown," she mumbled, picking up her drink and purse. "Apparently the Trickster is back in town?"
Barry's ears perked up at the name, remembering him as one of Jay's old foes. "It's alright, Iris," he said, standing up after her. "I'm sure I'll be called in shortly anyways."
Iris frowned once more. "Just remember I'm here, okay Barry?" Iris said, turning towards the door.
Barry didn't speak, watching the woman leave. He wanted to tell her, but he knew he couldn't. It wasn't her burden to shoulder.
-^-
A gust of wind sounded off through the street as Barry arrived. It was quiet for a Monday morning, the police were thorough with their evacuation.
Jay had told him a bit about some of his old foes. Weather Warlock, Heatmonger, The Thinker, and one of the deadliest… Trickster.
He was different from any of the villains Barry had fought during his year of crime fighting. Some wanted money, power, even simple validation. Not James Jesse though.
There was no method to the madness. There was no weather wand or flamethrower. No mirror gun or saw blade-lined suits. He was the definition of a wildcard, and that made him dangerous.
The sound of a firework caught Barry's attention, bringing his gaze to the sky. The smoke trail following the colors came from a nearby rooftop. Running up the wall, Barry came face to face with the villain, sat atop the Young Theater. The villain looked… sad, his feet dangling off the building's edge.
"Jesse," Flash called, staring at the man. "You know this ends one of two ways."
"The rumors are true," Jesse mumbled, elbows on his knees as he held up his head. "You really aren't the real Flash."
Barry frowned, walking closer to the man. "I don't have time for games, turn yourself in." he said, now mere feet away from the man.
"Yeah…" Jesse said, raising his wrists towards Barry. "Not gonna happen!"
From Jesse's wrists shot splatters of acid. Barry narrowly dodged the lethal liquid, stepping to the side, out of Jesse's range. The man leapt up from his spot on the roof, using spring-shoes to launch himself to a neighboring building.
"One thing didn't change, whoever you are," Jesse laughed, landing on one foot, striking a pose, "you're still as gullible as ever, streaky."
Barry frowned, watching as the green-haired man pulled out a metallic fish from his belt. "I don't have time for this!" Barry yelled out, making a beeline towards Jesse. Leaping across the gap of the buildings, Barry was caught off guard by a boxing glove, launching out from the alley below. The red object caught Barry by his chin, stopping his momentum and sending him crashing to the street below.
Barry groaned, using his elbow to prop himself up. The buildings weren't too tall, thankfully. He could feel his speed healing begin to kick in, but it would still be a moment before he could stand.
"Flash!?"
Barry's eyes widened at the voice, his head swivelling to see Iris approaching him. A cameraman followed behind her, but kept some distance, likely to keep a good shot.
"Ms. West… stay back…" he called out, turning his head back to the villain, still atop the building. "He's dangerous… you need to leave."
Springs sounded off as Jesse leapt from the roof, landing gracefully on the road. He had a smile on his face as he twirled the silver fish. "Well well well," he giggled, pressing a button on the side of the item, "we seem to have an audience."
Like out of a sci-fi movie, a blue laser shot from the fish, turning it into a sword. The cameraman took an additional step back, but Iris stepped forward.
"Iris…" Barry mumbled, reaching his hand forward.
"Do you think people are scared of you?" she asked, taking another step forward, eyes peering over his shoulder. "You're nothing but a joke-"
"No, he's from Gotham…"
"-to me, him, and everyone in this city." she continued, ignoring his interruption. "You're washed. No one cares about the Trickster anymore. Take it from me, I'd rather be covering Captain Cold right now."
"What did you say?" he asked, the playfulness in his voice dropping. "Washed? Me!? You must be mistaken, Ms. West… but I'm the star of any show!"
"Your gimmick was perfected," she said, taking yet another step forward. "Do you know how many 'Tricksters' there are? How many are scarier… more threatening than you ever were?"
"Another word… and I'll end you!"
"I doubt you could."
"THAT'S I-"
Crack
Jesse tumbled to the ground, dropping the laser sword in the process. Stood in his place was Joe, rubbing his fist.
"Detective West…" Barry mumbled, the feeling in his leg returning.
"Good job, Joe," Iris said, waving the cameraman over.
"Iris, what the hell were you thinking!?" he shouted, causing Iris to frown.
"I saw your lights," she explained, pointing to the police cruiser. "I thought I'd make a distraction so you could take him down."
"That's not your job!" he fired back, pointing to Barry. "He moves faster than a bullet and was nearly killed. He could've killed you, Iris!"
"But he didn't."
"That isn't… damn it, Iris."
Barry, finally healed, raised himself to a stand, shaking the snow off his back. "Ms. West, Detective West is right," he said, looking down at Jesse. "This man is insane. Trying to aggravate him could've gotten you and your cameraman hurt… or worse."
"I…" Iris opened her mouth, ready to argue, but stopped. "I need to finish the report. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Red and blue lights flashed down the street as an armored car arrived. Officers stepped out, disarming Jesse and began loading him into the back.
Barry turned, ready to leave, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Looking back, Joe stood with a firm expression.
"Something wrong, Detective?" he asked, tilting his head.
"Come with me a minute?" he asked, nodding his head away from the officers.
Barry paused for a moment, contemplating on just speeding off. Then he looked at Joe, and saw worry in the man's eyes. With a nod, the two walked away from the crowd.
"What's on your mind, Detective?" Barry asked, after breaking away from the scene.
"What's on yours?" Joe responded, causing Barry to frown.
"I'm not sure what you mean by that, sir," Barry said, knowing his acting wasn't very up to par. "Just a tumble, that's all."
"On New Year's eve… you vanished," Joe said, crossing his arms. "After every case of super criminal you deal with, you've made it a priority to relay everything you could to us… but that night?
"What happened with Bivolo?"
Barry down at his hands.
"Don't ever stop… being a hero. You might have to fight a few knuckleheads like me… but it'll be worth it."
A teardrop fell from his eye down onto his hand, causing him to clench his fists. Looking back up to Joe, he shook his head solemnly. "I couldn't save him."
In an instant, Barry took off, leaving Joe alone in the street.
"I failed to be a hero."
-^-
"Hey, mom… Malcolm," Barry said, kneeling down to place a small bundle of pansies onto the snowy grave stones. "I… I haven't come by as much recently, sorry about that, I've been… busy."
Barry inhaled the crisp January air, feeling wetness buildup in his eyes. "I- uh… I'm not in a good place right now," he mumbled, droplets falling from his cheeks onto the snow. "I… the other night, I really just… didn't know what to do. In my head I played every scenario I could think of… I tried… tried to calm him down, but… but I…"
"Why did it hit me?" Barry asked, staring at the headstone, hoping it would give him an answer "Out of anyone that could've been struck by that bolt of lightning, why was it me?
"Why did it choose someone who always fails… someone who couldn't get home fast enough for his family… someone who wasn't able to do anything to save Francine… or Jorge… or-"
Barry stopped himself, looking down into the snow. He sat in silence, letting the light snow fall on his hair. Pulling himself back to both feet, he let out a held breath.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Barry looked up, seeing August walking through the snow towards him.
"A-August? W-were you-"
"I wasn't listening," August said, pointing to the headstones "It'd be disrespectful to intrude, to all three of you."
"R-right," Barry mumbled, looking at the graves before turning back to August. "Why are you here?"
"You're not good at hiding things, Barry," he said, Barry freezing at the words. "Yesterday when you were doing your analysis for Bivolo's case, you… you looked so broken."
"August, believe me-"
"Shut up, Barry," he said, silencing the blond. "I don't… know what's going on… or why you're crying at the cemetery alone. You've got people who care about you, Barry," he said, looking up and turning his head to Barry.
"I know that August," Barry said. "Believe me, I know that, I just… there's some things that you have to deal with alone."
"Yeah… yeah I get that," August said,m with a sad smile, placing his hand on Barry's shoulder, "but I want you to know… even if we may not understand what you're going through, we understand you. You can talk to us, any of us. You don't have to be Superman."
Patting Barry's shoulder, August walked away, leaving Barry alone. The blond turned his head back to the graves. "I know what you'd be saying right now, mom," Barry mumbled with a chuckle, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I… I think I made good friends too."
After a few more minutes, Barry turned, making his way out of the cemetery. As he took his first steps, someone collided with him.
"My bad, sir," Barry said, taking note of the long, black hooded-coat the man wore, completely concealing his face.
"S'fine… didn't see you."
Barry watched the man step past him, walking deeper into the cemetery.
"Weird…"
-^-
A large explosion sounded off in the d-block of Iron Heights. Sam Scudder stepped out of his cell, coughing up dust.
"What the hell?" he asked as he looked around the block.
Marco Mardon, exited his cell, holding a broken bar as if it were a weapon. "Was this you?" he asked Scudder, earning a head shake in response.
"Wasn't me neither," Roscoe Dillon, mumbled, fanning away dust. "Looks like it blew up along the entire wing…"
"If it wasn't either of you, then…"
"Explosive chewing gum!" shouted the manic voice of James Jesse, as he stepped out of his cell. "It usually just blows up in people's mouths, glad it worked this time though!"
Scudder looked to Mardon with a concerned expression, who simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Are you curious?" Jesse asked, tearing off his left pinky. "I hid the gum in here, my fake finger." The three stared in astonishment as he wiggled the prosthetic. "Don't let the guards know though," he said, concealing his mouth behind his hand, "it's my trick for gettin' out of here."
The sound of another string of explosions caused everyone in the wing to stumble.
"Oops, looks like the rest of the gum blew up…" Jesse mumbled, before shrugging. "Oh well, I'll be off. I know you youngsters got your own gimmicks, there should be a hole in the armory. Toodles."
Scudder, Mardon, and Dillon watched as the green haired man pranced out of the large blown open wall.
"What the fuck?"
NEXT TIME: Wally West, Missing!?
Molon Labe is a traditional shout of defiance when someone tries to disarm someone else. The literal translation from Greek is "Come! Take!" It is a dare. I'm sorry that so few people recognize the expression and its significance. Some are content to say just "It's Greek to me." If you saw the movie 300, you saw King Leonidas defy the Persian king this way at the Battle of Thermopylae, (480 bce ),
Hawker Hunter XG194 was delivered to the RAF on October 3rd 1956. Flown by Air Commodore Roger Topp, C.O. of 111 Sqn, she led the 111 Sqn Black Arrows aerobatic display team during the world record 22 aeroplane loop at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show and was based at Wattisham from 1958-60.
Converted to FGA.9 in March 1965, it went on to fly with 1 Sqn at Wittering. In 1988, after a period at Cosford as a ground instructional airframe, it went to RAF North Luffenham for Explosive Ordnance training, and was painted to resemble a Soviet Sukhoi fighter for crews who would have to disarm Warsaw Pact aircraft that may have been flown to the West by a defecting pilot.
In November 2009, the dilapidated frame of XG194 was rescued from a muddy field minus ejection seat, and moved back to Wattisham to be restored to its former glory. Ex-Armourer Mike Halpin was tasked with sourcing a Martin Baker Mk 2H seat for the aircraft and, after a tireless search, located a 1951 seat in Brighton, complete with all original safety equipment. Before the seat could be fitted into the aircraft Mike deactivated all mechanisms, making it safe for static display.
The final stage of the restoration was to spray the aircraft in its aerobatic gloss-black colour, as seen while leading the 22 aeroplane loop more than 54 years ago. On 14th May 2013, his 90th birthday, Air Commodore Roger Topp, the former CO of 111 Sqn who led the team and flew the aircraft in 1958, officially unveiled XG194.