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The Bell project was an anti-gravity device. Scientist who worked on the project say the craft was powered by a circular plane of rotating blades 49ft. in diameter. It was said to climb 40,700ft in 3 mins and reach 1,400mph in flight. The war ended before this super weapon could be used.
(Knock! Knock!)
”Who’s there?”
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Walter Newell, an oceanographer and engineer based in New York City. Yeah, New York, the home of every generic and clichéd superhero story. Well guess what? Buckle up as you’re in for the ride of… well… another one of those stories. Walter Newell, like many scientists that have come and pass has begun creating a device that promises to be a “step in the right direction” in his field of science. Have you heard that one before?
Thought so.
Here’s some generic backstory to get you caught up to speed:
All his life, Walter has been fascinated with the ocean. He was intrigued as a young boy by the movies that depicted the creatures that roamed the deep blue abyss. The thing that stood out the most was the fact that there was so much about the ocean that has yet to be discovered. When new findings would emerge he would be jealous of those men and women that were lucky enough to be there. So, he did everything he could to ensure his future as someone that would become famous making new discoveries about the ocean. He read, watched, and studied everything he could about the ocean.
With his head full of, figuratively, everything one could know about the ocean he applied to the best school that had the very program he knew would get him a job with a major company. His goal was a company that stood out to him. This company had shown interest in almost anyone that would show up at their doorstep with an idea to give to them. Well that was if you wanted to make an advancement in technology. Walter had poured over this for the years and years he spent in college.
Now before we get to that, we’ll need to visit a girl. This girl was anything but ordinary. Her name was Diane. She loved the ocean as much as, if not more than, Walter. The two rivaled each other with every assignment they were given. They always had identical test scores and were co-valedictorians as they graduated. In the following months after they’re graduation, they began to date. This moved quickly as Walter asked Diane if she would like to help him with his project. Without hesitation, she said yes. So, they began working on something that would be sure to set them apart from anyone else trying to get a job at…
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“Advanced Idea Mechanics?” Diane asked.
”Yeah, I’ve heard a lot of great things about them.”
“Alright. Let’s do this!”
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It took them a little over a year to fully develop a reasonable idea. They took their idea to Advanced Idea Mechanics and got enough funding for a prototype. During the building time, Walter proposed to Diane and they were set to marry the next summer. With everything coming up in spades, Walter felt like he was finally making a name for himself. His once rival was now his best friend and fiancé. His passion turned into his job and without his knowing, there was another surprise that Diane was hiding from him until they finished their prototype.
A few months after they had begun, Walter and Diane had a finished prototype of their idea. A suit that would allow divers to go even further than a submarine could. This suit, with modifications they had planned if they got funding to make a second version, would be able to aid the diver in swimming faster and breathing fresh air longer. All of this had the organization’s head, Mister Benton, very intrigued. So much so that he granted them a green light on the project. So with the necessary funding, material, and extra hands, the duo began planning the development of the…
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“’Project Stingray’.”
”Why Stingray?”
“I’ve always had a love of the creature. They’re very much so like humans. Each has their own personality and their own distinct features. Stingrays are remarkable beings.”
”Alright, let’s do this.”
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The team focused on building one suit to showcase that they could indeed make this thing a reality. While this was going on, Diane let Walter in on a little secret she had kept from him for almost a month. This was the fact that she was pregnant. Walter became overjoyed and ran through the building’s corridors screaming and jumping for joy. He was happier than he had ever been… unfortunately, happier than he would ever be…
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“The Stingray suit, built to last in the depths of the ocean. The world record for the deepest human dive is just over a thousand feet, and with the aid of this suit you can go double or even triple that. The lightweight material this armor is made of can survive the extreme pressures of the deep blue.” Diane says as she unveils a red and black diving suit. She looks over at her boss and smiled as his mouth was wide open in shock.
“That’s impressive. We know that for sure?” Mister Benton replies with slight concern.
“Well…” Diane begins to speak but is cut off by Walter.
”Well we’ve yet to test it, but there’s a very slim chance that our calculations are off.”
“I want it tested before I pitch this to the board.” Mister Benton turns around and walks out of the lab.
“Alright, let's do... (cough! Cough!)” Diane walks over to a table while suffering a coughing fit.
”Are you okay?” Walter says as he places his hand on his fiancé’s back.
“Yeah, it’s just my... (cough!)”
”We’ve got to get you home.”
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”So that’s why I’m doing this.” Walter said to his boss with a muffled sigh.
“Doing what?” His boss quickly answered.
”Why I’m leaving.” Walter took a deep breath as he held back tears. ”I’m taking an early leave to be with my wife. She’s dying and I need to be with her.”
“Y’know you can still work here, right?” Benton says as he stands up from his chair and walks over to the side of the desk Walter sits at.
”I know.” Walter looks down at his shoes. ”I just want to be with her right now.”
“I understand. Listen, if… when you want to come back, you’ve got your job.” Mister Benton outreaches his hand and smiles as Walter takes his hand and shakes it firmly.
”Th-thanks.” Walter says as he gets up from his seat and makes his way to the door. He pauses just before the door and turns around as Mister Benson speaks.
“Good-bye, Mister Newell.”
”Good-bye.” Walter opens the door and leaves. He begins his drive back to his house to be with his newborn child and his ill wife. Just as everything began to feel right, it all went wrong…
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”Take his wife. That’ll give him reason enough to continue his work.”
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(NOTES:)
"Who the heck is Stingray?" You may be asking. Well, that's a fair question. I'll tell ya who he is.
He's a character that I think doesn't get as much love as he could. Sure he showed up in Deadpool's "heroes for money" run, but I wanted to show him some real good love. Perfect explanation, right? Thought so...
I actually planned to introduce him in Deadpool but since I dropped Deadpool I decided I would make him my new role (hopefully).
So I hope y'all enjoy this and I hope I get the role. :D
'Device to Root Out Evil' - it's taken me years to get a clear view of this sculpture by Dennis Oppenheim as cars and bikes are often parked around it in Plaza de la Puerta de Santa Catalina. Sometimes called 'The Inverted Church'.
the growth and development of technology is phenomenal and its users are getting younger. instead of toys, children nowadays are given tablets or phones for presents. since gadget prices have dropped, it has become accessible for anyone to buy no matter what their status in life is. when they wake up in the morning , most of these kids will simply reach out for their gadgets. and for for majority of these users , games are the most popular usage for these devices.
Macromondays: Theme is Smallest Devices
Fear - A device used to control other people. Couldn't get this one as I had thought of it. Never mind..... decided to re-add it to the pool anyway.
Bronze relief made of hammered sheet in the shape of a cock. The wings are indicated by engraving. The cock was a favorite subject for a shield device because of its fighting spirit. It was common on Argive round shields.
Bronze Shield Device
6th century BC.
Olympia, Archaeological Museum
"Can’t Put Down Your Device? That’s by Design" by NATASHA SINGER via NYT t.co/RAuEDVUbOT (via Twitter twitter.com/felipemassone/status/673192609179901954)
Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) is raised in preparation to be mated with Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 905 at White Sands Space Harbor (WSSH), New Mexico for return to the Kennedy Space Center. Upon successful conclusion of the STS-3 mission, Columbia was forced to land at WSSH due to unfavorable conditions at Edwards Air Force Base, the primary site. STS-3 was the first and only shuttle mission to land at WSSH.
What a view, blue sky galore and the San Andres Mountains in the distance...nice. Also an excellent view of the stiff-leg derrick/crane combination used as sort of a 'field expedient'/mobile Mate-Demate Device (MDD). Excellent information & photos pertaining to the combination:
www.quora.com/If-a-space-shuttle-had-to-make-an-emergency...
Credit: Quora website
Thought For Food: Leveraging 3 Of The Few Cooking Devices I Use - IMRAN®
Microwave Oven. Air Fryer. Slow Cooker. Rice Cooker. Toaster Oven. Barbecue Grill. I use one or two of these on the rare occasion I “cook” something. This time I put three to use in parallel.
Philips Air Fryer, Chicken Parmesan. Toshiba Rice Cooker, pasta. Panasonic Microwave heated pasta sauce. Around 15-20 minutes total with maybe 3-5 minutes total prep time. Anything reaching 10 minutes of prep or cleanup time is not for me!
© 2025 IMRAN®
slip cast fired to cone 6 with decal transfers, a different take on hyperventilating into a paper bag.
Two devices, the critical ones, monitoring activities at the uranium enrichment site were deactivated, though other cameras continue working.
By Associated Press
Iran turned off two surveillance devices Wednesday used by U.N, inspectors to monitor the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment, further escalating the crisis over its atomic program as Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters.
The move appeared to be a new pressure technique as Western nations seek to censure Iran at a meeting this week in Vienna at the International Atomic Energy Agency. The censure deals with what the watchdog refers to as Iran’s failure to provide “credible information” over nuclear material found at undeclared sites across the country.
But Iran’s latest move, announced by state television, makes it even more difficult for inspectors to monitor Tehran’s nuclear program. Nonproliferation experts have warned Iran now has enough uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels to pursue an atomic bomb if it chooses to do so.
The state TV report, later repeated by other Iranian media, said authorities deactivated the “beyond-safeguards cameras of the measuring Online Enrichment Monitor … and flowmeter.” That apparently refers to the IAEA’s online monitors that watch the enrichment of uranium gas through piping at enrichment facilities.
In 2016, the IAEA said it installed the device for the first time in Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear facility, its main enrichment site, located some 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the capital, Tehran. The device allowed for “around-the-clock monitoring” of the facility’s cascades, a series of centrifuges hooked together to rapidly spin uranium gas to enrich it.
“Traditional methods of sampling and analysis can take three weeks or longer, mostly because of the time it takes to ship the sample from Iran to the IAEA’s laboratories in Austria,” the agency said at the time.
Iran is also enriching uranium at its underground Fordo facility, though the IAEA is not known to have installed these devices there.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far had extensive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” state TV said in its report Wednesday. “Unfortunately, the agency, without considering this cooperation … not only did not appreciate this cooperation but also considered it a duty of Iran.”
Tehran said its civilian nuclear arm, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, monitored the shutdown of the cameras. It said 80% of the existing cameras are IAEA “safeguard” cameras and they will continue to operate as before. Safeguards refer to the IAEA’s inspections and monitoring of a country’s nuclear program.
However, an Iranian official warned IAEA officials that Tehran was now considering taking “other measures” as well.
“We hope that they come to their senses and respond to Iran’s cooperation with cooperation,” said Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. “It is not acceptable that they show inappropriate behavior while Iran continues to cooperate.”
The Vienna-based IAEA declined to immediately comment. However, Iran’s move come after IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi criticized Iran for failing to provide “credible information” about unexplained, man-made nuclear material discovered at three undeclared Iranian sites — long a point of contention between the agency and Tehran.
Iran already has been holding footage from IAEA surveillance cameras since February 2021 as a pressure tactic to restore the atomic accord.
Iran and world powers agreed in 2015 to the nuclear deal, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, raising tensions across the wider Middle East and sparking a series of attacks and incidents.
Talks in Vienna over Iran’s tattered nuclear deal have been stalled since April. Since the deal’s collapse, Iran runs advanced centrifuges and has a rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium. Nonproliferation experts warn Iran has enriched enough up to 60% purity — a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% — to make one nuclear weapon should it decide to do so.
Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though U.N. experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.
Building a nuclear bomb would still take Iran more time if it pursued a weapon, analysts say, though they warn Tehran’s advances make the program more dangerous. Israel has threatened in the past that it would carry out a preemptive strike to stop Iran — and already is suspected in a series of recent killings targeting Iranian officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday and discussed the need to revive the nuclear deal, the Kremlin said.
In a statement on Tuesday to the IAEA, France, Germany and the United Kingdom warned the moves taken by Tehran are “further reducing the time Iran would take to break out towards a first nuclear weapon and it is fueling distrust as to Iran’s intentions.”
“The IAEA has been without crucial access to data on centrifuge and component manufacturing for a year and a half now,” the statement warned. “This means that neither the agency, nor the international community, know how many centrifuges Iran has in its inventory, how many were built, and where they may be located.”
The countries urged Iran “to stop escalating its nuclear program and to urgently conclude (the) deal that is on the table.”
But just before the camera announcement, the head of Iran’s nuclear organization insisted the country has no secret nuclear activity and accused the West of making a “political move” by trying to censure Iran.
”Iran has had maximum cooperation with the IAEA,” said Mohammad Eslami, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
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The White Park is a rare breed of horned cattle with ancient herds preserved in Great Britain. It includes two very rare types often regarded as distinct, the Chillingham and the Vaynol cattle. The White Park is a medium-large, long-bodied bovine. A programme of linear assessment, including 200 bulls and 300 cows, has been carried out in the UK since 1994 to define its size and conformation. Mature bull weights vary from 800 to 1,000 kilograms, depending on the quality of grazing, but bulls in good condition may weigh 1,250 kilograms. Average withers height is 146 centimetres, chest depth 88 centimetres, body length (point of withers to point of pin bone (tuber ischii) 167 centimetres, hip (tuber coxae) width 64 centimetres, and scrotal circumference 45 centimetres. The relevant corresponding measurements for adult cows are 500 to 700 kilograms, 132 centimetres, 76 centimetres, 148 centimetres and 60 centimetres. The colour is distinctive, being porcelain white with coloured (black or red) points, namely ears, nose, eye rims, hooves, and teats and tips of the long horns. The colour pattern is dominant to other colours. The horns of the cows vary in shape, but the majority grow forwards and upwards in a graceful curve. The horns of bulls are thicker and shorter, and not so uplifted. In their native environment in Britain, White Park cattle are noted not only for their distinctive appearance, but also for their grazing behaviour, where they show a preference for coarser herbage. They are well-suited to non-intensive production and some herds are kept outside throughout the year on rough upland grazing without shelter or supplementary feed. They are docile, easy-calving, and have a long productive life. Some traits may vary a little in other countries, but the basic type is the same. They are beef animals noted for the quality of their meat.They are capable of converting coarse herbage into high quality meat, and of gaining weight at over 1 kg per day in good conditions. Until relatively recently they were a triple-purpose breed – meat, milk and draught. The 3rd Lord Dynevor (1765–1852) kept a team of draught oxen, and the practice continued up to 1914. The records of one plough ox that was killed in 1871 at 14 years of age, show that he stood 183 centimetres at the withers and weighed 1,171 kilograms. They were used as dairy cattle even more recently. Some cows were being milked in the Dynevor herd in 1951, but yields were moderate. Beef became the main product during the twentieth century, and gained a reputation as a textured meat, with excellent flavour and marbling, which commanded a significant premium in speciality markets. The best quality beef comes from 36-month-old animals, and fine marbling is the key to its eating quality, while the low cholesterol content adds to its attraction for the health-conscious consumers. Several blood typing and DNA studies have revealed the genetic distinctness of White Park cattle and the Oklahoma State University web site confirms the White Park is not closely related to two breeds of the same colour, but which are hornless, namely the American White Park (which actually is British White) and the British White and is genetically distinct from them. The colour-pointed coat pattern also appears in other cattle breeds such as the Irish Moiled, the Blanco Orejinegro, the Berrenda, the Nguni and the Texas Longhorn. The breeds most closely related seem to be the Highland cattle and Galloway cattle of Scotland, but the White Park "is genetically far distant from all British breeds". The Chillingham has diverged from the main White Park population and various stories have grown up around them. Hemming references the work of Hall in the following excerpt: "- – In other words, since the Chillingham cattle, wherever they came from, cannot be aurochsen, they must be Bos taurus just like Jerseys or Herefords or any other breed. They do look more like miniature aurochsen, but that is because they have not been selectively bred for beef or milk, and cattle that have been left to their own devices will tend to revert to ancestral type. Although both the late president and the patron have quoted genetic work done on the cattle to support their arguments, the zoological reports in fact make it quite clear that the Chillingham herd does not have any special relationship to the aurochs whatsoever (Hall 1982-3, 96; 1991, 540)."
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One of the funnest things about the Harley Photo Mob shoot is that we get some fun "drive-bys" of other cosplayers popping in for a couple of pics with the Harleys.
My new novel:
B♭ (Be Flat)
Dropping more content! 😃
(Still not finalized yet.)
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Scene: Madison Square Garden 2
A low murmur swept down the avenue in front of the Garden as a black lead sedan and a fleet of white motorcycle escorts slowly rolled in. Four armored limousines followed, flanked by NYPD and state police SUVs. Behind them trailed a line of communication trucks, ambulances, and news vans—no more than fifty vehicles in all, but the weight of their presence was overwhelming.
The motorcade moved as if traffic signals held no meaning. The street had been completely shut down, and the convoy advanced in perfect synchrony. Police radio chatter leaked from the vehicles, while the blocked-off sidewalks were crowded with reporters clutching cameras and riot police standing firm. Near the center, three jet-black SUVs carried CAT operatives, their eyes scanning the street like silent sentinels from behind suppressor-equipped rifles.
On top of the limousines, state-of-the-art jamming devices disrupted all outside signals. Trailing them was a “Roadrunner” communications command vehicle bristling with antennas, maintaining real-time encrypted communication with the command center beneath the Garden.
At the tail end were fire department rapid response units, a hazmat vehicle, and two ambulances. The arrival of a presidential candidate was no longer a mere movement—it was a military operation. The city responded like a living neural network, absorbing and adjusting to the convoy’s every move.
Onlookers lined the barricades—civilians raising smartphones overhead, and journalists with grim faces behind their lenses. No one spoke. The crowd stood in solemn silence, bathed in the red and blue pulses of rotating lights, watching as the procession swept past like a scene from a film. But this wasn’t a movie. The silence was real. No one dared crack a joke.
Sniper teams were stationed on rooftops around the Garden. Occasionally, the word “clear” crackled over the comms. Inside the building, only those who had passed facial recognition were permitted to take position. In the chilled surveillance room where Jack sat, hundreds of camera feeds rotated every few seconds across the screens.
Inside the presumed presidential limousine, darkness cloaked everything—no figures visible behind the glass. Yet everyone on-site knew those clear windows hid layers of invisible defense. That silence, designed to preserve life, carried with it a deadly order that blanketed the entire convoy.
Overhead, two Black Hawk helicopters glided in low and began to hover above the Garden. They were escape vessels, should the worst occur—but more than that, they were a reminder that this place was, for tonight, a battlefield.
In the command room on the Garden’s B3 level, Jack sat under the blue glow of the monitors, listening intently to the radio in his ear.
“Eagle has arrived. Parking complete on B3. Zebra point passed. T-minus 45 seconds to approach.”
The voice in his earpiece made him bite his lip unconsciously. The coffee in his cup had long gone cold.
Onscreen, the divided camera feeds displayed the barricades on Seventh Avenue, snipers in standby, and now—the black limousine sliding into the underground garage.
The air tightened. Time became tangible. The tick of the second hand grew louder in everyone’s ears. Jack’s fingers trembled slightly as they reached for the radio button.
Scene: Madison Square Garden 1
Jack shifted the donut box in his hand and pressed the button for B3. The air in the elevator was cold, and he wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched the lights descend. The contrast with the heat above made his vision blur slightly.
Stepping out, he turned right. Immediately on the left was the briefing room door, where a security man in a rumpled suit greeted him.
“Everyone’s already waiting.”
Jack stood before the sensor and calmly turned his face toward it. A few seconds later, a mechanical chime signaled access approval, and the heavy fireproof doors slid open.
Once inside, Jack offered a small smile.
“I brought donuts. Make sure everyone gets some later.”
The security man grinned behind his sunglasses.
Beyond the thick soundproof door, 32 monitors glowed blue in the dim room. Staff members moved briskly and silently between the machines. The hum of servers filled the space, punctuated only by the occasional alert. In the center was the commander’s seat, surrounded in a ring by workstations. The wall-sized screen displayed rapid live cuts from over 400 arena cameras—spectator stands, lobby, corridors, VIP lounge, loading dock, backstage, utility room, underground passages…
If a single rat appeared in those tunnels, they’d be able to track it straight to the sewers.
Jack sat in the commander’s chair and flipped the switch on the gooseneck mic in front of him. Its flexible neck trembled as the red indicator light came on.
“I’ve got donuts. Sorry, no glazed. There’s Boston Cream, Chocolate Frosted, Strawberry Frosted, and Old-Fashioned. No coffee, so grab your own.”
“Old-Fashioned for me,” came Ben’s voice from the loading dock. He adjusted the transparent tube of his earpiece and muttered into his collar.
Jack gave a faint smile, then grew serious again as he leaned toward the mic.
“Eagle is about to arrive. Entering through Ben’s loading dock. Three minutes to VIP room. Fifteen-minute briefing. Then onstage. Let me remind you—tonight marks the official nomination of the presidential candidate at the National Convention. First Republican convention held here in over twenty years. Also, his fiancée, Eleanor Blake, is with him. Stunning and brilliant. Try not to fall for her. The only ones you’re allowed to admire are bulky bruisers in tactical gear. And don’t forget, VP candidate Cole Harrison is here too—he’s the leash on our foul-mouthed Justin. No matter what he says, don’t punch back. I’ll be the one getting punched later.”
Jack checked his watch.
“One minute out. When Justin’s team heads home, dig into the donuts. Over and out.”
From the monitor showing the VIP lounge, Daryl spoke up behind him.
“Jack, better check in with Elijah at the hospital. Make sure he’s on standby.”
Without turning, Jack raised his hand and called out.
“Elijah, you copy? Daryl thinks you’re chilling at Starbucks.”
Laughter came through the speaker, followed by the chaotic background noise of Bellevue Hospital.
“Daryl, how’d you know? I was just thinking of getting Jack fired.”
Swiveling in his chair, Daryl laughed back at the screen.
“Let’s hope Justin doesn’t end up in your ER.”
Jack cut in.
“All stations, go. Justin’s here. Stick to the plan. Let’s move.”
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Scene: Madison Square Garden 3 — Justin, Eleanor, Cole
The door of the limousine opened from within, and Justin Bradford stepped out with a short sigh.
“Damn. It’s suffocating down here. Even a stray dog would turn up its nose at this parking garage.”
He brushed off the hem of his suit jacket with one hand, casting a grimace toward the concrete gloom.
Vice presidential candidate Cole Harrison followed quietly behind. Eight years older than Justin, Cole had once stood by Justin’s father, Lysus Bradford—through every rally and protest, until the day Lysus, still registered as a Democrat, was gunned down by a sniper. Cole had admired Lysus deeply for his commitment to voicing the will of the unheard.
Justin yawned, wide and unfiltered. Cole spoke gently beside him.
“This was the safest option. Too many unknowns outside. It’s dangerous.”
“Cole, you’re the biggest unknown we’ve got.”
“And that makes two of us, Justin,” Cole replied with a small, knowing smile.
The click of white heels echoed faintly as Eleanor Blake stepped onto the stained concrete. She wore a pale beige coat over her dress and moved with quiet elegance. Though her brow creased slightly at the stagnant air, she quickly replaced it with a smile and walked toward Justin.
“Justin,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm, “no more jokes at the staff’s expense. These people would lay down their lives for you.”
Justin gave a small, lopsided smile and brushed a kiss against her cheek.
“For their sake, I better live up to it.”
Flanked by security, the three of them began walking down the dim corridor. Faint LED lights flickered overhead. Dirty walls, cold silence, and a chill that crept under their skin accompanied them.
“These hallways always get to me,” Justin muttered.
“I understand,” Eleanor said softly. “But this is the safest route.”
“That’s exactly why we should be grateful,” Cole added. “It’s this kind of space that protects us.”
Eventually, they reached the elevator reserved for dignitaries. The face recognition system chirped quietly as it confirmed their identities.
“Just a few more steps to the VIP lounge,” said one of the agents.
Justin glanced back at Eleanor and shrugged.
“Let’s shake the Garden tonight.”
She touched his arm lightly and smiled.
“I’m counting on you, Justin.”
The three of them stepped into the elevator, the doors closing quietly behind them as it carried them upward.
Scene: Totto Ramen — Ana, Mika, Motorcade
— Red, Yellow, Blue —
It was just after 7 p.m. when a light rain began to fall on East 52nd Street.
Ana leaned against the wall of an old building next to Totto Ramen, absently watching the changing traffic light at the intersection to her right. The air was heavy with humid heat clinging to the concrete, making even the pedestrians seem to move slower than usual.
The signal turned green. As she dabbed her forehead with a handkerchief and squinted into the distance, she spotted Kana on the far side of the crosswalk, waving and running toward her with a smile.
Then, suddenly, the air shifted.
From the far side of the intersection, a fleet of black SUVs glided in, soundless and ghostlike. In the few dozen seconds between the lead vehicle’s arrival and the armored limousine at the rear disappearing, the entire intersection was sealed off—no one passed.
As the convoy disappeared down the avenue, the signal changed again. Foot traffic resumed. The city inhaled.
Kana reemerged from the crowd and waved once more.
After wrapping up their exhibit, Ana and Mika had packed their gear into Mika’s car and headed into Manhattan. Ana’s husband, Arjun, worked at LuminaTech Innovations—a hybrid company based in Williamsburg specializing in AI, cloud services, and cybersecurity. Though it was his day off, he’d had a meeting in Hudson Yards and was on a separate schedule from Ana.
Totto Ramen was nearby, and ever since Mika had first brought her there, it had become a favorite for Ana and Arjun alike.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. It’s been such a lovely day,” Mika said, slightly out of breath.
By “lovely,” she meant the two sharply dressed men from that morning, still lingering in their thoughts.
Ana answered with mild disinterest.
“Was it? That your type, Mika?”
Mika shrugged and smiled.
“Mm, I like someone close enough that I can run home to my parents if I need to.”
They laughed as they slid open the ramen shop’s wooden door and took seats at the counter. The place was bustling with Asian families enjoying their weekend. Familiar Japanese drifted from the far end of the counter.
Ana’s iPhone buzzed. It was a video call from Arjun.
She tapped the screen. His apologetic face appeared.
“The meeting’s running long. Go ahead and eat without me.”
Ana smiled gently.
“Be careful. A whole swarm of black cars just swept through here.”
Arjun responded immediately.
“They’re probably heading to the Garden. There’s supposed to be a Republican convention tonight. The candidate’s making his appearance.”
Mika, having caught the gist, nodded deeply.
“Yeah, it’s felt weird all day. The city’s tense—not your usual weekend.”
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Scene: Red Hook 1 — Amir and Rafi
Red Hook stood apart, even within Brooklyn.
Shielded by the shadows of skyscrapers, the red-brick warehouses, worn by wind and rain, groaned softly in the breeze. Each gust from the sea layered fresh salt onto the air, leaving streaks of rust blooming along the warehouse doors.
Beyond a broken fence, a long-unused warehouse door creaked open.
Amir stepped inside, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The smell of oil soaked into the concrete filled his nostrils.
“Let’s start here,” he said.
Rafi nodded without a word.
They had first come to this place five winters ago.
Having lost everything in Gaza at the hands of Israel, the two had fled legally through Egypt and Turkey, eventually arriving in Tapachula in southern Mexico. There, they made contact with a smuggler known as a coyote.
Rafi paid $12,000 per person to the traffickers—using cryptocurrency hacked through North Korean channels. The coins had been stolen through a North Korea–linked hacking syndicate. Amir wrote the code himself and erased all trace of the transaction. They had crossed borders not with blood, but with digits.
Later, under cover of night, they slipped beneath a border fence and entered the United States by land.
The night sky over Texas was a shade of dark blue they had never seen before. Low and clear, the deep blue held a fleeting kind of hope. But that hope was far outweighed by the hatred that had taken root in their hearts.
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Set in New York City.
1
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...
2
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54628511025/in/dateposted...
Note: I gave a brief explanation of this novel in the following video:
youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV
iTunes Playlist Link::
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD
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Notes
1. "Bombay Blood Type (hh type)"
•Characteristics: A rare blood type that lacks the usual ABO antigens — cannot be classified as A, B, or O.
•Discovery: First identified in 1952 in Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay).
•Prevalence: Roughly 1 in 10,000 people in India; globally, about 1 in 2.5 million.
•Transfusion Compatibility: Only compatible with blood from other Bombay type donors.
2. 2024 Harvard University Valedictorian Speech – The Power of Not Knowing
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3. Shots Fired at Trump Rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
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僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
さらに投下します。😃
(まだ決定ではありません。)
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場面 マディソンスクエアガーデン２
ガーデン正面の通りがわずかにざわめき、先導の黒いセダンと白バイク隊がゆっくりと進入してきた。次いで装甲に覆われたリムジンが４台つづき、市警と州警のSUVがその脇を固め、後方には通信車両、救急車、そして報道バンの列…… 全部でざっと５０台にも満たないが、その重厚感は圧倒的だった――。
車列は信号すら意味をなさず、完全に遮断された通りを、隊列の呼吸に従って前進していく。警察無線の交信が車外に漏れ、通行止めの歩道にはカメラを構えた記者と機動隊員が混じり合っていた。中腹には「CAT」と呼ばれる武装部隊が乗る漆黒のSUVが３台並び、サプレッサー付きライフルを持った隊員が、まるで車内から通りをスキャンするように視線を動かしている。
リムジンの天井には、最新の妨害電波装置が搭載され、外部通信を一時的に遮断する。さらにその後方を、アンテナが林立した“ロードランナー”と呼ばれる通信司令車が追走し、ガーデン地下の指揮室とリアルタイムで暗号通信を続けている。
車列の最後尾には消防局の緊急対応車、化学物質対応車、そして２台の救急車が控えていた。大統領候補がこの都市に足を踏み入れるというのは、もはや“移動”ではなく、“軍事行動”のようだった。街全体が、ひとつの生きた神経網のように、その動線を受け止めていた。
歩道の柵沿いには、スマートフォンを高く掲げる市民と、顔を強張らせた報道カメラマンたちが入り混じっていた。群衆は押し黙り、ただエンジンのうなりと回転灯の光に照らされながら、目の前を通り過ぎる車列を見守っていた。まるで映画のワンシーンのようだが、空気は静まり返り、誰一人として軽口を叩く者はいない。
ガーデン周辺の屋上には狙撃班が配備され、時折、無線越しに「クリア」の声が交錯した。建物内の全階層には顔認証を通過した要員だけが配置され、冷房の効いたジャックのいる監視室では、数百台のカメラ映像が数秒ごとに切り替わっている。
大統領候補が乗ると目されるリムジンの車内は暗く、ガラス越しに人影すら映らない。だが、その曇りのない窓には、目に見えない幾重もの防御層が仕込まれていることを、現場の誰もが理解していた。命を守るために設計された沈黙と、殺気を孕んだ秩序が、車列全体を覆っている。
背後から、２機のブラックホークが上空をなめるように飛来し、ガーデンの屋上でホバリングを始めた。万が一の脱出手段であり、また、この場が“戦場”であることを暗に示す存在だった。
ジャックは、ガーデン地下三階の指令室で、モニターの青白い光に顔を照らされながら、無線に耳を傾けていた。
「イーグル、地下駐車場レベルB3にて停車完了。ポイント・ゼブラ通過。接近までTマイナス45秒」
耳元のイヤーピースから流れるその声に、彼は無意識に唇を噛んだ。手元のカップに入ったコーヒーは、すでにぬるくなっていた。
モニターには分割されたカメラ映像がずらりと並んでいる。第七通りのバリケード、スタンバイ中の狙撃手、そして今、地下駐車場の入口に黒いリムジンが滑り込む様子が映し出されていた。
空気が一気に張り詰めた。誰もが秒針の音を意識し始め、静寂の中に微かな緊張が走った。ジャックの指が、わずかに震えながらも無線の送信ボタンに触れた。
場面 マディソンスクエアガーデン１
エレベーターに乗ったジャックは、手にしたドーナツの箱を持ち替えると、地下三階へのボタンを押した。冷房の効いたエレベーター内で下っていくランプを見上げたまま、額の汗を拭った。熱した地上からの温度差で多少視界が滲んでいた。
降りて、右手に行くと、すぐ左側にブリーフィングルームの扉があり、よれたスーツを着たセキュリティーの男性がジャックに挨拶した。
「みなさん、もうお待ちですよ」
ジャックはセンサーの前に立ち、静かに顔を向けた。数秒後、「アクセス承認」の電子音とともに、重たい防火扉が左右に開いた。
クリアするとジャックは、口元を緩めていった。
「ドーナツ買ってきたよ。あとでみんなで食べてくれ」
セキュリティーの男性は、白い歯を見せ、サングラス越しに微笑んだ。
厚い防音扉を越えると、薄暗い空間に32面のモニターが青白く光っていた。スタッフが機器の合間を縫って、言葉少なに忙しなく行き交っていく。室内には低く唸るサーバーの音と、時折アラート音だけが響いている。部屋の中央には指揮官席、その周囲に円を描くように並んだワークステーション。壁面いっぱいの巨大スクリーンには、アリーナ内400台以上のカメラがライブ映像を忙しなく切り替え、流し続けている。客席、ロビー、通路、VIPラウンジ、搬入口、ステージ裏、電気設備室、地下通路….
もしも地下通路にねずみが一匹現れたら、下水溝まで追跡できるはずだ。
ジャックは指揮官席に腰を下ろし、前方に据え付けられたグースネックマイクのスイッチを押した。しなる首元がわずかに揺れ、赤いインジケーターが点灯した。
「みんな、ドーナツを買ってきた。残念ながらグレーズドは売り切れだった。ボストンクリーム、チョコフロステッド、ストロベリーフロステッド、オールドファッション、以上だ。コーヒーもないからな。勝手に飲むように」
「ジャック、俺はオールドファッションな」
搬入口にいるベンが、耳に伸びたセキュリティイヤピースの透明なチューブを整えながら、襟元に指を添え、モニター越しに呟いた。
ジャックは軽く微笑み返してから、声を整え、目の前のマイクに向かって、真剣に伝えた。
「まもなく、イーグルがやってくる。ベンのいる搬入口から入り、３分でVIPルームへ。１５分の打ち合わせ後、アリーナへ登壇する。もう一度確認するが、今夜は大統領候補の指名が正式に確定する全国党大会だ。共和党は、２０年以上振りにここで開催するらしい。それから、フィアンセのエリノア・ブレイクもいっしょだ。容姿端麗な才女だ。見惚れるなよ。お前らが見惚れていいのは筋肉隆々の荒くれものだけだ。さらに副大統領候補のコール・ハリソンもいっしょだ。口の悪いジャスティンのお目付役だ。何を言われても決して殴り返すな。俺があとで殴られるからな」
ジャックは腕時計を見た。
「あと１分で到着だ。ジャスティン一行が帰宅したら、ドーナツをたらふく食べてくれ。以上だ」
画面左側に映ったVIPラウンジに見入っていたダリルが、ジャックの背中にいった。
「ジャック、病院のイライジャにも確認したほうがいい。ちゃんと待機しているようにってね」
ジャックは背を向けたまま、腕を上げて返答するとイライジャに問いかけた。
「聞こえるか、イライジャ。お前がスタバでくつろいでると疑われてるぞ、ダリルに」
イライジャは、笑いながら即答した。背後に、ベルビュー病院内の忙しないアナウンスが走っている。のんびりしたイライジャの声とは正反対だ。
「ダリル、なんでばれた？ そろそろジャックの首を飛ばそうと思ってさ」
椅子を回転させたダリルは、右手のモニターに目を落としながら、イライジャに笑いながらいった。
「お前のところに、ジャスティンが運ばれないことを祈るよ」
ジャックは、二人の会話を遮った。
「全員、スタートだ。ジャスティンが到着した。打ち合わせどおりに。頼んだぞ」
場面 マディソンスクエアガーデン３ ジャスティン、エリノア、コール
リムジンのドアが内側から開き、ジャスティン・ブラッドフォードは短くため息をついて足を踏み出した。
「まったく、息が詰まるな。地下駐車場なんて、野良犬でも嫌がる」
スーツの裾を片手で乱暴に払いつつ、顔をしかめて辺りを見回した。その後ろから、副大統領候補のコール・ハリソンが静かに車を降りた。彼はジャスティンより8歳年上だったが、かつてはその父、ライサス・ブラッドフォードのもとで行動を共にし、彼が民主党に籍を置き、狙撃により命を落とすその時まで、傍らで支え続けていた。ライサスが声なき国民の想いを代弁しようとする姿に、コールは深い感銘を受けていた。
大きなあくびをこぼしたジャスティンに、コールは穏やかに言った。
「セキュリティ上の最善策だ。外は、あまりにも不確定要素が多い。危険だ」
「コールの言動の方がよほど先が読めないけどね」
「ジャスティン、そのままお前に返すよ」
ジャスティンの皮肉に、コールは軽く微笑みながら冷静に返した。
エリノア・ブレイクの白いハイヒールが、駐車場の暗いコンクリートに静かに降りた。淡いベージュのコートを羽織った彼女は、ヒールの音も控えめに、優雅に車外へ降り立った。地下の濁った空気に微かに眉を寄せながらも、すぐに笑みを浮かべ直し、ジャスティンに歩み寄った。
「ジャスティン、スタッフにつまらない冗談はやめてね。みんな、あなたのために命を投げ出す人たちよ」
彼女の声は柔らかいが、芯のあるものだった。
ジャスティンは少し顔をほころばせ、エリノアの頬に軽いキスをした。
「命か…なら、俺もその期待に応えないとな」
セキュリティーに囲われた三人は地下駐車場の薄暗い通路へと歩みを進めた。所々薄汚れた壁と天井のLEDライトが冷たく落ちている。冷たさと静寂が辺りを覆っている。
「この手の通路は、いつ見ても気が滅入るな」
ジャスティンが呟いた。
「気持ちはわかるけど、ここが最も安全なルートよ」エリノアが柔らかく返す。コールが間を埋めるように言った。
「こうした環境だからこそ、私たちが守られている。感謝するべきだ」
しばらく歩くと、要人専用エレベーターの前に到着した。壁の顔認証システムが稼働し、認証音が静かに鳴った。
「VIPルームまであと少しです」
セキュリティーのひとりがジャスティンらに告げた。
ジャスティンは背後のエリノアをちらりと見て、肩をすくめていった。
「今夜、ガーデンを震わそう」
エリノアが彼の腕に軽く触れ、優しく笑いかけた。
「期待してるわ、ジャスティン」
三人は静かにエレベーターに乗り込み、VIPルームへと向かった。
場面 トットラーメン アナ、ミカ、車列
—— 赤、黄色、青 ——
イースト52丁目に小雨が舞い始めたのは、午後七時を少し過ぎた頃だった。
アナは、トットラーメンの隣にある古いビルの壁面にもたれ、右手に見える十字路の信号をぼんやりと眺めていた。蒸し返すような湿気がコンクリートにまとわりつき、行き交う人々の足取りもどこか重たかった。
信号が青に変わった。額の汗をハンカチで拭いながら、アナが目を細めると、十字路の向こうにカナの姿が見えた。彼女は手を振りながら、笑顔でこちらに駆け出してくる。
そのとき、空気がふいに変わった。十字路の向こうから、黒いSUVの車列が音もなく滑り込んできた。先頭車両の到着から、最後尾の装甲リムジンが去るまでの数十秒間、交差点は完全に封鎖され、誰も通ることができなかった。
車列が去ると、信号が切り替わり、ふたたび人の流れが戻り、動き出した。
カナがその人波の中からふたたび現れ、手を振った。
展示を終えたアナたちは、ミカの車に荷物を積み終えたあと、マンハッタンへ移動していた。
アナの夫アルジュンは、ウィリアムズバーグにあるAI・クラウド・サイバーセキュリティを手がける複合企業「ルミナテック・イノベーションズ」に勤めている。今日は休日だったが、彼だけハドソンヤードで会議があり、アナらとは別行動だった。
トットラーメンはその近くにあり、以前ミカに連れてきてもらってから、アナたち夫婦のお気に入りになっていた。
「おまたせ。今日は朝から素敵だったね」
息を切らせながら駆け寄ったミカが、そう言った。
“素敵”というのは、今朝の高級スーツをまとった二人の男のことだ。
アナは興味なさそうに答えた。
「そうね。ミカはああいう男性が好み？」
ミカは首をすくめ、笑って言った。
「うーん、かなり遠い存在かな。私は、すぐ実家に帰れるくらいの距離感が好き」
二人は笑い合いながら、ラーメン店の引き戸を開け、カウンターに並んで腰掛けた。店内は週末のため、アジア系の家族で賑わっていた。ミカの聞き慣れた日本語が遠くのカウンターから聞こえてくる。
アナのiPhoneが震えた。アルジュンからのビデオ通話だった。
画面をタッチすると、アルジュンが申し訳なさそうな表情で映った。
「会議が延びてる。少し遅れるから、先に食べててくれ」
アナは、静かに答えた。
「気をつけて来てね。さっきすごい車の軍団が流れていったわよ」
アルジュンは、即答した。
「今日はガーデンで、共和党の大会があるらしい。次期大統領候補が立つらしいよ」
傍で聞いていたミカが深々と頷きながら、同意した。
「なんか朝から物々しいのよね。いつもの週末と違うわ」
ーーーーーーーーー
場面 レッドフック１ アミール、ラフィ
レッドフックは、ブルックリンの中でも異質だった。
高層ビルの影に守られ、風雨に洗われた赤レンガの倉庫と錆びた港湾クレーンが、風に軋んでいる街だ。やってくる潮の匂いが重なるたびに上塗りされ、倉庫の鉄の扉に赤錆を浮かせていく。
鍵の壊れたフェンスの向こう、何年も使われていなかった倉庫の扉が静かに開いた。
アミールは一歩踏み入れ、光のない空間に目を慣らした。コンクリートに染み込んだ油の臭いが鼻をついた。
「ここから始めよう」
その声に、ラフィが黙って頷いた。
ふたりが初めてここにやってきたのは５年前の冬だ。イスラエルによってガザ地区ですべてを失った二人は、合法的にエジプトからトルコを経由し、メキシコの南部タパチュラへ行き、コヨーテと呼ばれる密入国請負人と接触した。ラフィは密入国業者へ一人あたり１２，０００ドルを支払った。すべて、北朝鮮経由でハッキングした仮想通貨での支払いだ。金の出どころは、北朝鮮系ハッカー集団を通じて奪ったコインだった。アミールの手でコードが組まれ、記録は消された。彼らは、血を流さずに数字を流して国境を超えたのだ。その後、国境のフェンスを夜に潜り、陸路でアメリカに入った。
テキサスの夜空は、彼らが見たことのないほど青黒かった。低く、澄んだ深い青の美しさは、彼らの胸にいくらかの希望を与えていたが、それ以上に憎しみの強さが上回っていた。
ーーーー
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これまでのメモ
1
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...
2
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54628511025/in/dateposted...
舞台はニューヨークです。
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...
追記 この小説を多少説明しました。
youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV
iTunes Playlist Link::
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD
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メモ
1
「Bombay型（ボンベイ型、hh型）」
•特徴：通常のABO血液型を持たない（A、B、Oに分類されない）特殊な型。
•発見地：1952年、インド・ムンバイ（旧ボンベイ）で初めて確認。
•発生頻度：インドでは1万人に1人程度だが、世界的には約250万人に1人とも。
•輸血制限：同じBombay型しか輸血できない。
2
2024年ハーバード大学首席の卒業式スピーチ『知らないことの力』
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3
Shots fired at Trump rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
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“Women are strange and incomprehensible, a device invented by Providence to keep the wit of man well sharpened by constant employment.”
(Arnold Bennett)
Model: Cátia Mayettes
The sexy 4 buckled sandals have her feet and ankles strapped beautifully, imprisoning them with white patent leather. The heavy leather cuffs with their straps pulled tightly are secured in place. She tries to flex her feet but they won't move, she can only wiggle a few of her toes, the sandals are too snug. She then tries to move her ankles but strains against the double buckled cuff which encircles her lower leg. She looks at the devices placed upon her and gives up, the wide 4 strapped calf cuffs are overwelmingly restrictive. The only movement she can muster is a slight toe out as her calves are bolted together. Little does she know that in the next few days the front of the sandals will be connected by a metal bar and extensions will be made to brace her legs together entirely. I can make a bondage device for you that you have only dreamed of. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT as I am curious to the attraction to braces and this type of bondage. These are for sale. As usual, I can make these for you as well as any other type of leather and/or metal bondage device you can think of. I can also make you "conventional" orthopedic leg and body braces as well as "bondage" style braces, contact me at my1970junk@msn.com.
ALSO Join the Flickr group "Leg Brace Desires" and get in the conversation
I named this one 'The Device' because that's what they call the mysterious Egyptian contraption in the movie 'Stargate' before they find out what it actually is.
I kind of feel the same about this weird gizmo that lives outside Glasgow Science Centre. If anyone has any ideas about what this is, what it does or who designed it, I would love to hear more.
It may well be a covert transmitter to Science Centre security who appeared on the scene right after I took this shot and said I couldn't take photos. When I questioned this he made some lame excuse about the management of the Science Centre chasing me because they don't like people taking photos so close to the BBC TV studios.....eh?
Maybe 'The Device' was actually his spaceship.....
SONY DSC-RX100, 2014/6/14, Chichibu mining district, Chichibu-shi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
DSC00700_3
I clean my phones regularly for maximum performance.
Date: January 10, 2012
Camera: Sony SLT-A77V
Exposure: 1/25 sec at f/2.2, ISO 200
Lens: 50mm F1.4 at 50 mm
© 2012 Benjamin Torode
Left behind by people who did some fencing work for us.
uploaded with Uploader for Flickr for Android
From the Flickr 20th Anniversary Photowalk in Chicago
Along the Chicago Riverwalk
Chicago, Illinois 41.886593, -87.636237
February 18, 2024
COPYRIGHT 2024 by JimFrazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier.
240218cz30-0073-2500
First test shooting with my little SIXSQUARE ... :-)
Well, this little device does a really good job. You can shoot through the hole in the middle, and then it is a ringlight, or you can place it like a beauty dish or brolly, and then it is a soft beauty light.
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STROBIST
No light formers used, just six bare flash guns.
TRIGGERING
One flash was RF triggered via YN-602, the others act as optical slaves.
BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS
How to build the SixSquare ... that can be found here:
fotopraxis.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/news-sixsquare-rauch-...
// it is in German, but you'll easily get the idea with the
// photos
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Nicer viewing: "L" for Lightbox, "F11" for fullscreen...
Cpl. Gurdeep Mann, left, a squad leader, and Lance Cpl. James Caulk, a rifleman, both with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, climb a wall during Counter Improvised Explosive Device training at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2013. The training, taught by 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion instructors, covered CIED tactics and techniques in Military Operations in Urban Terrain environment.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tammy K. Hineline)
Joystick per la guida di un transpallet elettrico. Electric forklift drive joystick. Detail. Coop supermarket. Via Dagnini.Bologna 2014
This is a completely passive fiber optic device. The light seen eminating from the fiber optics at the end of the device is being passively gathered; there is no amplification. This device is used to transport the light generated by the scintillator in the NOvA far detector modules to the associated photo electric device.
Wilson Hall. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), Batavia, IL.
SCENE ONE, The Void
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mystic jumped in the portal, and appeared in this weird realm... She saw piles of electronic devices on the ground, piles upon piles of them. She looked up, and saw clouds, all of which were coming down with lightning. Most of the lightning, going to Voltage. Standing there, silent. He had a cape, and large gauntlets... Larger shoulder pads, and glowing white eyes... Mystic didn't think he saw her, so she walked towards him, slowly...
Voltage: I can see you, you know.
Mystic jolted in shock...
Mystic: W-What is this place?
Voltage: I call it...
He turned around to face Mystic...
Voltage: ...The void.
Mystic: Looks like you're getting better at naming things, huh?
Voltage: Hm. Humor... The void is simply the beginning of places I'll be in control of...
Mystic: Where did all of these devices come from? Where did here come from?!
Voltage: This is a world I created, by using devices I stole from Heethro. I also took all devices from your puny country and put them here.
Mystic: Wait, so all phones, computers...
Voltage: ...Typewriters, printers, blenders, ovens, televisions... you name it. All of it is here now, and it's not coming back. The only way it can come back is if the void is killed, and it's not going to be. Never.
Mystic: *deep breath* Okay... I have to do this.
Mystic throws a punch at Voltage, but he catches it.
Voltage: Predictable.
Voltage grabs Mystic by the head, throws her in the air, and then fired a huge beam of electricity at her!
Mystic: Aghh!!!!!
Voltage: You're going to die in here, you know.
Mystic flies back at Voltage, but Voltage steps to the left, and Mystic falls to the ground.
Mystic: Ach!
Voltage steps on her back...
Voltage: You really are pathetic... Soon, I will have full control over everything, and you're not even trying to stop me...
Mystic gets up, only to have Voltage hold them in the air by the throat...
Voltage: Just let go... No one's going to save you, this is you're fault...
Mystic: *cough*... N-...*wheeze*-...N-no i-it's not...
Mystic shoots lasers out of her eyes and mouth, blasting Voltage back!!!
Mystic, fallen over: *cough*... It was my choice. And it wasn't a bad one.
Voltage: Ach-S...Sure, tell that to yourself.
Mystic sprints over to Voltage...
Mystic: Aghh!!!!
Mystic punches Voltage in the face, damaging his mask!
Voltage: Agh!!! *cough*... That won't save you...
Voltage picks up the shard of his mask, flies upward, and throws it at Mystic, piercing her arm, and making her bleed!
Mystic: Aghh!!!
Voltage drops back down to Mystic...
Voltage: You are worthless.
Mystic: *cough*... No, you.
Mystic stabs Voltage in the stomach with her claws!!!
Voltage: Ach!!! *cough*... Not as if that will do anything.
Voltage grabs Mystic, and holds her up against the lightning!!!
Mystic: AGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Voltage: Feel it!!!!! Feel the power of a god!!!
Voltage throws Mystic onto the ground, she's covered in dirt, blood, scars, bumps and bruises... Blood drips from her mouth, and her eyes close...
Voltage: *wheeze*... Huh.... *cough*... She's dead... F-Finally... That was difficult.
Suddenly, the lightning rushing to Voltage disappears...
Voltage: Hm?
Suddenly, a burst of lasers comes from the sky, hitting Mystic's body...
Voltage: What in the-?!
Mystic slowly gets up, lasers coming off of her, as her eyes glow...
Voltage: W-What's going on...
Mystic grabs Voltage by the neck...
Mystic: ...I was waiting for you to admit it was hard.
She punches him the face, knocking him out!!!
Mystic: That was not difficult, that was easy as frick.
All the devices fade away, going back to Canada! The whole void starts to shake...
Mystic: Shoot... I need a way out of here... Um.. Oh!
She takes off one of Voltage's gauntlets, creates a blue portal with it, and jumps through!
SCENE TWO, Back at the Criminal Base
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mystic pops through a portal in the criminal base, and the portal closes behind her. Jen hugs her...
Jen: I'm stoked you're back!
Mystic: How long was I gone?
Jen: Like, 2 weeks?
Mystic: Holy crud, it felt like an hour, tops!
Jen: Yeah, I just kept coming back here to see if you came back yet. Glad you finally did.
Mystic: Huh... Well that's good. I thought I died for a second, not even sure how I beat Voltage...
???: But I do.
Mystic: Who said that?
A hole appears in the ceiling, as a laser comes from the sky, and Scythe comes down from it!
Jen: Holy sh#t!
Scythe slaps Jen in the face.
Scythe: Why weren't you answering my calls?
Jen: Yeah, deserved that one. Gave my phone away.
Mystic: Who are you?
Jen: I'll explain later.
Scythe: But basically, I was the original owner of those devices Voltage used to make The Void. They had a camera on them. I used that camera to watch what was going on, and I also used another device I owned to let you kick his ass.
Mystic: Cool, I guess. That'll be much cooler when Jen explains who the heck you are and what you're relation is to all of this.
Scythe: Jen and I kissed.
Mystic: What?
Jen: I'll explain later.
SCENE THREE, On the Way Home, 30 minutes later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen and Cassie walk back to the apartment...
Cassie: So you met them on Heethro?
Jen: Mhm.
Cassie: You gave her your number?
Jen: Mhm.
Cassie: ...And her name is Scythe?
Jen: That's the English translation, in Heethron it's "Ülwish".
Cassie: ...Huh.
They both arrive to the apartment, and see multiple strange alien creatures running rampage in the apartment!
Aliens: Take that, Earthen society!!!
Cassie: ...Oh boy.
~Scarecrow
Special devices were used in World War II to take letters from their envelopes without opening the seals. The pincer-like device was inserted into the unsealed gap at the top of an envelope flap. One could then wind the letter around the pincers and extract the letter from within.
For more information on CIA history and this artifact please visit www.cia.gov