vampira76

Latest Posts by vampira76

I have both. They're really cute. But FunkoRoger keeps falling over 🤣

I'm doing Christmas shopping online and discovered that funko pops have a line for tennis players. Very tempted but unfortunately Rafa is sold out. It doesn't feel right if I only bring Roger home (he won't be too happy here)...

Rafa - I love his bull logo and the purple top. And his wavy hair.

Roger - cute as a button (as usual) but where is his RF logo though?

They were affectionately referred to as "The Nike Twins" back in the really old days 😆 I'll ser if I can find the truly terrifying faceswap manip someone made.

Remember when once upon a time they shared a clothing sponsorship so they get to have extra 'involuntary' hang out times in Nike events aside from the ATP promotions, council meetings, matches, and oh the 100 TIMES THEY NEED TO SEE EACH OTHER DAILY??

And to think that the second one was taken after the bizarre charity doubles match with the not-so-friendly rivals Sampras and Agassi. The latter couldn't stop sniping at each other while Fedal just looked on in confusion 🤣

I love everything about this post

Tennis' popularity has been rising for the past few decades. Yet, with the high-profile superstardom it brought and the elegant image it projected, it is often easy to overlook why it is actually one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports to play on a professional level.

Here are a few major points that make it stand out:

There is no time limit in tennis. Uniquely rare in individual sports, tennis matches are won by points (winning 2 sets out of 3 or 3 sets out of 5), which means the match is going to be played until a winner is reached and the time it takes to finish one point is wholly dependent on rally length. The longest tennis match ever recorded is a first round Wimbledon 2010 match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, lasting for 11 hours and 5 minutes played over three days. The longest grand slam final (one that is played in one sitting) is the 5 hours and 53 minutes Australian Open 2012 match between Nadal and Djokovic. After the match, both could barely stand for the trophy ceremony.

Tennis matches cannot be won by a simple stroke of luck in the right moment, as its scoring measures consistency, requiring the highest level of physical fitness throughout the entirety of the match. Unlike simple accumulative score such as in football, tennis has a quirky rule that only allows players to win a game or a set if they won it consecutively twice. For instance, once players reached "deuce" (a 40-40 score) in a game, they would have to win two points in a row to win the game. If they win one and lose the next point, the result would always go back to deuce (neutral), no matter how long it takes.

Tennis is the only sports that are played in different surfaces. The four grand slams are played in hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts. The surfaces are incredibly crucial to the way the game plays out, as the ball bounced completely different both speed-wise and touch-wise on each, creating an immense variability in playing possibilites. Professional tennis players that go on tour have to switch between surfaces many times during a year, having to readjust their game completely once a new surface season began.

Breaking into the top rankings in tennis is a herculean task precisely because it was made to be so. Unlike in other sports such as football, tournament draws in tennis are not random, they are based on ranking seedings. This means that the top two ranked players are always positioned at opposite ends of the draws (i.e., they are only able to meet in the finals) and subsequently with the next in line. The quality of play thus always improves the closer you get to the end of the tournament. However, it also means that low-ranked players have to defeat the top 10 consecutively to actually win the tournament. This is very rare, and when it does happen it usually marks a new era of players, just as when Roger Federer upset Pete Sampras to win his first Wimbledon in 2003.

Tennis is, perhaps even more than a physical sport, a mental one. Sports analysts have noted that the majority of players in the top 50 have equally good forehands and backhands, except for rare cases such as the big three (i.e., Federer, Nadal, Djokovic), or service masters (e.g., Serena Williams, John Isner, etc.). What differentiates the superstars is mental strength during long and critical matches (e.g., championship or match points) because of the high chance of comeback that the scoring and no time-limit provides. For instance, Rafael Nadal won his 2022 Australian Open coming back after down 2 sets and a break point.

Tennis, especially in singles, is one of the loneliest, most individually competitive sports there is. Unlike team sports such as football or baseball, coaching during matches are highly forbidden and can lead to penalties. This means each player has zero contact with anyone during the usually 2 to 5 hours matches they play, relying solely on their own mental capacity, problem solving skills, and strategy decision.

Professional tennis is not only physically demanding it is also incredibly complicated technique-wise. There is an incredible array of shots available to play (a flat or topspin shot, a serve, a forehand, a backhand, a slice backhand, a drop-shot, etc.) and each has a different grip. Professional tennis playes usually change the way they hold their rackets mid-point, and has to vary them greatly to ensure different outcomes for each shot.

Strangely, unlike team sports such as football, tennis players share locker rooms with all their fellow competitors every tournament. Some tournaments such as Wimbledon even gather the top 20 players in a separate locker room. This means that rivals who play each other the most, especially in finals (as all the others would've left the locker room) would see each other more often than others. Top 50 players travelling around the world to play the competitive ATP (male) and WTA (female) world tour see their rivals and peers more than their own family. As tennis does not allow draws, when a tournament is over, the winner and the loser have to commiserate and celebrate in the same room.

This high amount of contact that players need to endure with each other, however, also elevates the standard of sportsmanship in the sports and have produced some of the most unique dynamics. Bonded through shared experiences of the worst and best moments in their lives, some maintained relationships lasting decades perhaps fittingly proving that in the end, even the most competitive sports cannot best our humane traits of friendship, respect, and love.

I'm probably deleting my Tumblr now that SPN is done, so here's 15 years of pent-up emotions

Two points (Really one point and several addendums): 

1) If you think this is worse than the final season of Game of Thrones, you’re a fucking idiot. Nothing is worse than that. 

2) Destiel is not canon. A ship cannot be half-canon. Destiel is not canon. Get over it. 

2a) If the only reason you hate the finale is no Cas, you’ve been watching for the wrong reason and I pity you deeply. Supernatural started with Sam and Dean, and it ended with Sam and Dean. Every single person involved in Supernatural has called their relationship the core of the show, so of fucking course it’s going to be the focus of the finale. Stop spreading hate because you didn’t get what you want - grow up. 

2b) Dean was never canonically bisexual, he was never canonically gay, he was never canonically queer. Lighting, food choices, clothes and the way a person sits does not define their sexuality. Most LGBTQIA individuals would be furious if you tried to tell them somebody was gay because of the way they sat in a chair, or that they wore a certain colored shirt. That’s not how it works, so get the fuck over it. 

2c) The only person involved in Supernatural actually supporting and pushing the idea of Destiel becoming canon was Misha. Destiel is not canon. Misha lied to you in order to advance his own popularity and interests. Apart from Misha, nobody actually involved in the production of Supernatural has ever supported or encouraged Destiel becoming canon. Grow up, realize you got played and get the fuck over it. 

2d) If any of you even so much as think about sending hate, threats, or any sort of malice to anybody involved in Supernatural for a fanon ship not becoming canon, you are deeply deluded, twisted and pathetic people. Seek help immediately. It’s a fucking television show. 

2d continued) Seriously. It’s a fucking fictional goddamn tv show and I’ve seen at least 200 examples in the past two weeks of Destiel fans posting threats of violence against anybody who works for the CW if their ship didn’t become canon. Grow the literal fuck up you whiny children. 

2e) Destiel not becoming canon does not mean that anybody in the show is homophobic. Calling a person homophobic and threatening to ruin their career because they didn’t bow down to a subsection of (quite frankly) rabid fans and abandon legitimate canon to do what the fans whined for is fucking disgusting. Grow up. 

2f) I’ve been watching Supernatural since the premiere, and I’ve been on Tumblr since about season 7, and I am quite frankly disgusted by the behavior of certain fans - and by this point in the post you should know who you are - so I’m gonna wrap this post up by coming out and saying it. 

The vast majority (Used to think it was less, but posts I’ve seen tonight changed my mind) of Destiel/Castiel fans are the most entitled, whiny, stuck-up, bratty, malicious bitches I’ve ever come across in my entire life.

Nothing matters except for what you want, and anybody who doesn’t do what you want is the worst person who ever existed.

Finale didn’t give you Castiel in every single frame sticking his tongue down Dean’s throat? Must mean it was the worst thing on television in history. Cas and Dean didn’t get married in heaven? Well, everybody must be raging homophobes. Castiel and Misha Collins aren’t worshiped as literal gods by everybody involved in Supernatural? Time to send out the death threats. 

If you truly believe that, fuck each and every last one of you. 

You’ve attacked, belittled, threatened and insulted anybody who disagrees with you - including Jensen and Jared - and that is quite frankly appalling behavior. 

To threaten total strangers because they didn’t do what you wanted is disgusting, and you should be deeply ashamed and embarrassed by anybody who proclaims themselves to be a fan of Destiel or Castiel and demonstrated or endorsed anything like that. 

Your behavior has been truly pathetic and insulting to everybody involved in 15 years of Supernatural, especially the fandom, and I’m quite frankly glad to be rid of you now. 

The end. 

Now drag your friend NoVax DjoCovid about his utterly problematic views, please.

ANDY

The RNA intern who actively stans Fedal every chance they get deserves more mention. 👍Not all heroes wear capes.

Okay folks today has been a mess, let's put it all together in one place

Roger tweeted about suggesting ATP/WTA merger around noon bst

Rafael replied this (because they're married and they think as one)

Rafa's museum obviously ships Rafa and Roger and supports whatever pursuits they have

Apparently these merger talks have been happening since January, when Rafa Roger power couple brought it to ATP. The new chairman Gaudenzi seems to support the idea (as per Stan/Chris Evert insta coctails)

It's all been secret and should have stayed secret but Roger's incorrigible

So basically we're in the middle of a tennis revolution, god bless comandante Federer!

Meanwhile its been announced that Björn Borg's son Leo will start training in Rafa's academy

On the unrelated news the newly outed anti vaxxer Novaxx D. will have a chat on insta with some pink crystals/vegan guru, so there's that.

Also comandante Federer tweeted me again, we're basically besties at this point.

What a trip

Do you suppose this is why they deleted it?

The way they showed the "kiss cam" in the official vid of Match in Africa...

Can't wait to see them in the flesh in two weeks' time 😍 I've seen Roger before, but not the other four.

It’s official! Fedal fam is going to the finals!!!

Fedal: Okay Stef and Domi, let's pack for travel

Fedal: Sascha, if you don't behave, we won't bring you on holidays

*Sascha behaves*

Fedal: Okay we're all going to London for Xmas

'He will always be my Ultimate Rival.'

"Just a meaningless exho" my ass

Roger's eyes moisten and tucked into Rafa's neck while Rafa hugged him tight.

Laver Cup should just compile a video of their inspirational speeches. Sascha even credited them with his final win. They’ve been such a united front. Incredible to watch. Who would have thought that LC2019 would top 2017?

They way these two coached their teammates all 3 days, motivated them, taught them how to never give up. I couldn't be more prouder.!!

Really, really gutted, but health comes first. He'll stick around for cheerleading duties. Hindsight is 20/20, but four matches in a row (which it would have been, had he decided to play today) may not have been the wisest decision either.

words cannot express my sorrow.

please let him be on the bench.

pray that he knows how much we appreciate him.

appreciate that beautiful match we got in Prague.

and always always remember.

fedal will be forever.

And then the whole dubious ticket booking service for the SA exhibition went to hell, and made this day even shittier. 💔

My heart is broken into a million pieces 💔

Please be okay, babe.

Same. Absolutely gutted. Horrible, hollow feeling. I'll just take an extended break from tennis after this.

Could not believe what happened. I will need a lot of time to recover from this.

#Roger Federer #Rafael Nadal #Fedal #Legends

From 2008 to 2019 - how fortunate we are that we’re living in the same era as these two.

Following Roger’s comments about ‘Match for Africa 6’ at his Wimbledon 3rd round press conference, a friend on Twitter requested this...I would say this is out of context but who knows with these two

There really is no hope for him. 

today’s hottake: u can always tell if a version of sherlock holmes is decent by how Irene Adler is written. Irene Adler’s purpose in the original Canon was to outsmart Holmes and force him to self reflect on his hubris and misogyny NOT to be a love interest. If an adaptation of Holmes shows Irene Adler as exclusively a love interest, or excludes her entirely, 9 times out of 10 its a sign that the writers are more interested in Holmes as an infallible figure of masculine intelligence than as a, like, human being or well rounded character. this is why Irene Adler is one of, if not the, most important characters in the whole sherlock holmes mythology and quite a revolutionary character given the context in which she was written but most adaptations completely disregard and belittle her because they’re misogynistic, homophobic, stupid, or a perfectly uninspiring combination of all three.

What a labour of love! Thank you so much for this.

It’s over! it’s done! Quick recap: so basically I uploaded the blu-ray rips of the whole series to Google Drive (36 episodes and 5 movies) so everyone can enjoy them and marvel at the beauty of the cream-colored suit in HD. For now the episodes don’t have any subtitles, none of the subs available out there are synced for the blu-ray rips, so if someone wants to contribute with that please let me know! and that’s all there’s to know about it for now. I really hope you have a nice time watching it whether is the first time you watch the series or the 1000th time :) here are the links:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

A Scandal in Bohemia

The Dancing Men

The Naval Treaty

The Solitary Cyclist

The Crooked Man

The Speckled Band

The Blue Carbuncle

The Copper Beeches

The Greek Interpreter

The Norwood Builder

The Resident Patient

The Red-Headed League

The Final Problem

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Empty House

The Abbey Grange

The Musgrave Ritual

The Second Stain

The Man with the Twisted Lip

The Priory School

The Six Napoleons

The Sign of Four

The Devil’s Foot

Silver Blaze

Wisteria Lodge

The Bruce-Partington Plans

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

The Problem of Thor Bridge

Shoscombe Old Place

The Boscombe Valley Mystery

The Illustrious Client

The Creeping Man

The Master Blackmailer

The Last Vampyre

The Eligible Bachelor

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

The Three Gables

The Dying Detective

The Golden Pince-Nez

The Red Circle

The Mazarin Stone

The Cardboard Box

@robealafrancaise @itsnotchancemrholmesitschess @blogoftangents @acdhw @cynassa @luscious-theomorphic @nine-twentyfive @jazziesb @n-oy-a  @jobooksncoffee

Of all the dumb rivalries fought in the SPN fandom, “which wife do you prefer” has to be the dumbest. It’s even dumber than ship wars. I’ve been in several fandoms, and I’ve never ever seen fans give so much time to random bit players (which is what Gen and Dan are, despite the fact they’ve starred in the show, hurray for nepotism). It’s embarrassing. “Oh no, X-Files went downhill after S6, let’s send the actors’ respective others death threats”...that public outcry never happened. These ladies are nobodies. They’ve influenced nothing. Why does this fandom strive to give these already inflated egos an even bigger platform to demonstrate how pathetically out of touch with reality they are? The lack of perspective is puzzling. “OH, MY QUEEN! YOU’RE MARRIED TO MY FAVORITE C-LISTER!”

hahaha ...Danneel and Gen both post ab8 SPN ending around same time. And, the differences between both the post are so glaring. While one fakes an excuse of being dejected and spew some bs tagging only her husband. Other has a courtesy to thank the crew for the opportunity. i had more respect for D when i didnt knw her or whn she wasnt on social media that way i was able to overlook her attitude

Yeah she does this. She has a long habit of talking about the show like Jensen is the only one there. It just comes off very disrespectful and incredibly selfish. Same thing happened for the 300th party:

  I really don’t know why it’s so hard to acknowledge at least one other person than your own husband especially when you claim to be close to others on the cast. It’s very strange and I don’t like it one bit.

A few years back I’d have been saddened by this news. But they killed this show a long time ago, and I’ve waited for this announcement ever since. They milked this cash cow for too long. Bye, bye, Supernatural. You were good once. Like so many others before you, you didn’t know the time of your visitation. Rest in peace. I won’t be missing you.

My sympathies to anyone actually made any degree of sad by the Instagram announcement that the show is ending on season 15.  I would never suggest the show had to end as long as other people were still enjoying it - if I keep watching beyond the point it’s fun, that’s my issue.

However.  I can’t say my reaction is anything but 100% THANK FUCKING CHUCK.  The great parts of the show will always exist for us to go back to and enjoy.

I hope everyone involved gets exactly the followup opportunities that they deserve for the quality of the work they delivered these last few seasons.

I visited the museum last month, and my initial reaction to NOT!Lady Eva from the Milverton dramatization was that she looks exactly like Terry Jones in drag. That really affected the experience, I tell you. I kept hearing ‘he’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy’ in my head throughout the rest of the exhibit. 

I Have Beheld the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

I knew it would be cheesy. I was hoping it would be the right kind of cheesy. My hopes were fulfilled beyond my wildest dreams.

If you are planning to visit this place one day, and don’t want spoilers, let me just offer you the following advice: Go early. At noon, when we were finally admitted after waiting for at least half an hour in the broiling sun, the queue was already down the block. Since the museum itself takes about half an hour (we did it in 20 minutes due to time pressure…it’s a long story), I don’t recommend waiting in line for it any longer than that. It’s a tall, narrow, old-fashioned townhouse, so they don’t let in more than about 15 people at a time.

All right. Let me tell you about this ‘museum.’ 

Keep reading

Oh man, you’re right. “Figures 21,22,23 - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson make a rather macabre discovery in the church vault at Shoscombe Old Place” (I was there a month ago).

I Have Beheld the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

I knew it would be cheesy. I was hoping it would be the right kind of cheesy. My hopes were fulfilled beyond my wildest dreams.

If you are planning to visit this place one day, and don’t want spoilers, let me just offer you the following advice: Go early. At noon, when we were finally admitted after waiting for at least half an hour in the broiling sun, the queue was already down the block. Since the museum itself takes about half an hour (we did it in 20 minutes due to time pressure…it’s a long story), I don’t recommend waiting in line for it any longer than that. It’s a tall, narrow, old-fashioned townhouse, so they don’t let in more than about 15 people at a time.

All right. Let me tell you about this ‘museum.’ 

Keep reading

I’m moments from being thrown out of my home (because I can’t pay the rent due to illness) and I want to wrap myself in Granada Holmes and its fandom to ease the pain. 

　the bruce-partington plans 25

I was going to say a few things – number one, back to my wife and Rafa. I wanted to just give a shoutout to him. He had an unbelieveable year himself, we had a great battle, and it’s because of a guy like him that I feel like I’ve become a better player as well, so he could well - could very well have been here as well tonight and standing here with this award…An incredible friend, and an incredible athlete, so just like to give a shoutout to him.

Roger Federer casually thanking his wife and Rafa in the same sentence and then talking about Rafa for 2 minutes, without actually mentioning Mirka until later. (via imagesofperfection)

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade (I’m a Fedal believer through and through), but they showed the ceremony on Eurosport Norway and not wanting to wake my housemates I listened to it with headphones. What I’m hearing is “back to my rival Rafa” (because Rafa was a fellow nominee who was featured in the video shown prior to the presentation), not “my wife and Rafa”. I’m perfectly willing to be challenged on this point (by native speakers with better headphones, lol).

Which doesn’t take ANYTHING away from the moment. He clearly had decided to mention Rafa first because, well, that’s what he does these days. He’s just at the forefront of Roger’s mind at all times. He clearly cherishes their relationship both on and off court so much. Roger has become incredibly sentimental about their rivalry, and very invested in maintaining the relationship after their careers end.

Far be it from me to defend Creation (whose business practices I find dubious at best), and I stopped watching SPN after s11, but I had to comment on this on Twitter. The tweet doesn’t mention any fandom or any specific episode that led to the decision, yet people were jumping to conclusions like crazy. One insightful poster suggested that it might actually be about ‘Stranger Things’ (a show and fandom I know nothing about, but which apparently has an underage fandom), but it was drowned out by the loud, entitled SPN crowd.

Last night, Creation tweeted this: 

You notice what’s not on there? No mention of which fandoms, which cons, nothing. But hellers immediately lost their shit:

Big surprise, huh? Funny how they instantly knew it applied to them. Of course, the biggest fallacy in these tweets is that Jensen was fine with it, he was laughing, he loved it. That’s not how the girl who had it signed described it. She said the volunteer encouraged her to ambush him with it and when she did, he looked grumpy and uncomfortable. Maybe because she just shoved porn in his face? But no. They’re convinced that was just an act on his part, that he would have refused if he didn’t like it. Except that by the time that volunteer let him be ambushed, this option was gone. If he had refused, he’d be labelled a homophobe by them. AGAIN. 

The thing that makes me the sickest are the ones who keep saying “he looked uncomfortable but he really liked it. He wouldn’t have laughed if he didn’t like it.” Do they realize they’re using sexual predator language? “He was asking for it! Sure he looked uncomfortable but he smiled so clearly he wanted it.” Gross. 

And then (OF COURSE) we have the bunch who think none of the rules ever apply to them. They’re the ones who are going to really ruin it for everyone because they have every intention of doing it again. 

Here’s hilarious irony for you: 

Nope. Wrong. Blame the ones who decided it was a good idea to have them sign BDSM porn over their own genitals. Because I’ll tell you right now- lots of fans complain to Creation about stuff and they rarely (if ever) listen. The only people Creation actually care about is the talent. So as much as I love that these drama queens are giving us credit, it’s a lot more likely that Jensen said something after the last con. 

And hey, here’s a helpful guideline: If you have to bring a backup thing to get autographed because you think what you want signed is inappropriate? IT’S INAPPROPRIATE. Don’t bring it and put that on the actors. Have some damn sense and we wouldn’t have this problem. 

(and bonus points to the girl who feels PERSONALLY VICTIMIZED BY WINCESTERS AND NONSHIPPERS WHO DON’T LIKE HER SHIP lol)

Jeremy January, Blue Monday* edition: Jeremy spreading awareness about Manic Depression/Bipolar Disorder. In this recording he describes the illness to encourage listeners who may be suffering to seek help. He is speaking for the Manic Depression Fellowship, now called Bipolar UK. Another resource is The Mighty: https://themighty.com/bipolar-disorder/. (I linked only to their Bipolar Disorder page, but The Mighty includes stories and information on a number of mental illnesses and other topics.)

If you are suffering, please, listen to Jeremy and talk to someone about your suffering. If you consider yourself well, please be available to listen as much as your personal capacity allows…be like Edward Hardwicke supporting his friend Jeremy by picking him up from the institution and taking him out for a meal and then home for tea. The world needs more friends like Jeremy and Edward!

*The term “Blue Monday” only recently came across my radar; it is a Monday in January (which one seems to vary by source) and is said to be the most depressing day of the year for Northern Hemisphere dwellers.

Norway’s general attitude towards preservation is appalling. These are exceptions, not the norm, and those historical buildings will probably be torn down and replaced with industrial complexes at one point.

20 Images Of Norwegian Architecture Plucked Straight From A Fairytale

The Norwegian countryside is strewn with architecture that looks better suited to crown the pages of a fairytale book. More commonly known for its Vikings heritage and fjords, these photographs display a wide variety of architectural styles that have been used throughout the Middle Ages to the 19th century in Norway. Check out the stunning collection below.

Crooked and towering wooden churches beckoning like an old crone’s fingers, winding stone path weaving through a forest, hidden waterfalls and lonely wooden cabins overlooking a vast valley at its base are some of the outlandish homes and architectural designs we have featured in this series. Teetering Stave churches, eerie waterfalls cascading down like a creature with its own mind, wooden homes made in the typical Norwegian indigenous style called byggeskikk have none of the linearity or conformity that modern buildings do, and have whimsical elements that heighten its sense of magic.  

Each of these structures below have a particular way of being set into its own environment, standing out from the elements without obstructing nature. Most of the buildings and bridges and pathways have been built with stone and wood balance the scene it has been engineered upon.

Barn In Valldal

Renndølsetra

Ancient Road Vindhellavegen

Bridge Over Låtefossen Waterfall

Kvednafossen Waterfall In Norway

Old Farmhouses

At The End Of The World, Tjome

Natural Swimming Pool In The Forest

Old House

House In Norway

Fjord Houses

Old Village

Fisherman Hut, Undredal

Bridge In Norway

Rogaland, Gullingen

Lake Bondhus

Small House In Norway

Fairy House In Hunderfossen, Lillehammer

Under The Aurora

h/t: boredpanda