“OK, come on – what is it?” Zhao Yunlan demanded as he crossed his arms in front of his chest defiantly and leant back against the kitchen counter as he watched the other man cross the room to where he was standing.
The Queen of Katwe: One Girl’s Triumphant Path to Becoming a Chess Champion (2013)
“One day in 2005 while searching for food, nine-year-old Ugandan Phiona Mutesi followed her brother to a dusty veranda where she met Robert Katende.
Katende, a war refugee turned missionary, had an improbable dream: to empower kids in the Katwe slum through chess—a game so foreign there is no word for it in their native language. Laying a chessboard in the dirt, Robert began to teach. At first children came for a free bowl of porridge, but many grew to love the game that—like their daily lives—requires persevering against great obstacles. Of these kids, one girl stood out as an immense talent: Phiona.
By the age of eleven Phiona was her country’s junior champion, and at fifteen, the national champion. Now a Woman Candidate Master—the first female titled player in her country’s history—Phiona dreams of becoming a Grandmaster, the most elite level in chess. But to reach that goal, she must grapple with everyday life in one of the world’s most unstable countries.”
On this day in music history: November 16, 1966 – “Watchout!”, the fourth album by Martha & The Vandellas is released. Produced by William “Mickey” Stevenson, Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland and Harvey Fuqua, it is recorded at Motown Studio A in Detroit, MI from Spring 1964, Late 1965 – Mid 1966. The fourth full length release by the Motown vocal trio spins off three singles including “Jimmy Mack” (#1 R&B, #10 Pop) and “I’m Ready For Love” (#2 R&B, #9 Pop). “Jimmy Mack” is originally recorded in 1964 but is initially shelved until it is pulled from the vault and is released on this album. Several R&B stations add the song to their playlists as an LP cut. The highly positive public response to the song leads Motown to releasing it as a single in February of 1967. Only mono pressings of the album feature the original version of the song. The stereo version features an alterate recording of the song, differing noticeably from the hit single version, which is only available in mono until it is remixed from the original three track master tape in 2005. “Watchout!” peaks at number one hundred sixteen on the Billboard Top 200.
I’m putting this up because if I write it in a public place then I may actually do it. Since the city I live in frowns on “street art” and Facebook is full of some real life friends who think my “little hobby is charming but weird”, tumblr it is. My semi ideas:
florist Chu/coffeeshop AU that I showed the only bits I have of to @gameofryeo and they didn’t scream “NOOOOOO!!!” (although the last AU I wrote gave my migraines)
another attempt at explicit/mature fanfic (because I love to punish myself) based on the images here (warning NSFW!!)
fic based on the book Guo keeps writing notes inside (tentative title “Nobody’s Diary” from the Yaz song)
something with karaoke
Anyone who feels the need to either stop me or egg me on, feel free.
(S)he’s dressed in black again
And I’m falling down again
Down to the floor again
I’m begging for more again
But oh what can you do
When (s)he’s dressed in black
My mind wanders endlessly
On paths where (s)he’s leading me
With games that (s)he
likes to play
And words that (s)he doesn’t say
Not when we’re alone
And (s)he’s dressed in black
As a picture of herself
(S)he’s a picture of the world
A reflection of you
A reflection of me
And it’s all there to see
If you only give in
To the fire within
Dressed in black again
Shadows fall onto me
As (s)he stands there over me
And waits to encompass me
I lay here helplessly
But oh what can you do
When (s)he’s dressed in black
Dressed in black again
The Last Good Bar 
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