#28th Test century

[nfllivescores]

Root & Brook hit centuries as England near 500

Root & Brook In a spectacular display of batting prowess, Joe Root and Harry Brook both scored centuries to propel England towards a near 500 total on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match against [opponent] at [venue]. Their partnership, which showcased skill, resilience, and an unrelenting approach to batting, helped the English team build a formidable total as they look to take control of the…

[weirdowithaquill]

Sodor: 1965-2020

Back when I talked about how Sodor would fuel its railways in the 2010's (find that post here), I said I'd talk about how Sodor would remain profitable into the modern era.

Well, with Murdoch the Mighty Engine now completed (find that here) it's finally time to really dive into what kept Sodor moving throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the 21st.

I'm going to go in event order - and yes, this is all canon to my Extended Railway Series.

1965: Breaking Away From British Rail:

In 1965, British Railways was pretty desperate for money. And I mean it. The BTC was losing around £300,000 a day in 1961. The company was not able to pay its loans, and that led to desperation and the Beeching cuts.

Sodor was at the time threatened with both the Peel Godred line and the Ffarquhar branch being drastically reduced in size or outright closed - and furthermore there was talk of Crovan's Gate Works being closed. The North Western Region was at the time chaired by Sir Charles Hatt, and he decided to take action.

This is where Sir Charles did perhaps the sneakiest piece of work in his entire career. For a man who was very above the board, this may come as a surprise.

Sir Charles was told by the BTC that if he could find 'the worth of the North-Western Region' - a number that they incorrectly overinflated to around £1,000,000. In comparison, 4472 Flying Scotsman cost £3,000 when bought by Alan Peglar.

Neither the NWR nor the Hatt family had that much money - and the railway, while profitable, did not make enough. So Sir Charles organised a secret backdoor deal with a different company to get the money.

Sir Charles went to the German Rail Company Deutsche Bundesbahn. He'd visited earlier that year and had witnessed the earliest development of the Linienzugbeeinflussung system (LZB) and had offered the Peel Godred branchline for further testing - only he needed the NWR to be independent before he could allow it, as BR didn't want anything to do with the tests.

The Deutsche Bundesbahn, ecstatic that someone wanted to basically hand over their railway to play guinea pig for a brand new untested system, forked over £1,000,000 in exchange for shares in the new NWR company and free access to the Peel Godred branch to test their LZB system.

Sir Charles Hatt gave British Railways the money, and on September 28th, the NWR was officially freed from BR, though the latter company got the rights to run trains to Tidmouth using their engines on 'trials'. The next day, Deutsche Bundesbahn was mysteriously given a massive share in the new company, and permission to test their new system.

1965-1979: Implementing LZB on Passenger Trains:

Siemens - the German company working with DB on their LZB system - opened a branch at Cronk to begin work on testing their LZB systems on the electric Peel Godred branch. Originally a hard-wired logic system only, testing on the Peel Godred and utilising the massive amount of energy harnessed at the hydroelectric dam, the system was quickly developed into a computer system.

While the Peel Godred electrics were able to handle the computers on board, the mainline proved to be a different challenge. Stephen Hatt, then working at Crovan's Gate to help him grow accustomed to the engines on the NWR, suggested renovating the old Mark I coaches BR was beginning to retire to have the LZB systems in them, connecting to the brake pipes. LZB coaches would have the letters 'LZB' printed on the front and sides of the coach to identify them.

On June 3rd, 1979, the last non-LZB passenger train left Tidmouth, a local train that ran as far as Cronk. From that point on, all passenger trains are meant to have an LZB coach at the front of the train, though there have been incidents were it was forgotten. When Pip and Emma were bought, LZB was placed straight in their cabs.

1966-1996: Modernising the Steam Fleet:

Edward went in for a heavy repair in 1965 after his 'exploit' and when he came out, he was a very different engine. The early stages of independence for the NWR were marked by very heavy tourist traffic. The Railway Series books were at the height of their popularity, and Sir Charles was finally free to advertise and profit from them. He organised a huge number of special trips throughout the latter half of 1965, culminating in Edward's infamous excursion. This raised enough money for the NWR to survive the winter season - and enough to begin modernising their steam fleet. Welding replaced riveting, and new superheaters and blastpipes were added. Edward was also the first NWR engine to gain roller bearings.

When Edward departed the Works in late 1966, he was much stronger than before, and certainly more capable! Oliver would gain the same upgrades upon arrival to the NWR, and over the next twelve years the entire rest of the fleet was rebuilt. New arrivals to the railway would undergo the same treatment, with Murdoch being gifted a kylchap blastpipe while being overhauled. Another factor of this period was extensive standardisation, which included funnel diameter, coupling rods, valve gear and cab window sizing.

Much of this ability to develop their steam engines came from the partnership with DB in Germany, which didn't withdraw its entire steam fleet until 1977.

1970-1996: Modernising the Diesel Fleet:

Starting in 1970, Sir Charles began to work on improving and standardising his fleet of diesel engines. BoCo, Bear and Daisy were all very different classes, and the cost of parts was beginning to mount, even after purchasing plenty of disposed parts from scrapyards across the country.

This was far more radical than what was done with the steam engines, and for good reason. While DB was the expert on Diesel-Hydraulic, it was also very expensive at a time when the NWR did not have all that much money to spare. The Little Western and Arlesdale Railway projects sucked up pretty much all the money the railway made at this time. So, they simply took the engines inside BoCo and Bear and replaced them. Entirely. Sir Charles bought excess Sulzer engines which were being fitted to the Class 47 and fitted them to his two big diesels. He did have to move... a lot of stuff internally - this was a rebuild unlike any other, and it kept them both out of service for a very long time. But by the end, he had forcibly standardised BoCo and Bear. Then Derek came along, and Sir Charles was forced to figure something else out for him. This was in the end achieved by taking the engines used by Daisy and jamming them into Derek. Except more of them, and turbocharged. Remarkably, this also worked (after a lot of screaming and huffing by the Crovan's Gate foreman!)

Bert, Diesel and Arry were far easier for Sir Charles and Sir Stephen, all being Class 08's and ubiquitous on BR. As they were retired, the NWR bought old engines and spare parts to repair their fleet.

Bowler and Spamcan would be given the same Sultzer engines as BoCo and Bear, as by this point the Class 47s were being retired on BR and there were plenty of spare parts available. Pip and Emma would retain their engines. Selector catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions reducers would be fitted to all diesel engines.

1975: NWR Holdings Inc:

In 1975, the NWR was incorporated alongside the Arlesdale and Skarloey Railways into NWR Holdings Inc, a new international stock company aimed at raising capital for the railways. First floated on Sodor, it attracted plenty of attention from locals, tourists and international companies alike. NWR Holdings would buy shares in various companies around the globe, including the American Railroad Union Pacific and in Danish shipping company Maersk. The Hatt family personally bought a massive number of shares in the company in what was potentially a highly-legally-questionable move. Still, NWR Holdings Inc would be chaired by Bridget Hatt from 1975 onwards and become a very profitable share-owning company.

1976: AWS and Air Brakes:

By 1976, all trains on the NWR were equipped with AWS and Air brakes, leading to a drastic reduction in accidents across the following years. While not a foolproof solution, when added to the new LZB system, it led to the NWR becoming one of the safest railways in all of England and Europe.

1985: Tourism Boom:

The NWR was inundated with traffic following the airing of the hit TV series 'Thomas & Friends' both in the UK and internationally, with the summer season of 1985 being perhaps the busiest in the island's history until that point, and a major victory for Sodor, which was now the most profitable railway region in Britain outside of London.

British Rail would attempt to force the NWR back into its company at this point, but the courts struck the case down due to the Tory Government disliking the idea of nationalising the network any further. This was the era when the Tory government began to privatise the various government agencies of the UK, and the NWR was upheld as a success of privatisation.

This tourism boom would have a major impact on the economy of Sodor too, with the service sector becoming central to the island's economy. The regional airport at Vicarstown was expanded to accept planes from as far away as Poland - something the NWR helped fund. This was incredibly well-timed, as the last of the mines on the island began to dry up around this time, and the new expanded service sector and transport sector used up much of these redundant miners.

1993: Shares in Deutsche Bahn:

In 1992, Deutsche Bundesbahn began a merger with the Deutsche Reichsbahn to create the Deutsche Bahn in Germany. By this point, the NWR was an extremely profitable company and able to survive on its own, however it was also reliant on the DB for a reliable partner, especially as the UK was in the EU, and DB was able to offset much of the NWR's carbon emissions problems.

The NWR would put up a large sum of money - the modern equivalent of the £1,000,000 from 1965 - to prop up the company during the merger and managed to gain a healthy share out of the German rail company for its troubles. When the new Deutsche Bahn became public property all of five minutes later, the NWR kept its unique position, and the two became 'joint partners' - independent but aligned in much of their goals.

1994-1996: Expansion and the End of BR:

As explained in Modern Railway Engines, in 1994, the North Western Railway bought the Furness Line outright from British Rail. This included all stations, trackwork, and running rights. NWR trains now terminated at Lancaster on the West Coast Mainline, buying up platforms 5 and 6 at the station. the NWR now was directly connected to the WCML, and gained two mainline diesels, a HST and three shunting engines in the deal.

By 1996, these new engines had settled into their roles on the NWR, and the railway was well positioned for the turn of the century. The freight services along the NWR mainline would be fitted with LZB at this point, and further increase the safety of the entire network.

2007: Buyout of EWS:

In 2007, the British railfreight company EWS was bought out by Deutsche Bahn and NWR Holdings Inc as part of a joint-takeover of the freight sector of Britain's Railways after repeated issues with the company. The NWR and DB had very different designs on the company, however the NWR would triumph, and a period of drastic overhaul would occur over the next ten years. In 2017, DB Cargo UK would have rebuilt its entire fleet of Class 90s and Class 92s, as well as all 67s, 66s and 60s. The company would sell off a large number of unusable engines to other companies; but retain the Class 47s and rebuild them into class 57s.

This huge takeover by the two companies would have major implications for the NWR fleet, which only barely managed to keep their own freight services on Sodor from being added to the new DB Cargo UK company. Instead, traffic was streamlined across the two companies, and a direct freight service would commence between Carnforth and Wroclaw, Poland.

2012: Alternate Fuel Trials Begin:

As global warming became more prevalent, the NWR was criticised for its use of coal and diesel fuel. In response, the NWR began trials with several different alternatives, including E-Coal, torrefied rapeseed biofuel and 'electric steam'. Smaller engines like Neil were trialled with electric boilers to heat steam - and this led to the conversion of many smaller tank engines to the system, which was powered by electricity and thus extremely environmentally friendly (in theory). Other changes included solar panels installed on sheds and stations across the NWR and electric pre-heaters added to the steam engine boilers - something the NWR had been slowly working on since the mid-70s.

Torrefiers would be built by the NWR in 2014 to convert biomass into fuel for engines, and trials would be conducted with Murdoch - who had the largest firebox - throughout 2015. Torrefied rapeseed biofuel pellets would be used on some services from 2016 onwards, as Sodor led world research into the issue. However, its weakness to rain and its smell would keep it being used only on freight services, with a tarp pulled over the 'coal' pile to keep it dry.

2020: Global Pandemic and Coal Shortages:

In the modern era, the North Western Railway continues to be a profitable and successful company, providing services across the Island of Sodor and around the globe. The Covid Pandemic saw all but the most essential trains cancelled, including all of the extremely profitable tourist traffic Sodor relies on. For a few months, the railway was even divided into two, with Sodor services terminating at Vicarstown and Furness services terminating at Barrow. A number of engines were stored for the year, being reintroduced as Christmas approached and traffic began to pick up again into 2021.

Worse yet, coal shortages caused by the closure of most British coal mines and crises in Eastern Europe led the NWR to speed up its biofuel research, with most medium-sized engines (Edward, James, Emily, Arthur, Molly) being converted to burn biofuel by the end of 2022. Only the largest steam engines on the NWR and the diesels use fossil fuels as of the time of writing, due to the extremely successful implementation of biofuel, much of which is now grown on Sodor to provide for the NWR and other heritage railways, such as the Talyllyn in Wales.

Wow... that was a long post. As usual, no pictures belong to me, and I headcanoned basically all of this. I just love the idea of the NWR using everything at their disposal to work their way up from the grassroots railway we saw in the Three Railway Engines into a massive corporation that still has that grassroots feel to it... and a multinational holdings company reporting massive profits.

Thank you for reading this massive thing!

[scotianostra]

On March 7th 1671 Robert “Rob” Roy MacGregor was baptised, his actual birthdate is lost in the midst of time.

As early as 1690 he became a noted raider; and on the revival in 1693 of the proscription of the name of MacGregor, he adopted his mother’s name of Campbell as a surname. He secured leases of lands between the estates of the rival noble houses of Montrose and Argyll, and for many years was active in buying and selling cattle and also in raiding whenever opportunity offered.

In the Stuart Uprising of 1715, Rob Roy led part of the Clan Gregor in the wake of the rebel army but kept his men out of the battle of Sheriffmuir and other important engagements, although they were alert to participate in any plundering.

For the next ten years MacGregor continually preyed on the estates of the Earl of, Montrose, and although several times apprehended he always managed to escape or secure a pardon through political influence.

Many of his exploits are related by Sir Walter Scott who describes him as a large, broad-shouldered, powerfully built man of great athletic prowess, with such extraordinary length arms that when erect his wrists hung below his knees This was an exaggeration used by the old folk who used to tell the stories of him.. His red hair was very thick, and frizzled and curled short around his face.

Rob Roy MacGregor died 28th December 1734 at his house in Balquhidder, and was buried in the churchyard in that parish where his gravestone is one of the most visited in the country, although there is some debate whether he is actually buried there at all.

T e head of the Clan MacLaren, Donald MacLaren, says the grave in the kirkyard near his home is a “myth” which is part of “McGregor propaganda”. He believes Rob Roy was actually buried in an unmarked grave several miles away, at one point he attempted to have the grave dug up so the remains to be DNA tested. This goes back to an ancient feud with the MacLaren and MacGregor Clans, the latter believing Rob Roy’s clan were “incomers”. The graveyard is also the location of the Old Balquhidder Kirk, burial place of the Chiefs of the Clan MacLaren. The present Clan Chief has said;

“The MacGregors are content for the story to continue that he is buried in Balquhidder because it builds up their claim to be one of the original clans of the glen. That’s not the case, they were incomers much later on and caused a great deal of trouble.

Of course it isn’t as straight forward as this. I said earlier out eponymous “hero” died at his house at Balquhidder, and by most accounts it was a peaceful death, in his sleep-but, another story says he died of his wounds after a clan duel in the field directly south of the church. MacGregor had argued over ownership of some land with his neighbour John MacLaren of Invernenty, Rob Roy lost the fight and died of his wounds, thus ceding the lands to the MacLarens, who still own them today. If this version is indeed true would he have been buried on land sacred to the MacLarens?

Parish records do not record a funeral. A newspaper account in the Caledonian Mercury on 9th January 1735 tells of Rob Roy's death but makes no mention of a funeral. Early Victorian accounts, written a century later, refer to a funeral on New Years Day at Balquhidder.

However, Rob Roy's gravestone is much older, that is the slab covering the plot, the actual headstone and the railings are more recent. A local tradition says that Rob Roy was buried in the MacGregor burial ground on the island of Inis Cailleach on Loch Lomond.

A trail called Bealach nan Corp, or Pass of the Corpses, links Balquhidder to Loch Lomond. This route was often used to carry MacGregor dead to their original homeland, so it makes perfect sense that Rob Roy would have been taken to Loch Lomond rather than be buried here in Balquhidder where he fell. Another tradition suggests that Rob Roy was buried at Glengyle on Loch Katrine.

[atruththatyoudeny]

Happy 28th! Here are all the fics I read and loved this month:

Desperation Was My Sanctuary | InsightfulInsomniac | [101k] As a PhD student and transplant to New York City, Louis is struggling for both money and companionship. His roommate, Zayn, introduces him to a friend who is involved in New York City's sugar bowl. Reluctantly, he signs up for a sugaring app knowing he’s probably the least conventional sugar baby on the market. If he can find a sugar daddy who will pay his bills without asking him to sacrifice his own preferences and boundaries, he might just be willing to earn a bit of extra cash by faking a relationship with a millionaire. At the age of 35, Harry’s spent his entire adult life devoted to his career as a fashion designer. With his label, Eroda, steady and flourishing, he finally has time to settle down. When he reflects on his adult life, he realizes that he’s never been in a relationship and therefore feels behind. Shy and insecure in his inexperience, he turns to a sugaring app to manufacture a “test relationship” on his terms. Turns out, they’re both looking for something unconventional. A smutty, non-traditional strangers-to-lovers story about finding yourself, friendship, safety, sexual discovery, and an unexpected collision with tender, profound love.

part time soulmates (full time problem) | localopa | [12k] sworn enemies harry and louis are soulmates. everything is going smoothly until the pain hits.

Men of Steel, Men of Power | Stria (Asia117) | [58k] “You’ve been watching me,” Styles said. Louis swallowed around nothing. He tried for light. “You’re the newest addition, people are bound to be curious,” he said. “Sure,” said Styles, in a somewhat condescending tone. “I’m not that daft, I do notice the curiosity regarding my clothes. That’s not what you’re doing though, hm?” Styles’ gaze was intense, and Louis could feel it burn on the side of his face, but kept his eyes stubbornly on the coffee cup. “I,” he said, licked his lips. Took a deep breath, tried to look open, confident, dominant. Alpha. - Louis has one goal: survive this year unscathed to complete his grand plan, for which he has sacrificed his family, his friends. His identity. he's not expecting Alpha Harry, who manages to get under his skin and inside his heart. He suddenly has a lot more to lose, and a lot less control.

Write You A Song | Rearviewdreamer | [6k] Harry’s new flat is great but the acoustics are even better. They’re so good in fact that his daily shower concerts start to entertain an audience besides his shampoo bottle.

The Bluest war and peace | Hazzaslittle28 | [27k] For centuries the Black Haven pack had a tradition where the first born omegas and alphas were to be introduced to each other. The pups were barely ten, dressed in their finest clothings and made to look presentable. That's when he first saw his ruins and he knew that he was never going to be the same.

Deleted Scenes | Stria (Asia117) | [33k] “Do you trust me?” asks Louis in a whisper, mouth pressed on the crown of Harry’s head. His voice has that raw quality to it that Harry has only heard a few times, and he takes a deep breath. “I do,” he responds, and he could add something to keep up the charade, tell Louis that of course he does, he’s here for him, to support him, but he doesn’t really feel like doing anything. He’s going away in a very short while, after all. He can’t find the strength to keep up the farce. “I told you everything would be alright,” says Louis. “I told you we will be alright. Do you trust me on this?” Harry hesitates. He feels Louis’ arms tighten around him, and he brings one of his hands over Louis’. He doesn’t want to lie, he doesn’t. Agent Harry Styles was injured on the job a few months back, and gets roped in one last mission before he can retire prematurely: playing house with Louis, a widower who has amnesia. The assignment seems simple at the beginning, but soon enough Harry's twisted in a web of his own making, and can't get out anymore.

you know it ain't fiction, just a natural fact | anditsonlyforthebrave | [13k] “Look, Lou” Harry whispers, “I can’t do it, and as much as I like having dinner with you, and hanging out, I think we should just do it without the tutoring part because I am not smart enough for school.” “That’s bullshit,” Louis answers quickly, “what do you like?” he asks, “I mean, other than football and asking me stuff about my family. There must be something else you’re good at.” “I play football and fuck, Louis. That’s it.” Louis definitely doesn’t flinch at that. He does not. --- Harry is the golden boy of the college football's team, Louis is their professors' golden student and they definitely don't have anything in common. Falling in love would be dumb.

what's left of my halo's black | LiveLaughLoveLarry (SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFic) | [22k] As Harry sucks lovebites into Louis’ neck, Louis hopes that one day those marks will cover the way he can still feel Alex’s handprints burned into his flesh. As Harry’s nails drag scratches along Louis’ back, Louis hopes that one day the scabs on his heart will heal and drop away just like the scabs on his skin. As Harry fucks him down into the mattress, the bed shaking with every thrust, Louis hopes that one day his mouth will forget the shape of Alex’s name, won’t trace it over and over as the heat builds inside him, won’t want to scream it when he comes. Maybe one day he’ll open his eyes, as he slowly floats down from his post-orgasm haze, and won’t expect to see Alex’s face smiling back at him. But today is not that day. A year after a devastating breakup, Louis is still trying to put himself back together - but getting over a breakup is hard when you work as a wedding planner. Thankfully, his coworker Harry is the most supportive friend Louis could ask for. But Harry has some secrets of his own, and they send Louis' world spinning off its axis all over again. Based on the song "Holding On To Heartache" by Louis Tomlinson

Hold You With My Hands Tied | LetTheMusicMoveYou | [12k] “There’s a club in town called Habit, and they’re looking for a bartender to cover evenings and weekends. No previous experience required.” Harry furrows his brows. He’s never been to Habit, but he certainly knows what type of club it is. BDSM. It’s not the ideal position for an Omega surely, but beggars can’t be choosers he supposes. He tilts his head to the side. “And they would be ok with an Omega filling that role?” Janet scans her eyes over the job description before nodding. “Yes, actually it says here Omegas are preferred but not required.” Harry sighs. “When do I start?” (Or the one where Omega Harry loses his bakery job and is forced to take a temporary position bartending at a local BDSM club. It turns out to be not so bad. Especially when he catches the eye of the owner Louis, who also happens to be a gorgeous Alpha).

[beardedmrbean]

“One funny fact about America is that right wingers are significantly less educated than left wingers.”

Yet when I talked to left wingers as a black person, it’s PAINFULLY obvious they only know black people from what their college courses tell them.

Also like these policies https://youtu.be/jhelfB2SQTo?si=L9zzoB009Cob7UJf

What could caused blacks aka black BOYS falling behind in math? Could it be

1. How it been exposed that public education systems have been altered to mainly cater to nuertypical girls since the 90’s?

2. The huge corruption in teacher unions?

3. Black Americans demonized the living shit out of intelligence where it better to be seen as a thug rather than a a scientist?

4. No child left behind policy?

And much more, but being more educated don’t mean your better

I was talking to a female mutual in India and she also pointed out that rednecks will treat minorities better than college educated leftists

Also how math is racist? Okay you’re a nasa fan, but remember that black astronaut who sadly didn’t make it to space but he had to deal with systemic racism as a child when trying to get a book from the library? There a kid’s book about it

But strange how black people who grew up during actual systematic oppression and discrimination. Was qualified enough to help during the space race. Yet 21st century black kids are too dumb to do it?

Kipling racist mindset never died, it just merge with Marxism. I also have a black scientist ancestor so…

Hadn't heard about point #1, wouldn't put it past anyone though.

Ronald McNair thing, ya. He did make it to space BTW. Other fun story about him.

You'll probably like this.

Fucking Uhura recruited him, so he did 2 missions both on Challenger, anniversary is coming up on the 28th for his 2nd one.

(Not gonna make a thing about 'diversity hires' for NASA if you're on the list you're absolutely cream of the crop qualified for astronaut duty)

Guy was a physicist, people aren't challenging student anymore was a piece about that I'd read recently with college prof's railing on raising test scores or dummbing down classes students weren't doing well at, which is the same with the places pulling graduation requirements.

and folk get mad that a high school diploma isn't good for much of anything anymore.

[backyardcricketer]

75th century. 28th in tests.

186 runs. 364 deliveries.

8 hours of batting through sickness... 👑

[manmetaphysical]

Five years ago I was inspired to write about Edward Burne-Jones, a Virgo, born August 28th 1833. I was in Japan at the time, and there he is very much appreciated. The taste for Burne-Jones’s style dwindled in the 20th century, but came back to life in the seventies with the growth of books on astrology and the occult, and the selling of posters for people in bedsits. The style is associated with anti industrialism, harping back with nostalgia to a simpler world in which purity and integrity have not been tained by the corruption of the world.

Burne-Jones had a vision he shared with some of the Pre-Raphaelites which was that of a medieval idyll containing elegant but slightly adrogynous youthful figures drawn from fairytales and myths. The woods and forests are dark and foreboding and even stylised, but the landscape in his paintings creates a magical backdrop for the figures and stories presented. These figures even though drawn from actual models in real life all looked similar and lacking any indivuduality because they represent archeytpes of the soul- in fact they could all be Psyche on her way through her trials and tribulations. But also he represents Vesta with intense concentration on his ideal goal. You can check where these asteroids are in your chart.

What brought Burne Jones back to mind was Mercury going direct on August 28th at 21° Leo - Burne-Jone’s Mercury is at 25° of Leo and Mercury will arrive at that point on the 6th September. Also, that recently I was at the Tate Britain and saw this frieze of ‘Eight Women Gathering Apples’ which I’d not seen before. It is a large and impressive in colour range, using ceramic paint that gives it a glossy finish. Perhaps 8 is significant because of 8 phases of the Moon- he was aware of planetary symbolism as my article outlines. See the gallery.

But above all it is his anniversary which is now approaching 200 years since his birth. So Burne-Jones is worth celebrating as the ultimate Virgo, deep into his research, intensely concentrated on detail, technically proficient and his work stands the test of time and portrays a world we may have lost. By looking again at his paintings and admiring this technical precision and industriousness we can reconnect with the mystery of that ideal world and bring it closer.

I'll post the full article in the next post.

[justapillowpetpanda]

Fantasia Festival Announces Second Wave of 2024 Titles

The Fantasia International Film Festival will celebrate its upcoming 28th edition with an electrifying program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 18 through August 4, 2024, returning yet again at the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screens and events at Montréal’s Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée. The festival’s full lineup will be announced on July 3, in the meantime, Fantasia has revealed a select second wave of premiere titles.

'Bookworm' Opening at Fantasia Festival

Fantasia’s 28th edition will open with a joyride into the wild, celebrating the World Premiere of Ant Timpson’s moving and hilarious BOOKWORM. Reuniting the celebrated New Zealand filmmaker with his COME TO DADDY star Elijah Wood (Showtime’s Yellowjackets) - who matches through-the-roof comic chemistry of gifted his young co-star Nell Fisher (EVIL DEAD RISE) – BOOKWORM is as entertaining as it is richly cinematic. Mildred (Fisher), a precocious eleven-year-old bookworm, escapes her humdrum existence by immersing herself in novels where literary adventures abound, with a long-dreamed quest to capture proof of a mythological beast known as The Canterbury Panther. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb1KjT1csnY When an unusual accident occurs, Mildred’s long absent father Strawn Wise (Wood), a washed-up illusionist, flies to New Zealand to look after a daughter he’s never met. When they agree to go camping despite neither being the outdoorsy type, this ultimate test in family bonding leads the duo on a string of increasingly absurd and treacherous adventures.

Fantasia's Second Wave Titles

THE BEAST WITHIN Phantasmagoric, gothic, and straight out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Kit Harington (Jon Snow from HBO’s Game of Thrones) stars in this nightmarish fantasy that reflects on the uncanniness of childhood and the creatures that come out at night. The narrative feature debut of esteemed documentary filmmaker Alexander J. Farrel (REFUGEE), THE BEAST WITHIN - previously known as WHAT REMAINS OF US - follows a ten-year-old girl as she starts to question her atypical life in her family's fortified compound in rural England, ultimately discovering that once a month, her father (Harington) turns into a monster. Co-starring Caoilinn Springall (STOPMOTION), Ashleigh Cummings (AMC’s NOS4A2), and James Cosmo (BRAVEHEART).

THE COUNT OF MONTE-CRISTO Fresh off a spectacular Cannes World Premiere that ended in a near-12-minute standing ovation, Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte’s 1815-set blockbuster epic THE COUNT OF MONTE-CRISTO will be coming to Fantasia for its International bow. Created by Alexandre Dumas in the mid-19th century, Edmond Dantès is one of the most celebrated characters in French literature, and the story of his retribution has left its mark on popular culture around the world—the similarities between Bruce Wayne and the wrongly imprisoned, revenge-minded Dantès are obvious. This new film adaptation subtly reappropriates that influence, hinting at the tropes and trappings of the modern superhero film while retaining the classicism of the work through grandiose art direction. Pierre Niney (YVES SAINT LAURENT) shines in the title role as he expresses the stages of Dantès’s evolution into Monte-Cristo with exemplary sobriety and spellbinding charisma. Also starring Bastien Bouillon (THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH), Anaïs Demoustier (INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE), Anamaria Vartolomei (HAPPENING), and Laurent Lafitte (ELLE).

PÁRVULOS Award-winning Mexican filmmaker Isaac Ezban (THE INCIDENT, PARALLEL) returns with his fifth - and most personal - feature, a disturbing tale that he’s spent the last seven years bringing into light. PÁRVULOS is a dystopian coming-of-age horror story that begins with three young brothers living alone in a remote cabin, hiding a terrifying secret in their basement. Where it goes from there will pull the breath from your lungs, as the children’s sealed world is forcefully expanded by monstrous elements beyond their control. A poignant nightmare inspired by GOODNIGHT MOMMY, LORD OF THE FLIES, A QUIET PLACE, and the universes of Guillermo del Toro (an outspoken admirer of Ezban’s work), PÁRVULOS features some of the most gruesome practical make-up effects the screen has seen in years and is electrified by astonishing performances from actors Felix Farid, Leonardo Cervantes, Mateo Ortega, Norma Flores,  Horacio Lazo, Carla Adell, Juan Carlos Remolina, and the great Noé Hernández (WE ARE THE FLESH). From the producers of HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN.

SCARED SHITLESS! Vivieno Caldinelli, known for SEVEN STAGES TO ACHIEVE ETERNAL BLISS, the Roddy Piper short PORTAL TO HELL, and THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, tackles the journey of everyman to hero once again with his new feature SCARED SHITLESS! Steven Ogg (DARK MATCH, AMC’s The Walking Dead) and Daniel Doheny (Netflix’s Brand New Cherry Flavor) star as a father and son plumbing duo faced with a disgusting dilemma: rid a building of a toilet-dwelling creature before it unleashes itself to the rest of the world! Co-starring Chelsea Clark (Netflix’s Ginny and Georgia, THE PROTECTOR), Mark McKinney (CBC’s The Kids in the Hall, NBC’s Superstore), and a cameo by Julian Richings (BEAU IS AFRAID; RELAX, I’M FROM THE FUTURE), there’s loads of gore, a fantastic creature by Canadian FX legend Steve Kostanski, and enough laughs that you’ll need a change of pants!

HAZE A young journalist (Cole Doman, MUTT) returns home to investigate unsolved deaths at a psychiatric center. As he dances with the shadows of his past, his family history and the town’s secrets begin to converge. A somber, queer horror drama steeped in deeply-rooted trauma that haunts with eerie, richly-intentional visuals, HAZE is the unforgettable sophomore feature from filmmaker Matthew Fifer (CICADA). Co-starring David Pittu (FX’s Damages) and Brian J. Smith (Syfy’s Stargate Universe).

THE SOUL EATER Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, the acclaimed filmmaking team behind INSIDE, LIVID, and THE DEEP HOUSE, have adopted the popular French novel by Alexis Laipsker to create a fresh turn in their distinctive filmography. A morbid procedural thriller with extreme horror flashpoints, THE SOUL EATER turned heads when it premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival earlier this year. As violent and gruesome deaths plague a small mountain village, an old legend about a malevolent creature resurfaces. Two cops with different methods are compelled to join forces and uncover a sinister plot involving the disappearance of local children. Starring Virginie Ledoyen (8 FEMMES), Paul Hamy (DESPITE THE NIGHT), and Sandrine Bonnaire (VAGABOND).

Animation Selection at Fantasia Festival

MANTRA WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF THE EIGHT MOONS Following last summer’s Fantasia screening of the restored anime version of the Ramayana, it’s now Thailand’s turn to impress and amaze with an animated reimagining of this mighty, ancient mythological epic. Director Veerapatra Jinanavin and the team at Bangkok-based Riff Studio not only bring a Thai aesthetic to the titanic tale of Ram, Sita, Hanuman, and their foes, they’ve rebooted it as a cyberpunk space opera punctuated with powerhouse mecha battles. MANTRA WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF THE EIGHT MOONS is the first installment of Riff Studio’s exciting new franchise, one sure to thrill fans of fantastic sci-fi while cementing Thailand as a producer of world-class animation with global appeal.

MONONOKE THE MOVIE: THE PHANTOM IN THE RAIN The 2007 TV series MONONOKE is one of the most singular and delightfully innovative works in the history of anime, and its devoted cult following, wistfully presuming that the paranormal escapades of the mysterious Medicine Seller were long since concluded, can rejoice. Director Kenji Nakamura (GATCHAMAN CROWDS) has revived the intricate palace intrigue and hallucinatory supernatural thrills of his signature work with a brand-new feature film, his most elaborate and opulent adventure yet, and it makes its grand debut at Fantasia. Visually exquisite to an almost overwhelming degree, it gleefully indulges in the iconography and aesthetics of Edo-era Japan, doing so with Pop Art panache, playful anachronism, and percussive pacing, and immediately asserts itself as an essential anime classic.

Fantasia's Underground Section

THE OLD MAN AND THE DEMON SWORD In the remote Portuguese mountain village of Pé da Serra, a monk arrives wielding a demonic sword. Before long, the mystical weapon ends up in the hands of the town drunk António da Luz (playing himself). Now, the drunkard and the sword will have to learn to fight an encroaching evil together. Featuring amateur actors and the incredible voice work of João Loy, the voice of Vegeta from the iconic Portuguese dub of Dragon Ball Z, Fábio Powers’ THE OLD MAN AND THE DEMON SWORD is a heartfelt and unlikely retelling of the hero’s journey.

ME AND MY VICTIM Blurring the line between fiction and nonfiction, ME AND MY VICTIM is about co-directors and subjects, Maurane and Billy Pedlow, who are not quite friends and not quite lovers and the true, messy, and kind-of-fucked-up story about how they met. A messy, whirlwind, imperfect, orgasmic, meme-inflected, jump into the rabbit hole of their on-again, off-again situationship, their ultra-micro-budget (the film was made for less than $1000 US) confession playfully captures the humanity of love and lust in the 21st Century.

ANIMALIA PARADOXA An amphibious humanoid searches for water in a labyrinthine, post-apocalyptic landscape, from the mind of filmmaker Niles Atalah (REY), the co-founder of the boundary-pushing Chilean production company Diluvio with artists Joaquin Cociña and Cristóbal Leon (LA CASA LOBO). Genre and arthouse cinema meld to create a singular collage-like invention that will defy all expectations with ANIMALIA PARADOXA. A hybrid of styles and techniques, this surreal journey combines live action, dance, sculpture, and stop-motion animation in a dreamlike structure, reimagining the end of the world like you’ve never seen.

Additional Second Wave Fantasia Titles:

100 YARDS (China) – Dirs. Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng Family secrets, demimonde politics, and romantic entanglements complicate the rivalry between two skilled martial artists in the 1920s. The latest from masterful genre auteur Xu Haofeng (THE SWORD IDENTITY, THE FINAL MASTER), co-directed by his own brother, once again reconciles authenticity and inventiveness, and rewards its attentive audience a hundred times over. Quebec Premiere. AZRAEL (USA) – Dir. E.L Katz In a post-apocalyptic world, Azrael (Samara Weaving, READY OR NOT) must fight tooth and nail to rescue her partner from a cult of mute religious fanatics in the year’s most vicious tale of revenge. From the acclaimed director of CHEAP THRILLS and the screenwriter of YOU’RE NEXT and this year’s GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, this relentless thriller also stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (FEMME), Sebastian Bull (SONS), and Victoria Carmen Sonne (HOLIDAY). Winner of Best Feature, Best Actress, and Best FX Audience Awards at Panic Fest 2024. BRAVE CITIZEN (South Korea) – Dir. Park Jin-pyo A former boxer, now a part-time teacher, dons a mask and deals with high school bullying the hard way. Based on the popular webtoon, BRAVE CITIZEN is a stylishly entertaining Korean action flick from the director of VOICE OF A MURDERER and YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, with great characters and intense fight scenes. BRUSH OF THE GOD (Japan) – Dir. Keizo Murase Two teens must save the world from a many-headed, mythological dragon in this generously self-referential giant-monster movie from 88-year-old master tokusatsu artisan Keizo Murase, who makes his directorial debut following a lifetime crafting monster suits for all of Japan’s best-known kaiju films. CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS (Australia) – Dir Alice Maio Mackay Alice Maio Mackay (T-BLOCKERS) returns to Fantasia with an early Christmas present (with some help from THE PEOPLE’S JOKER’s Vera Drew, on editing duty). Bloody, ironic, and uproarious, CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS tells the story of true-crime podcaster Lola who returns to her hometown at Christmas for the very first time since running away and transitioning - meanwhile, the vengeful ghost of a historical murderer and urban legend seemingly arises to kill again! Official Selection: Salem Horror Fest, Inside Out Toronto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKfUPVy1XTQ DARKEST MIRIAM (Canada) – Dir: Naomi Jaye Following her debut feature THE PIN, Naomi Jaye now adapts the Giller Prize short-listed novel ‘The Incident Report’ by author Martha Baillie as DARKEST MIRIAM. In it, Miriam (Britt Lower of AppleTV's Severance) is a library worker dealing with her father’s death, threatening letters at work, and an unexpected lover, all of which threaten to change her solitary life forever. Starring Tom Mercier (THE ANIMAL KINGDOM), Sook-Yin Lee (SHORTBUS), and Jean Yoon (CBC’s Kim’s Convenience), and executive produced by Academy Award-winner Charlie Kaufman (ADAPTATION).  DON’T CALL IT MYSTERY (Japan) – Dir. Hiroaki Matsuyama In this compelling whodunit adapted from a popular, award-winning manga and subsequent hit TV series, college student Totonou (Masaki Suda of THE BOY AND THE HERON), known for his sharp observation skills, becomes entangled in a complicated family feud involving mysterious deaths. FAQ (South Korea) – Dir. Kim Da-min A stressed-out elementary-school student secretly befriends a bottle of rice wine that can communicate through Morse Code. Director Kim Da-min’s debut feature is a heartwarming sci-fi/coming-of-age story guaranteed to make you smile. KRYPTIC (Canada, U.K.) – Dir. Kourtney Roy A part of XYZ Films’ New Visions with a World Premiere at SXSW 2024 and Canadian Premiere at CUFF, Kourtney Roy’s debut feature KRYPTIC follows Kay (Chloe Pirrie of THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT and HANNA), a woman on a mysterious quest. A strange forest encounter leads her to search for a missing cryptozoologist – who bears a striking resemblance to Kay – and the monster she was hunting. KRYPTIC is a doppelganger story of self-discovery and empowerment, and a must-see for audiences wanting a colourful spectacle that defies genre with strange, gooey interludes and atmospheric landscapes. THE MISSING (Philippines) – Dir. Carl Joseph Papa The death of Eric’s uncle triggers a suppressed childhood memory - and the return of his alien abductor - in director Carl Joseph Papa's third animated feature: a queer, surreal hybrid of romance, drama, and sci-fi embracing digital rotoscope animation and featuring internationally renowned Filipino actress Dolly De Leon (TRIANGLE OF SADNESS). NOT FRIENDS (Thailand) – Dir. Atta Hemwadee Hoping to win a short-film competition, Pae decides to direct a tear-jerking tribute to former classmate Joe, who tragically passed away, even though they weren’t actually friends. Atta Hemwadee’s feature debut was Thailand’s entry in the Best International Feature category for this year’s Academy Awards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLNDvnv8B3A ODDITY (Ireland) – Dir. Damian McCarthy A blind medium (Carolyn Bracken, YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER) uncovers the truth behind her sister's death with the help of a frightening wooden mannequin. One of the scariest and most imaginative films you’ll see anywhere this year. Winner of the Midnighter Audience Award at SXSW 2024.  WAKE UP (Canada / France) – Dirs. François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell This tense, gore-soaked new shocker from homegrown Fantasia favorites RKSS (TURBO KID, SUMMER OF ’84, WE ARE ZOMBIES) pits a gang of Gen Z activists against a hulking security guard murderously protecting the big-box store they’ve invaded after hours. Official Selection: Fantastic Fest 2023, Sitges 2023. YIN YANG MASTER ZERO (Japan) – Dir. Shimako Sato A wily apprentice sorcerer and his dim but good-hearted best friend (Kento Yamazaki of KINGDOM and Shota Sometani of PARASYTE) confront dark forces in Heian-era Japan. Handled with panache by writer-director Shimako Sato (EKO EKO AZARAK, K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK), the popular historical-fantasy franchise returns to the big screen.

Read the full article

[wikiuntamed]

On this day in Wikipedia: Monday, 6th November

Welcome, Selam, こんにちは, שלום 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 6th November through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?

6th November 2020 🗓️ : Death - King Von King Von, American rapper (b. 1994) "Dayvon Daquan Bennett (August 9, 1994 – November 6, 2020), known professionally as King Von, was an American drill rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He was signed to Lil Durk's record label Only the Family and Empire Distribution. During Bennett's life, and after his killing, he was implicated in..."

Image licensed under CC BY 3.0? by Danny Rome

6th November 2018 🗓️ : Death - Bernard Landry Bernard Landry, Canadian lawyer, politician and Premier of Quebec (b. 1937) "Bernard Landry (French: [bɛʁnaʁ lɑ̃dʁi]; March 9, 1937 – November 6, 2018) was a Canadian politician who served as the 28th premier of Quebec from 2001 to 2003. A member of the Parti Québécois (PQ), he led the party from 2001 to 2005, also serving as the leader of the Opposition from 2003 to 2005...."

Image licensed under CC BY 2.0? by MisterAD1984

6th November 2013 🗓️ : Death - Tarla Dalal Tarla Dalal, Indian chef and author (b. 1936) "Tarla Dalal (3 June 1936 – 6 November 2013) was an Indian food writer, chef, cookbook author and host of cooking shows. Her first cook book, The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking, was published in 1974. Since then, she wrote over 100 books and sold more than 10 million copies. She also ran the..."

6th November 1973 🗓️ : Birth - David Giffin David Giffin, Australian rugby player "David Giffin (born 6 November 1973) is a former vice-captain of the Wallabies in rugby union, where he played in the lock position. Queensland-born, he played most of his professional career with the ACT Brumbies in what was then the Super 12. At that level, he earned 81 caps – earning a further 49..."

6th November 1921 🗓️ : Birth - Geoff Rabone Geoff Rabone, New Zealand cricketer (d. 2006) "Geoffrey Osborne Rabone (6 November 1921 – 19 January 2006), known as Geoff Rabone, was a cricketer who captained New Zealand in five Test matches in 1953–54 and 1954–55...."

Image by Unknown (Crown Studios of Wellington)

6th November 1816 🗓️ : Death - Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris, American scholar, politician, and diplomat, United States Ambassador to France (b. 1752) "Gouverneur Morris ( guh-vər-NEER MOR-ris; January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He wrote the Preamble to the United States Constitution and has been..."

Image by

Creator:Exta Ames

6th November 🗓️ : Holiday - Christian feast days: Melaine of Rennes "Saint Melaine (Latin: Melanius or Mellanus; Breton: Melani; Cornish: Melan; Welsh: Mellon) was a 6th-century Bishop of Rennes in Brittany (now in France)...."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0? by GO69

[nishp]

🎩✨ Elevate Your Style: Celebrate National Bow Tie Day on August 28th! ✨🎩

Hey fashionistas, mark your calendars because August 28th is all about embracing the timeless elegance of bow ties! 🗓️ Whether you're a seasoned bow tie enthusiast or new to this classic accessory, National Bow Tie Day is the perfect occasion to showcase your style with flair. Let's dive into the details and get ready to tie the knot – the bow-tie knot, that is! 💼👔

🌟 Date: August 28th 🎉 Event: National Bow Tie Day 👔 Celebration: Rock your bow ties and embrace the charm!

From its origins dating back to the 17th century to its status as a symbol of sophistication, the bow tie has truly stood the test of time. Whether you prefer a suave silk design or a quirky pattern, there's a bow tie to match every personality and occasion.

🎩 Why Celebrate? 🎩 National Bow Tie Day isn't just about style – it's about celebrating individuality and embracing a fashion statement that has graced the necks of trendsetters for centuries. This is your chance to join the ranks of bow tie aficionados and make a statement that's both elegant and eye-catching.

🤝 Join the Movement! 🤝 Let's make this National Bow Tie Day one to remember! Share your favorite bow tie looks, whether you're dressing up for a formal event or adding a touch of charm to your everyday attire.

💼 Affiliate Alert: Must-Have Bow Ties! 💼 Looking to upgrade your bow tie collection? This National Bow Tie Day, we've got some incredible deals on classic designs and trendy patterns. Check out our curated selection and elevate your accessory game to a 'whole' new level of sophistication.

📸 Capture the Moment! 📸 Whether you're going for a refined look or adding a pop of personality, don't forget to capture your National Bow Tie Day ensembles. Share your stylish snapshots and let's inspire others to join the bow tie movement.

visit to buy your favorite products:

[gadgetsforusesblog]

Shoaib Akhtar advises Virat Kohli to play Test and ODI format only and stop playing T20Is

Shoaib Akhtar on Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has had great performances in all three formats of international cricket so far. In the fourth Test of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Kohli ended the wait for his 28th Test century with an innings of 186 runs and also scored his 75th century in the international format. Now…

[bollywood143114]

Why does Virat Kohli kiss his locket every century? I know what's special about that rocket

Virat Kohli Rocket Secrets: Former India cricket captain Virat Kohli marked the 75th century on the international stage today by scoring a stellar century in the Ahmedabad Test Match. It was right-handed batsman Virat Kohli's 28th Test century. In recent years, Virat Kohli has been seen doing the same thing every time, even after a century. That is, after he scores every century, he takes out the locket he was wearing around his neck and kisses it. If you've ever seen Virat Kohli do this after a century, this question will come to your mind what happens to that rocket kissing only after he scores a century. What's special about Virat Kohli's rocket? As the century progressed, Virat Kohli was seen pulling out a locket from around her neck and kissing her. In that situation, if you want to know what's special about his locket, just say that this is his wedding ring. Commentator Harsha Bhogle once said of the locket that it was a token of Virat Kohli's love. In doing so he expresses his love for his wife Anushka Sharma. Anushka is always with Virat through her locket i.e. her wedding ring. Anushka Sharma supported Virat Kohli in all her difficult journeys and she was always there to boost her husband's morale. The milestone we have all been waiting for is here! 71st century international century @imVkohli #Asia Cup 2022 #INDvAFGpic.twitter.com/hnjA953zg9 — BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2022 Virat Kohli was first seen kissing Rocket in January 2018. During this period he put in a blistering innings of 153, scoring a century against South Africa. Let me tell you that he was spotted kissing that rocket again when he scored 22 centuries in England this year. Since then, discussions about this rocket have started. Previously, Virat Kohli was spotted doing the same during the Asian Cup match against Afghanistan. Virat Kohli then scored the first century of his T20 International career. Today he scored 186 in Ahmedabad playing the Test Century innings. However, despite this, the Indian team failed to win the match and the match ended in a draw. ALSO READ- Sushmita Sen was the first to show up after a heart attack and fans held their breath watching her style from the lamp DISCLAIMER We’ve taken all measures to insure that the information handed in this composition and on our social media platform is believable, vindicated and sourced from other Big media Houses. For any feedback or complaint, reach out to us at bollywoodofindiaa@gmail.com Read the full article

[parolim-prlm]

‘King Kohli’ scores 186 to end three-year Test century drought | Cricket News

India’s Virat Kohli has ended a three-year wait for his 28th century by scoring 186 in the fourth Test against Australia. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has ended a three-year wait for a century by scoring 186 runs in India’s first innings in their fourth Test match against Australia. The hosts finished their first innings on 571 to overhaul Australia’s 480 and get a first-innings lead of 91 at…

[atruththatyoudeny]

Happy 28th! Here are all the fics I read and loved this month:

Remember Me Before You | kingsofeverything | [293k] Desperate to find a new place to live after he comes home to find his boyfriend cheating, Harry moves into a loft with three strangers. A New Girl AU.

Eyes on the Horizon | yeah_alright | [12k] Freshly dumped, recently fired, and about to turn 40, Harry's friends insist on taking him skydiving to cheer him up. His younger and extremely fit instructor Louis makes him even more nervous than the idea of jumping out of a plane, but both may be exactly what he needs to turn his life around.

Late Night Talking | kingsofeverything | [54k] Louis Tomlinson has a new album coming out and a second world tour on the horizon. Promo season gets underway with a stop at Late Night Talking, the late night show hosted by Harry Styles, and Harry Styles just happens to be the man who blew a chance to date Louis a decade ago.

Unholy | wickedarcher_08 | [12k] When Harry Styles started acting different after his 26th birthday, Father Louis Tomlinson is the only one that may be able to save his soul. He has successfully performed exorcisms before. This should be easy. Until it isn't. Harry is more than he seems. The battle of wills test every bit of faith Louis has. And Harry? Well, he's just getting started. "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."- Matthew 26:41.

Secrets, Santa? | indiaalphawhiskey | [20k] Right, okay, so Harry had confessed his deepest, darkest, dirtiest secrets to a stranger who turned out to be his boss. No big deal. This was probably just the beginning of Harry’s own hilariously heartwarming, wildly romantic Hallmark Christmas movie, come to life, right? …Right?

Moonlit Renault | softfonds | [38k] It's the early 20th century, and Louis Tomlinson learns just how much he is willing to do for a love that is considered wrong, but feels so right. A Maurice AU.

It's Thursday. Let's Get (un)Dressed. | bananaheathen | [9k] When Louis is peer-pressured into downloading TikTok over the holidays, he fully expects to hate it. And he does hate it. All of it. Well... except for aspiring OOTD influencer, @harrystyles.

Warm Chilling | Larry_you_know | [8k] Louis moves into a cosy cottage in the English countryside with his dog Clifford to look after his great-aunt's animals. His next door neighbour, Harry, is an eccentric young man who swims in the pond every morning, owns cats and chickens, grows his own vegetables and wears, according to Louis, grand-dad clothes. He's the opposite of Louis, who is a true city man and has tiny little troubles adjusting to life in the countryside. It's only a matter of time before Louis falls madly in love with his endearing neighbour.

baby, you're the end of june | disgruntledkittenface | [16k] “Up for it, Harold? We can go over the rundown when we get back. If you’re not busy then.” “Yeah, sounds good,” Harry says, closing his laptop and setting it on Louis’ desk. “It’s just Harry, though.” “You look like a Harold,” Louis says, standing up and brushing some brownie crumbs off his t-shirt. Harry briefly wonders how he’s still hungry for lunch after demolishing half the plate of brownies as he stands and moves into the hallway. “It’s the cardigan, I think.” “You guys can flirt on the way,” Niall says over his shoulder, beckoning for them to follow him as he strides down the row of cubicles. “Come on, I’m starving.” Harry looks at Louis, but he just laughs as they follow Niall. Oh. He thought he’d been picking up a vibe while they hung out, but apparently not. Well, it’s better to know how Louis feels now, so he can nip his growing crush in the bud. Louis is a great guy, at least they can be friends as well as coworkers. In which Harry courts Louis. Entirely by accident.

Something Blue & Someone New | littleroverlouis | [6k] Single Alpha Louis moves into a new apartment building and doesn't realize he misses courting someone until meeting his next door neighbor, a charming Omega named Harry. Louis is working up the nerve to officially ask him to court, but what if Harry secretly beats him to the punch?

These High Walls | LarryAlways28 | [69k] Harry Styles should have the world at his feet. Born to one of Seattle's wealthiest families, Harry was raised exactly as a Styles heir should be: sharp as a tack, witty, charming, and powerful. He was the ideal son - until he presented as an Omega. Now, barely a year after his old man dropped dead and running the family company, if he makes a mistake with the Tomlinson and Sons merger and acquisition, it's game over. ___ Louis Tomlinson is in over his head. After the tragic death of his older brother, Louis has no choice but to put his music career on hold and head back home to handle the family affairs. The family business is drowning and Louis doesn't know what to do. So... when the older, and wildly attractive Harry Styles offers him a deal in exchange for saving his family's legacy- how could Louis ever refuse that? But what happens when emotions get tangled and a good business deal turns into something much more powerful?

bitter ends turn sweet in time | me_her_themoon | [24k] “Are you…” Louis looks back down at the paper, voice almost getting caught in his throat, “Harry Styles?” Oh, fuck. Harry Styles.

Chicago | HelloLovers13 | [3k] They hadn't seen each other in four years, why was Louis still writing songs about Harry? Larry take on the song Chicago

I'm Weaker Without You | The_Halcyonic_Lachesist | [20k] Alpha Lord Louis Tomlinson is a rake who refuses to settle down. Will he settle down for the Society's most talked about Omega? What about the enticing scent that belongs to the Beta? How will he react to said Beta pursuing the Omega too?

Behind closed doors | bluegreenish | [10k] “You should ask that whoever he’s currently fucking.” Liam’s eyes grow wide. “No.” His tone is unbelieving, just like Louis’ would’ve been if you had told him what turn today would take. “Yes.” “How do you know?” Louis’ room mate’s eyes barely leave him as he tries to untie his shoes without looking. “Went to his dorm earlier, found a sock on his door handle. He’s such an arsehole.” or, the one where omega Louis finds a sock on alpha Harry's door handle that causes a big misunderstanding but is also the beginning of something new.

lost in the sirens | akatomlinson | [53k] abo fic where alphas and omegas can’t cohabitate as friends and harry ‘supposed-to-be-a-beta’ styles presents a few weeks before he and louis ‘hot/spicy-omega-bestie’ tomlinson are set to move into their new uni flat. featuring sephora louis, a world run by abo stereotypes, and harry who just wants to know what it means to be an alpha

[eagletek]

The wait is over, Kohli’s century in Tests after 39 months

Virat Kohli scored his 28th century in white. But he had to wait 39 months to get this century. Kohli last scored a Test century in November 2019. Kohli played a great innings of 136 runs against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Since then he was suffering from innings drought. Virat could not reach three-digit runs despite scoring 6 half-centuries during this period. Finally came in…

[xtruss]

Cricket: The Closest Test Match Finishes – In Pictures

After New Zealand defeated England in dramatic fashion in Wellington in the second Test (February 28th, 2023), we look at some of the closest finishes to five-day matches

— John Windmill | The Guardian USA | February 28, 2023

The Oval, 1882: Australia 🇦🇺 win by seven runs! Fred Spofforth, known as The Demon Bowler, bowls to WG Grace in the famous 1882 Test between England and Australia at the Oval. Cue the famous obituary in the Sporting Times, the burning of the bails, marking the birth of the Ashes tradition. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Karachi, 1994: Pakistan 🇵🇰 win by one wicket! Inzamam-ul-Haq runs for the pavilion as his teammate, Mushtaq Ahmed, kisses the wicket at the end of Pakistan’s one-wicket win against Australia in Karachi. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Sydney Cricket Ground, 1994: South Africa 🇿🇦 win by five runs! Fanie de Villiers celebrates taking the final Australian wicket, of Glenn McGrath, as South Africa, recently readmitted to the Test arena, overcome Mark Taylor’s Australia in Sydney. Photograph: Getty Images

Kensington Oval, 1999: West Indies win by one wicket! West Indies’ captain, Brian Lara, is swamped by fans after hitting the winning runs in the third Test against Australia in Bridgetown in 1999. Lara scored an unbeaten 153 in the second innings as West Indies won by one wicket to go 2-1 up in the series. Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images (Top)

Adelaide Oval, 1993: West Indies win by one run! The West Indies bowler Courtney Walsh celebrates with Phil Simmons after their victory on day four of the fourth Test against Australia in Adelaide. West Indies won by one run. Photograph: Getty Images/Hulton Archive (Bottom)

Edgbaston, 2005: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 win by two runs! The greatest Test match finish? Brett Lee is consoled by Andrew Flintoff after Australia fall just short against England in 2005. The victory in Birmingham levelled the series at 1-1, and England went on to win their first series over Australia for 18 years. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Mohali, 2010: India 🇮🇳 win by one wicket! Pragyan Ojha (right) celebrates India’s one-wicket victory against Australia with teammates VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina in Mohali in 2010. Laxman scored 77 in the second innings to help pull off an incredible victory. Photograph: Pal Pillai/Getty Images

Abu Dhabi, 2018: New Zealand 🇳🇿 win by four runs! New Zealand cricketers celebrate after taking the final wicket, of Azhar Ali for 65, as the Black Caps win an incredible Test in the heat of Abu Dhabi. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

Chennai, 1999: Pakistan 🇵🇰 win by 12 runs! The Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq (centre) celebrates with teammates after dismissing India’s Javagal Srinath to win the first Test between Pakistan and India on Indian soil in 12 years. Pakistan withstood a century by Sachin Tendulkar to win the first Test by 12 runs. Photograph: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

Durban, 2018: Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 win by one wicket! With Sri Lanka a fading force after several all-time greats retired in the previous decade, South Africa were favourites for this series. Sri Lanka slid to 226 for nine in pursuit of 304 but Kusal Perera’s unbeaten 153 helped Sri Lanka to an unlikely victory. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Headingley, 2019: England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 win by one wicket! Ben Stokes celebrates clinching an unforgettable match at Headingley against Australia in 2019. Stokes saw England home with a magnificent 135 not out alongside Jack Leach, who scored one run from 17 balls in the course of an hour. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA