#And the gold reissue dress

[wusopiejung25]

okay sprint, here I go????

Let's go I guess???

[mywifeleftme]

196: Earth // The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull

The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull Earth 2008, Southern Lord (Bandcamp)

The most money I’ve ever spent on a vinyl record is on the stupid fucking quadruple LP Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness boxed set, but that was only because I allegedly scuffed the first track on the first side of LP1 of my friend’s copy while putting it away at a party, so I had to buy him a replacement and got his old dinged one—but I’ll write about that another time. The most money I’ve ever spent on a vinyl record I wanted was on Earth’s The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull, and specifically on one of the editions bound in faux Bible leather that Southern Lord reissues from time to time. From the first time I heard the record back in 2008, from the first time I read the title really, Bees has held a strange fascination for me. Despite being a broke college kid, I ordered a Bees Made Honey hoodie using my first credit card and hemmed and hawed over whether to snag the leather record, though I didn’t even know how to use a turntable. I didn’t end up actually scoring a copy till more than a decade later, by which time I’d already pretty well carved the thing’s grooves so deep in my brain I didn’t need to listen anymore to hear its contents.

The inner sleeve.

Still, there’s the pleasure of handling it, opening up the gatefold and reading the hoary language in elaborately-filigreed gold text:

“from strength sweetness from darkness light the bees made honey in the lion’s skull”

A1. Omens and Portents 1: The Driver A2: Rise to Glory B3: Miami Morning Coming Down II (Shine) B4. Engine of Ruin C5: Omens and Portents II: Carrion Crow C6: Hung from the Moon D7: The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull D8: Junkyard Priest

I grew up just religious enough to really fear God and love His language, especially as filtered through all the fantastical art that’s borrowed the diction of the King James Version to command a sense of gravitas. It’s a tone of voice that still compels me, and it’s the perfect dressing for this era of Earth’s looming, desertified music. Starting with 2005’s comeback Hex; or Printing in the Infernal Method, Earth has been working on a form of Western-inspired instrumental post-rock that looks to the Bible and fire-and-brimstone writers like Cormac McCarthy for words to match the weathered lurch of Dylan Carlson’s lithic guitar. Bees continues this direction, and it’s broadly considered the best of the band’s later efforts: something elemental captured in the songs; extra pristine production; sterling contributions from Steve Moore on a variety of pianos and organs, plus famed jazz guitarist Bill Frisell; and above all the languid pulse of drummer Adrienne Davies, the sheer weight of her pauses (best exemplified on the title track).

When Davies joined the band in 2002, she became the long-term musical partner Carlson had never really had, and her playing has become as distinctive a signature of Earth’s sound as his. In the exhaustive 2023 documentary Even Hell Has Its Heroes, her interview is the most enlightening from a musical perspective. An amateur when she began casually jamming with Carlson, she soon found that all of the drumming instructors and guides she consulted emphasized focusing on how to refine the angles of her playing, minimizing the time and effort required to play a beat. But for Davies, playing in a band whose rhythm swells and resides like the breathing of a massive steer, this advice ran counter: her arms wave in slow, swooping arcs, drawing out the tempo in the air before falling into the drums, letting gravity provide the consequential force.

Despite the band’s mugshot stares and stupendous volume, that signal phrase holds: “from strength sweetness / from darkness light.” There’s no violence in this songs, only some obdurate quality of endurance; no aggression, only flickers of the transcendent among the amps. That’s the notion embedded in its title, a nourishing work transpiring within sinister ruins.

196/365

[rock-and-roll-hell]

October 28, 1982

Creatures of the Night is released

Recorded: July–September 1982

Studio: Record Plant, Los Angeles; Record One, Los Angeles; Media Sound, New York City

Creatures of the Night is the tenth studio album by KIϟϟ, released in 1982. It was the band's last for Casablanca Records, the only label for which they had recorded up to that point. The album was dedicated to the memory of Casablanca founder Neil Bogart, who had died of cancer during the recording sessions. It is also the band's last album recorded with Ace Frehley credited as an official member and their first albupm with Vinnie Vincent, as the initially uncredited lead guitarist. Vinnie would later be credited but not featured on the cover of the 1985 reissue of the album. It was also KIϟϟ' last album to feature the band with their trademark makeup until their 1998 release Psycho Circus.

By 1982, KIϟϟ' popularity in the US had plummeted due to changing musical tastes and their near abandonment of hard rock. 1979's Dynasty, while commercially successful, alienated many fans with the disco-flavored track "I Was Made for Lovin' You." 1980's Unmasked fell further into pop music and was KIϟϟ' first album not to achieve platinum status since 1975's Dressed to Kill. Fan hopes were raised in 1980 when KIϟϟ announced that they were going to record their heaviest record yet. Instead, the band released Music from "The Elder" in late 1981, a concept album originally intended to complement a film called The Elder that was ultimately never filmed. Despite confidence from Ezrin this would recreate the success from Destroyer, the album did not improve the band's status, and on the contrary, further diminished KIϟϟ’ US fanbase, failed to achieve gold status, and having cancelled their US Unmasked Tour just a short time before, the band then called off the planned tour for Music from "The Elder."

The album represented a conscious effort by KIϟϟ to return to the hard rock style that had helped them achieve commercial success with Destroyer and Love Gun. The first key ingredient was songwriter/guitarist Vinnie Vincent, who was soon to replace Frehley as the band's new lead guitarist after being introduced to the band by album co-writer Adam Mitchell. Paul called KIϟϟ "a heavy metal band" in 1982. "I Still Love You", the only ballad on Creatures of the Night, was still heavier and darker than any ballad KIϟϟ had released in earlier years. Also contributing to the heavy sound was Carr's drumming style. Creatures of the Night is the first KIϟϟ album to have all lead vocal duties handled by either Gene or Paul exclusively. KIϟϟ had used "ghost players" on previous albums, but Vinnie handled most of the lead guitar as a session player and co-writer before being added as the full-time replacement for Ace, though as an employee and not a full member.

Though Ace did not play on the album, his face was still featured on the album cover for contractual and commercial reasons. Ace had been pushing the band to do a heavy rock record since Dynasty, and by the time of Creatures of the Night, he was fully disillusioned with the band; alcoholism and a prescription medicine dependency (begun after a car wreck) led to him not participating in the recording sessions. In fact, when recording sessions for Creatures of the Night began in July 1982, KIϟϟ was essentially a trio. It was only after the album was released and a short promotional tour of Europe was completed that Frehley officially left KIϟϟ. The lead guitar replacement for Ace for the Creatures Tour in the US was Vinnie, adopting his Egyptian Ankh makeup, hastily designed by Paul.

 "Basically, we feel that everybody is a creature of the night. We're all less inhibited and we're all vampires. The night makes people feel free and then by the cold light of dawn we crawl home to our coffins to behave like normal people during the day." - Paul Stanley

Despite positive reviews, the album did not return the band to the commercial success they had held five years prior. The album would not attain gold status until 1994.

Fun Fact: I have an original pressing of the reissued cover with Bruce on it! (These aren't my photos tho) Apparently that's Gene's ass as the back cover

[venenatd]

last meal; jean kirstein x reader

summary: you and jean are in a relationship, and finally get some private time for a cute picnic date the day before he goes on the mission to marley. it’s v cute but also ur both horny!

content: smut / nsfw 18+. minors dni. (public/outdoors sex, dracylphilya, size kink, fingering, thigh riding, use of “good girl/baby”, praise kink, female bodied reader, unprotected sex, creampie) some fluff for good measure.

i am new to this pls let me know if i should add anything!!

word count: 3.3k words of unedited content

a/n: i saw a cottage core inspired jean post and this idea immediately popped into my head. i also kept thinking back to the sunset blush scene and it felt destined lmao. i thought it was gonna be shorter but i guess i get carried away lol. pls feel free to send me requests or ideas or give any advice on what you liked!! thanku!<3

Everything is painted with gold. The sun hanging low in the sky, despite the late hour, still warms your skin. You and Jean walk away from the Scout Headquarters, warmth of the evening allowing you to roam without coats. 

He’s in a tight cream shirt, braces holding up darker toned pants. A simple hat sits on his head, shading his eyes from the setting sun. You, a simple sage dress, loose and flowing around your legs. The long grass tickles your flesh, and the two of you laugh as you try running through the field, lifting your limbs stupidly high to jump over the pasture. 

Jean snorts at you, watching you flap around. The orange hue of dusk makes your hair shine, your skin glow beautifully. And as you look up at him, a wide and goofy smile spreading across your face, he can see all the flecks and details of varying colours in your eyes. And it takes his breath away. 

It was the last night before the end. He’s not sure of what, but it feels like the next chapter is to be finished when he closes his eyes tonight. Tomorrow he goes to Marley. Hange ordered all of their team to go relax for the final day at home. “We’ve gone over the plans enough, we know every angle! Go! Shoo!”

Hange was right. Going in and getting Eren home. It was engrained in Jeans brain. The scouts knew everything they were going to before they arrived. So tonight, it’s all about you.

You, with your skirt floating around you as you weave between trees, making your way to the clearing the two of you know so well. It’s where he first admitted feelings, where you first kissed. The others don’t know (or so you both think), and until he’s safe from his last mission, you’re not sure the two of you will ever reveal your affiliation. 

Pulling a blanket from the picnic basket you’ve brought with you, Jean lays it down on the ground. There’s a wide pond in front of you both, some ducks still paddling about. A thin haze floats over the water, the last of the summer heat still encouraging dragonflies and water skippers out. 

The light snacks you’d managed to sneak out from your job in the kitchen were delicious. You’d whipped up some light pastries and desserts from leftover ingredients. Even some strawberries and grapes. Whilst everything was miniscule from lack of provisions, it tasted good enough. 

Dipping the sweet red fruit from the cream and sugar and between your lips, Jean is in heaven. Your hair being pushed by the wind away from your face, the rosiness on your cheeks. The world may end tomorrow, but tonight he’s got all he needs.

His hands reach over, noticing the drip of cream collecting on the corner of your lips. Swiping his thumb along your cheek, he notes “you’ve got a lil..”

Jean looks at you, his eyes locking on yours, still gently cupping your face in his hands. Warm pupils flick down. His brows scrunch together for a moment, before he moves forward. His other hand comes up to your face, and he is so gentle when he kisses you. It’s as if he may break you if he goes too far.

The soft plush of his lips on yours, slowly pulling you in is intoxicating. He leans back on his forearms, pulling you over him, not letting you leave his mouth. You knock into his hat, it flopping off behind him as you lower your chest over his.

A hand reaches to his chestnut hair. It’s grown long over the last few years. You play with tendrils, the two of you lazily kissing. It’s soft and easy. You’re breathing into one another your chest resting on his as you move a leg to intertwine with his. 

Shifting yourself slightly, you rest directly above his thigh. Jeans hand comes to the back of your neck, making sure you don’t split the contact he so desperately needs. Your nails slide softly against his scalp, twisting into his hair with more want. 

The man, your man, underneath you curls forward, leg lifting and chest pushing up into you. Your crotch bumps against his thigh. A delightful little gasp erupts from you. If Jean wasn’t tongue deep in your mouth he could have even missed it. But he is, and he didn’t. 

He’s tempted to see how far he can take this, maybe make another first here. You’ve had sex, and plenty of it. Although for the most part it’s been rushed, the nature of your jobs only allowing for quickies. You both lived in shared rooms, and the lack of privacy was definitely a roadblock in his attempts to please you.

This clearing, in the outside meadows by headquarters, is maybe an ironic place for the privacy you both so need. Putting any doubt out of his mind, Jean lifts his muscular thigh, achieving another gasp into his mouth from you. You grind against it slowly, tentatively.

“No need to be shy, baby girl” he smiles into the kiss.

Cheeks rosy, you roll your hips along his leg. Jeans body rises further, leaning back casually on one hand, the other gripping the flesh between your waist and hip. He breaks the kiss that has been going on so long, wanting to take in all the ways your face displays pleasure. 

Your eyebrows knit together slightly. Your lips are wet with saliva, slightly parted as you give off little mewls each time your clothed cunt is brushed along his cotton pants. 

There’s a sweet and tender feeling building in your lower stomach. You can feel how wet you’re getting, the slow and methodical undulations generating a heat between your thighs. 

“Jean, plea-”

“You want more?” he’s quick to answer. Your head jumps and up and down, past the point of playing shy. 

His long fingers meet with your jaw once more, lightly skimming your features. He’s noting it all down in his head. Maybe he’ll even make a drawing of you. You pause in your ministrations, and a low tutting comes from the man. “No, no. Keep riding. Get yourself ready.” 

A delicious smile emerges on your face, and you bear down on his thigh. You take your hands on each leg, gripping onto the thickly built muscle underneath the cloth. A couple of fingers miss their mark, and you can feel how hard Jean is getting. Eyes flash between his crotch and his face, and he can sense how eager you are to please him. 

His touch moves from your jaw down, one finger slowly running along the centre of your throat. Jeans hand dips, slowly dragging his fingernails across each collar bone, down to the valley of your chest. Your breath hitches, and he moves away again. You shift your hand in response, moving it towards the joint between his thigh and pelvis, allowing your fingers to brush his clothed balls.

Wherever his fingers move leaves a tingling in their wake. They push towards your shoulder, teasing the fabric from each one. Your dress pools a little, allowing him to make his way back, this time taking your breast in his hand. Thumb brushes against your puffy buds, and a finger meets it to squeeze lightly.

Jean fully lifts off the blanket, sat up straight. He makes quick work of your dress, pulling it down and pushing it up. He grabs at your legs, going between light caresses and tight grasps, not knowing which to settle with. Finally he finds purchase in your ass, guiding you back and forth over his thigh.

You moan into his mouth, fully succumbing to the wetness surely dampening through your panties, the feeling of his fingers twisting and teasing your pert nipples. He raises his fingers from your chest, using his thumb on your lower lip to apply gentle pressure. 

Breaking the trail of saliva that connects you both, he pushes an index finger between your lips. You’re all too eager to suck on it, eyes looking dutifully at him. He inhales sharply between his teeth. His cock is so hard, so desperate to fuck into you. Jean wants it to be slow and beautiful, but he simply needs to have you. He wants you close to him before he leaves and doesn’t know if he’ll come back. And close means being inside you, hearing you in your purest form. 

The dusky pink settling on his cheeks could be the sun, low in the sky, filling the meadow with rich hues. 

Your moans could not be interpreted so wholesomely.

Fingers wet with your spit, he moves his hand between your legs, under the skirt. Pushing your panties to the side he lets you ride his palm for a moment. Teasing yourself, teasing your clit on his strong hand. He goes deeper, fingers sliding through your folds. He slips through your folds, resting at your entrance, before allowing your hips to rise and him to push knuckle deep inside you.

You reddened lips form a perfect ‘o’, and the bliss on your face is one he will remember forever. His thumb moves to your clit. Still on top of him, Jean watches you fuck yourself on his fingers. He kisses your neck, your chest. Taking your nipples and sucking, biting, nibbling. 

Your walls are closing in on him, before gently relaxing and he can tell you’re close. 

“Don’t be shy” Jean reissues his earlier statement. But now it’s far huskier, far more commanding. “I want to hear you, y/n. I want to hear you cum.” 

You’re watching his face, the words - orders - tumble from his lips. They make you flutter around his fingers. You murmur out tiny please’s. 

“What did I say? Louder, y/n.”

You moan against his neck, “please.”

Jean pulls your hair, making you extend your neck, forcing you to look up to the hues of pink and orange. “Louder.”

You’re so close. “Jean, p- please!” 

“Good girl.”

With that he’s flicking his thumb over your clit, fucking his fingers up into your cunt. The sounds of liquid and wetness only add to the noises of you cumming. Pussy clenching around his fingers, hips giving way and as your legs start to burn and shake. Jean holds you up, working you through your orgasm. He wants nothing more than to watch you fall apart, moaning his name. And then whining curses as you become oversensitive. Yet your gummy walls still suck him in, begging for more.

Leaving your tight walls, he brings the fingers to his lips. You taste tarte and sweet. Better than strawberries any day.

Your breaths are heavy as he twists the two of you, resting you with your back on the blanket. You are radiant. A green halo of grass above you, the dusting of pink on your cheeks, your lips kiss-swollen.

Jean pushes your skirt up, eyes trained on yours as you rest on your elbows. Your eyes follow his movements. How his tongue wets his lips before he drags them on your inner thigh. How his fingers dig in to pull you closer towards him. 

He pulls off your sodden panties, kissing into your hips, your belly. Jean is slow and deliberate. As much as he wants to be deep within you, he’s never had the chance to enjoy you this slowly before. 

He rises, kissing your breasts as they spill from the top of your dress. His tongue paints saliva on your lips before slipping between them. The kiss is intense. It’s deep and sloppy and so needy. 

Your hand reaches to his shoulders, thumb slipping underneath his braces pulling them off. Hands slip under his shirt, and he quickly helps you pull it off. His muscles are firm and taught, the amount of work his body has been through over the years evident underneath your fingers. You trail fingertips over stripes of knotted flesh, kissing each mark and scar after your hands move onto the next one. 

“You’re beautiful, Jean”

Jeans cheeks go rosy and he smiles so bashfully that it breaks you apart. The lopsided grin makes you pull him back into you, teeth bumping together as you giggle into the kiss. 

He unbuttons his pants, pushing them far enough down his thighs to allow more friction as he grinds into you. Jean is noticeably straining his underwear, his member long and hard. You move your hand down to cup him, squeezing gently through the cotton. You tug on his cock, leaving him stuttering into your mouth. Holding him just tightly enough, he ruts his hips into your hand, little sighs escaping his mouth into your hair. 

Tucking your hand under the fabric, you pull out his dick. It makes your hand look smaller, Jean’s member long and hard. The pink tip is slick with precum, and your thumb brushes his head slightly, earning a little hiss. 

You go from light little touches to harsher ones. Fingers brushing against the veins on his length, before you wrap around him again. He’s whining in your ear, “you like playing with my cock? Seeing what you do to me?” 

With hooded eyelids you look at his contorting face and whisper “yes, yes. I want to please you, I want to make you feel good.” 

“Such a good girl for me.”

Taking his member, you push the tip against the heat between your legs. Teasing your clit with his head, he looks down to watch you work. Precum lightly sheens over your folds, and fuck, Jean can’t wait to add to it. 

“I w-want you so bad Jean.” 

“You have all of me.” 

You hold him against your entrance, the tip of him just resting at your little hole. Pulling him in a little, he pushes against the first tight ring. It’s always intense letting Jean fuck you, making you so full. You rock your hips up, letting him slip out a little, before grinding back down. It pulls him into you so sensually. He moans unashamedly as you control the pleasure you both receive. 

Repeating the action, you lift again, pushing him out, and again tightening your stomach muscles to curl and bring him deeper inside you. His golden eyes are trained on where you’re conjoined. 

He’s halfway inside you, stretching your tight walls so much already. Jean sits back, moving his tongue around inside his mouth before letting a ball of spit fall where his cock rests inside of you. Spreading it on his length, he helps you the rest of the way. Letting your eyes widen and gasp of surprise (how are you always surprised by the feeling?) as he fully sheaths himself inside you. 

“God, you’re so tight,” he holds himself above you, head falling back as he inhales slowly.

Jean allows you a moment to breath, before he pulls back out, quickly snapping his hips back to yours. Moans tumble out of your mouth as he fucks into you. Lashes fluttering and your tits bouncing in rhythm, you are a sight for the sorest of eyes.

“You’re so pretty for me, all splayed out on my cock.” 

He pushes your legs apart, watching his length disappear inside you. Watching how one hand twists your own nipple, the other feebly trying to grab onto his wrist. He’s splitting you apart on his dick, the feeling of being so fucking full taking over. You were already sensitive from your last orgasm, but he builds another, the tightening in your core unmistakable. 

“J- Jean,” you hiccup, so overwhelmed by him. “You’re s- so big” 

“You’re taking me so well, y/n.” 

He lowers himself against your chest, bringing his knees upwards and closer to your ass. You curl up around him, holding your legs further up. Jean quickly renegotiates the position, pulling your legs around him whilst you hold under your knees. You can feel him so deep inside you this way, pulled into a ball underneath him. Jean wants to be impossibly close, and this new angle is punishing on your pussy. He can feel how wet you are between you, how much you enjoy the intensity of his cock working in and out. 

His forehead presses against yours, his hand snaking between you two. From his new angle, he can hit that sweet spot inside you so easily. His length sweeps against it, and hits into your furthest wall. He lets out curses as he feels your cunt tighten each time, mixing with the moans and mewls from you. You lock eyes with him, big doe eyes pricking. 

“Pl- please, I’m so close, Jean.”

Fat tears roll over your cheek, trailing to your temple. Everything feels too much. Him inside of you, the wet squelching between you. His strong fingers rubbing over your clit again and again. You let out a sob, followed by a moan. It’s a combination of knowing this is the last night, feeling how fucking intense his cock is inside you, hearing how much Jean needs you. He kisses your cheeks, tasting the salt, not faltering as he continues to pummel into you. 

“You’re doing so good, baby.”

His balls slap against your skin. 

“You can do it.” 

His teeth bite at the flesh of your breast, pull at your nipples.

“I want to hear you.”

His fingers play and roll with your clit, feeling the way you tighten around his cock.

“Please cum for me, y/n.”

Your back arches off the blanket, the night sky soaking up the moans. The lewd noises in between you both are all consuming, the slap of slick and wetness only adding to your full body sensation. 

His fingers keep moving on your clit, and Jean grunts each time your pussy spasms around his cock. He keeps pace, fucking you raw and with need. He loves to see your delicate face scrunched up, eyes rolling back and mouth unable to close. 

And with the tightening of your walls around him, Jean’s close. “Where do you want me?” 

“I want,” you inhale sharply, as his cock drives back into you, “you inside me- I- I need you Jean. Please.”

“You’re so good, baby, you’re so good.” He’s getting quicker, making you writhe beneath him in your overstimulated state. “I’ll give you what you want, okay? I’m going to cum inside your pretty pussy.” 

Jeans fingers are going to bruise you. He's holding onto you so tight, never wanting to let you go. It’ll be something to remember him by. Movements are starting to stammer, the sweat evident by the sheen forming across his shoulders and face. You tuck a tendril of his honey hair behind his ear. “I love you”, you whisper amongst the moans. And with that he pushes deep enough to make you cry out, feeling the hot ropes of cum painting your walls. 

Your man rests inside you for a moment, gathering his breath as he leaves languid kisses against your breasts, your jaw, your lips. He pulls out, seeing his cum drip from your pussy. Using his fingers he pushes the white around your folds, earning a sharp his when he brushes past your clit. Finally, he brings his fingers to your lips, and you put out a delicate tongue. 

Cleaning him with your mouth, he sits back, sighing softly. How can you be this good? And you like him? Jean thinks he is the luckiest man on earth. He adjusts your dress for comfortability, before dipping next to you. Your heads are lightly touching, your hair intertwined with his. Staring up at the sky as the last colour leaves it in its inkiness, he holds you close. He presses his final kiss on your forehead. 

“I love you too.” 

[watch1home]

What is the Best Brand of Gold Watch?

Back in past times, gold watches for men were a part of a regular that enclosed three-piece suits, shiny leather-soled shoes, and a haircut illustrious merely as “The Executive.”, while dress codes have increased dramatically since your grandfather's days, the opportunity for the gold watch continues to be as vigorous as ever. Not solely will the rich, lustrous shine of a gold measuring instrument carry a large amount of old-school gravitas, however, there’s additionally a near-infinite selection across each possible vogue and worth point. This means you'll pick a cool ‘80s to watch in gold-tone unstained steel, a Swiss-made masterpiece in solid 18k rose, or a vault’s value of elite choices in between. 

Gold watches for men are amazingly versatile, however, in general, a slimmer, a lot of refined measuring instrument works best with a slim, conservative look, whereas chunkier ones work best with off-duty fits. Apart from that, there’s extremely only 1 rule that matters: like fragrance and animal prints, a touch of gold goes a protracted way. 

Whether or not you are once a $40 Cinta or a $10,000 Rolex, love the flash of classic yellow gold, or like one thing subtler on an animal skin strap, these are absolutely the best public lavatory gold watches for each taste, budget, and occasion.

*Types of Men’s Gold Watches:

When it involves gold watches, you may be shocked to be told that not all timepieces are created equal. There are a large number of various meanings behind ‘gold’ and will you get them wrong, you’ll finally end up out of pocket and out of luck.

*Gold Toned vs Gold Plaque vs Massif Gold:

Even the good of cool gold watches may well be thus what deceiving, in this they’re “gold-toned,” “gold-plated,” or “gold-filled” as critical being cast from solid gold. after we say “solid gold,” by the way, we’re speaking of 18-carat (i.e., 18ct or 18k) gold, that mixes seventy-five percent pure gold with different metals so on generate a sturdy alloy, the color of which might vary (based on the kind of further metals).

It can get a touch confusing and also the business in all probability prefers it that way, hoping customers won’t be ready to tell the distinction between a gold-tone steel watch and also the real deal. however, you get what you buy during this world and most collectors understand as much, problem-solving that any watch cost accounting below a couple of thousand bucks can in all probability go short on solid gold. On the brilliant side, even gold-toned or gold-plated timepieces still cultivate an opulent appeal.

*Best Gold Watches for Men

If you raise me, a gold watch is a few things that ought to air each watch enthusiast’s list. there's something extremely special about carrying a gold watch. a number of you may not agree, and I get that. For some, it’s the bling factor, whereas others simply don’t just like the look, and obviously, the costs are a giant consider not shopping for one.Now let's check the following 4 items for you reference:

MANJAZ Ronda753 Movement Quartz Watch Aegean Collection 3ATM Waterproof Standard Golden Case Wrist Watch 6138L SY-KK-H6

The first watch on this list was a no-brainer. it had been my favorite unleash of this year’s Watches And Wonders and it'll positively be high on my list of the simplest releases of 2022. you have got probably read all regarding it, however, let’s inform ourselves of the brilliance of the gold reissue of the enduring Aegean Collection. When Manjaz announced the reissue of the golden watch, we tend to know it was getting to be good. heaps of individuals love the characteristic golden watch that with Synthetic sapphire mirror. The 7*26mm round shaped case with the Ronda 753 golden bezel, the well-balanced dial, and also the elegant golden bracelet creates this associate degree picture statement.

Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph 42 mm - 310.60.42.50.99.002

This year’s Rolex releases were underwhelming if you raise me. the simplest new unharness from the Geneva brand, however, came within the type of the yellow gold Yacht-Master 42. The watch could be a nice reminder of the good combination of a valuable case with a rubber strap. The 40mm rose gold version has long been one of my favorite Rolex models, and this one new yellow gold larger brother is a lot of proof that there's one thing placing concerning the different materials.  Previously, the 42mm version of the Yacht-Master was solely offered in alloy with a black rubber strap. whereas I prefer that watch, the bit of color from the yellow gold adds a lot of brilliance.

MANJAZ Golden Case Quartz Watch Ronda 753 Movement Aegean Collection 3ATM Waterproof Standard Wrist Watch 6139L SY-KK-H5

Inside the watch, Manjaz set to use a special movement Ronda 753 than the one that battery-powered the first watch.  At an equivalent time, the watch is merely slightly thinner at 7mm compared to the 7.99mm of the original. This watch is a $139.99 statement of pure brilliance. it's created in restricted numbers(Only final 5 pieces in stock left), however, it’s not a limited edition. Knowing what percentage of folks fully love this watch, it'll be powerful to get your hands on one. We can say, for a lady,a girl,a woman, you will prefer the come back of this superb golden watch!

MARVIN Quartz Watches Cow Leather Strap 41MM Case Diameter Wrist Watch M025.53.22.53

The forth golden watch in the list is the above Man's Golden Marvin Watch,honesty,it took me your time to acknowledge its beauty. once I 1st saw the images, I used to be too impressed. I'm typically not the largest fan of total gold. however once I had an opportunity to witness the watch within the metal, I was right away sold. The instant sight is contrasted by the white case with a blank finish. White face, 3 hands, 4 black Roman numerals, date window at 3 o'clock,which make it special. it's classy,and minimalist and it creates an entirely new and exciting Golden model. In conclusion,we calculate 3 items Golden watch from Manjaz and Marvin Brands,we know both brands are from Swizerland.They are really worthy you a check and believe you will find them satisfatory.If you still have any concern about Gold Watches,or want to know more Marvin,Manjaz ,welcome to contact us now,we shall reply you within 24hours.

Tag:gold watch,gold watches What is the Best Brand of Gold Watch? 

[tcm]

Team Leslie Howard By Susan King

Leslie Howard has gotten a bad rap over the decades. Ironically, it’s because of his most famous role as Ashley Wilkes, who is obsessed with and weakly indecisive over Scarlett O’Hara, and married to his sweet distant cousin Melanie in the Oscar-winning Civil War epic GONE WITH THE WIND (’39). In fact, when I first saw the film at 13 during one of the epic’s reissues, I said “ewww” when I first saw Howard on screen. The British actor was far too old for the part and seemed to be caked in make-up to look younger. And in fact, he was old enough to be the father of Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie. I kept shaking my head when my mother told me Howard was quite the matinee idol in the 1930s.

He also seemed disinterested in the role. The performance isn’t awful, but he just seemed to be going through the motions. Truth be told, he didn’t want to be in the movie. He even wrote to his daughter: “I hate the damn part. I’m not nearly beautiful or young enough for Ashley, and it makes me sick being fixed up to look attractive.” Howard further said of the movie: “Terrible lot of nonsense. Heaven help me if I ever read the book.”

Then what was the reason he did the movie? Because GONE WITH THE WIND producer, David O. Selznick, gave him an associate producer credit on INTERMEZZO (’39), the romantic melodrama based on the 1936 Swedish hit. INTERMEZZO also marked the Hollywood debut of Ingrid Bergman, who had starred in the original.

Considering I was so unimpressed with Howard as a young teen, I have been a member of Team Leslie since the 1970s. (I can almost forgive him for playing Romeo at the age of 43 in MGM’s ROMEO AND JULIET, ’36.) Though his acting style is of its time, I love his romanticism and his glorious voice. I feel the same way about Ronald Colman, who, like Howard, excelled at suffering from the slings and arrows of love.

Though he made some silent shorts, Howard’s major movie career only lasted 13 years from 1930 to his tragic death in 1943 at the age of 50, when the commercial plane in which he was traveling was shot down by the Nazis. Growing up, Howard’s films were rarely shown on television. Thankfully, TCM and Warner Archive has changed all of that. He was so much more than Ashley Wilkes. Besides being a star on stage and screen, he changed the career of Humphrey Bogart, earned two best actor Oscar nominations and also directed and produced films.

Howard’s career was bookended by the World Wars. Howard, who was of Hungarian/German Jewish heritage, suffered from shyness growing up in a Forest Hill London neighborhood. And, this sensitive young man experienced shell shock during his World War I service. Acting was prescribed as a cure. The debonair, gentlemanly Howard quickly became a star on the London stage and made his Broadway debut in 1920 in Just Suppose. For the next 17 years, he would appear on the Broadway stage often not only starring in plays, but producing, writing and directing.

And he made his Hollywood film debut in one of his Broadway hits, OUTWARD BOUND (’30). With arrival of the talkies, Hollywood look to Broadway and the London stage for talent who, unlike numerous film stars, had had trained voices and could handle dialogue. He earned his first Oscar nomination for the film version of another Broadway vehicle BERKLEY SQUARE (’33). For years, the uber-romantic time-traveling fantasy was unavailable to be seen. I actually bought a bootleg DVD off of eBay, but the print was so bad it was unwatchable.

A few years ago, TCM aired a beautiful print. All I can say, it was worth the wait. It is stagey and creaky, but I just loved it and so will you if you have a romantic bone in your body. The lavish Alexander Korda production of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (’35) was the movie that changed my opinion of Howard. I watched it late at night in a horrible TV print that was riddled with commercials. But I was gob smacked. Howard seemed to be having a field day as a foppish British aristocrat, Sir Percy Blakeney, who is actually the brave and dashing Scarlett Pimpernel, a mysterious man who rescues French nobility from losing their heads during the Reign of Terror.

The actor returned to Broadway in 1935 in Robert Sherwood’s drama The Petrified Forest. He also produced the hit play in which he played the epitome of his disillusioned romantic. This time around he’s Alan Squier, a poetic but disenchanted Englishman hitchhiking across the U.S to seek the meaning of life. He ends up finding love and death at a café in the Petrified Forest. The play also starred Humphrey Bogart who electrified audience as “the world-famous killer” Duke Mantee. 

When Warner Bros. planned to have Howard reprise his role in the 1936 film version, Howard insisted that Bogart, who certainly wasn’t a box office name, play Duke or he would quit the film. Bogart’s career was changed because of Howard, who does take a back seat to the actor’s riveting performance. Though they have diverse acting styles, Howard and Bogart’s scenes together still pack a wallop 84 years after its release. The following year, they reunited for STAND-IN (’37), a kicky but rarely seen comedy about Hollywood. And nine years after Howard’s death, Bogart and Lauren Bacall named their daughter Leslie after the late actor.

Howard earned his second best actor Oscar nomination for the delightful British production of George Bernard Shaw’s PYGMALION (’38) as Professor Henry Higgins opposite Oscar-nominated Wendy Hiller as Eliza Doolittle. Howard also directed the film, produced by Gabriel Pascal, with Anthony Asquith.

With England at war with Nazi Germany, Howard left Hollywood and went home to London where he began working for the British war effort. He starred in, produced and directed my favorite film of his PIMPERNEL SMITH (’41), a rip-roaring exciting update of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. And it’s hard not to think of Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones watching the movie. Howard, the self-assured director, gets a wonderful self-assured performance from Howard the actor. And the final line is a real corker. He also starred with David Niven and directed the well-received aerial propaganda drama THE FIRST OF THE FEW (’42), which was renamed SPITFIRE when it opened in the U.S. shortly after his death.

Howard was on a commercial flight from Lisbon, Portugal bound from London on June 1, 1943 when the Luftwaffe shot the plane, which had 16 other passengers and crew, down over the Bay of Biscay. It would have been so interesting to see where Howard’s career would have gone after the war. Would he return to Hollywood? Broadway? Would he had abandoned acting for directing?

Over the years I have talked to some actresses who worked with him. Despite the fact that de Havilland appeared with Howard in the romantic comedy IT’S LOVE I’M AFTER (’37) and GONE WITH THE WIND and did the Lux Radio Theatre version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, she told me she didn’t get to know him well.

Celeste Holm got to know him maybe a little too well. Though Howard was married, it is no secret he had a wandering eye. She was appearing with Howard in the late 1930s in the touring production of Hamlet as a lady in waiting and Ophelia’s understudy. “I was wearing a gorgeous scarlet dress with a gold wimple and train,” she told me during a 1997 Los Angeles Times interview. “After my scene, I immediately exited to the first wing. I could see the show from there.” Howard soon entered the wing. “He took one look at me and before I could say anything, he took me in his arms and kissed me as beautifully as I had ever been kissed before or since. I was totally unprepared. I had only met him the night before.”

The actor was myopic and as soon as he kissed her, Howard realized it was the wrong woman. Holm went to the dressing room. “One of the actresses I was working said, ‘What happened to you? You look like you have seen a ghost.’” The actress started to laugh at the memory. “She said, ‘He was having an affair with the girl in New York who wore your dress. He probably forgot where he was.’”

[minervacasterly]

18 JANUARY 1486: The Union of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII of England.

There is a not a lot of information regarding the wedding ceremony. Henry VII had swore he would marry Elizabeth when he had been in exile in Brittany, at Vannes Cathedral, three years prior. A lot had happened since then though. The papal dispensation that their mothers had secretly plotted to get had to be reissued. 

The papal dispensation covered the Earl of Richmond and the natural daughter of Elizabeth of York (meaning the Lady Elizabeth, not the legitimate daughter and heiress of Edward IV). It was vital that the couple married under the good eyes of the church. The fifteenth century had descended into chaos when two branches of the Plantagenet House had annihilated each other, their descendants had married off to other noble houses and as a result (after Bosworth), Henry claimed the crown. But he was not blind. Connquering and ruling were two different things. He needed stability or at the very least, give the illusion of it to the people to put down civil unrest. 

Therefore, he needed to marry Elizabeth who was the eldest living descendant of the first Yorkist King. The papal dispensation took time, and meanwhile Henry had to establish himself as the realm's ruler. He established his claim to the throne through his "right of conquest" and his mother, Margaret Beaufort whose family descended from John of Gaunt via his third marriage to his mistress, Katherine Swynford. 

Nevertheless, his claim to the throne was still seen as weak, which was why parliament asked him on December 1485, two months after he had been crowned, to keep his promise to marry the Princess Elizabeth, and strengthen the claim of his descendants and *"restore some stability to the English royal line."

The pope had finally granted the dispensation at the beginning of the year, and it was confirmed in England by the papal legate, the Bishop of Imola on 16 January, two days later the coupe were married.The wedding ceremony was officiated by the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Bourchier. Given the statement that Henry wanted to make, as it was mentioned earlier, about their union; the Abbey would have been filled with Tudor imagery that Henry had created that gave a new interpretation of the dynastic conflict that is now known as the wars of the roses. By intertwining the white rose of York (Edward IV's favorite symbol besides the sun in splendor) with the red rose, Henry VII's union with Elizabeth meant to give a powerful message of peace. Illusory as it was, its impression lasted and their descendants continued to use this device and celebrate the union of their ancestors, Henry and Elizabeth. The building would have been decorated by royal colors such as "purple and gold, silk, ermine and delicate cloths of tissue." And the bride, adds Licence, "would have been splendidly dressed and adorned with jewels, lace, brocade and ribbons."

She would not have worn white, given that white was not a color worn for wedding dresses.(The first royal bride who did was in fact her daughter-in-law, Katherine of Aragon, when she married Prince Arthur). Elizabeth would have likely worn purple as it symbolized royalty, or taken one of her many new gowns.

After the archbishop placed the golden ring on Elizabeth, the couple said their vows. Following royal custom, Elizabeth promised to take Henry as her husband "for fairer, for fouler, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to be blithe and amiable, and obliging in bed and at board" till death do them part.Besides the expenses, that no doubt would have been great, Elizabeth would have seen the new rose, the Tudor rose in every corner as well as her husband's other badges. By intertwining the white rose of York (Edward IV's favorite symbol besides the sun in splendor) with the red rose, Henry VII's union with Elizabeth meant to give a powerful message of peace. Illusory as it was, its impression lasted and their descendants continued to use this device and celebrate the union of their ancestors, Henry and Elizabeth.In recent fiction the two have been portrayed as an unhappy couple, pushed into the marriage by their shrewish mothers, but this is an interpretation based on secondary sources that have come many years (more than a century in fact) after the even took place. Francis Bacon writes very colorfully of Henry, and negatively of his mother but Francis was writing a century after the events took place and the two George Bucks themselves wrote even later. It is very easy to believe these sources, but if we want to look at the couple, we just have to look at their actions, at what they faced and what moral attitudes people had in this period.

A young woman such as Elizabeth would not have missed the opportunity to regain her status as Princess, and much less to be Queen. After being bastardized, and forced into hiding at Westminster, then in the midst of intrigue in the Ricardian court (with rumors -whether they are true or not, we will never know- that her uncle wanted to marry her shortly after his wife's passing and he later recanted after people protested at such an idea that he began to look elsewhere for a bride, and a spouse for Elizabeth); she would have no doubt welcome this new change in status. Elizabeth was a Princess-born, she had at one point been betrothed to the heir to the French Crown. She could not accept no better offer than to be a Queen, as it would also bolster her family's position as well and it did. Henry VII rewarded the Woodvilles. Richard Woodville as the third Earl of Rivers lived comfortably, Elizabeth Woodville kept some of her dower properties and when she was present, she always took precedence. Even Margaret Beaufort had to walk behind her as the older woman was Queen Dowager whereas Margaret was just a Countess -a Countess in her own right but a Countess nonetheless. Sir Edward Woodville, Elizabeth of York's uncle who took after his late eldest brother, was a highly pious and adventurous individual who proved his loyalty many times and was favored. The Catholic Kings themselves spoke very finely of him after his death. The set of ordinances that Edward IV had made for princes and that Anthony Woodville had supervise for Elizabeth's brother, Prince Edward, was kept and used for Arthur's upbringing. And Elizabeth herself was not left behind. 

**"Like her parents, Elizabeth of York was a patron of William Caxton and his successor at the Westminster printing press, Wynkyn de Worde." 

Furthermore, as Queen, she ruled over her own court and her own properties -some of which had previously belonged to her aunt Isabel, the Duchess of Clarence.As for Henry, this was also a personal triumph. Born to Margaret when she was thirteen (a birth that scarred her immensely. She would have no more children). Given as a ward to William Herbert who was given his uncle Jasper's earldom of Pembroke, and raised to be the perfect Yorkist to neutralize the threat he might pose in the future, he was then sent into exile after the Lancastrian Readetion failed and every member of the royal house was eliminated. Henry lived in a period of uncertainty, danger, and now it was all over. He was King. And he could also boast of having one important advantage. Many royal couples did not have the luxury of getting to know one another. They were married to this person or that, and whether or not they liked each other, they were expected to fulfill their duties. Henry fortunately did no have this problem. In the five month period that they waited for the dispensation to come, the two got to know each other. So when they walked down the aisle, they were not complete strangers.After the ceremonies ended, came the consummation. Elizabeth proved herself an exemplary Queen, living by the virtues of the day and this, as well as her fertility, made her well-remembered and loved. She would not be crowned until the following year, after “she proved herself” by giving Henry a male heir that autumn, less than nine months after their marriage. Given the speed in which they conceived, it is possible that the marriage could have been consummated before (since being betrothed was as good as being married. And the pope had given his approval, they knew it was only a matter of time before the bull came). But there is also the possibility that Arthur could have been premature.

Henry and Elizabeth’s marriage would remain strong, with the two relying on one another for mutual support when tragedy struck.

*From Dan Jones' Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses and the Rise of the Tudors. **Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and her World by Alison Weir. I also recommend the following biographies:  Elizabeth of York by Amy Licence and Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood.

[epochxp]

Whatever Happened to 20mm World War II Miniatures?

Yeah, I can’t say it’s been a question on everyone’s mind, but it has been on my mind and the minds of many like-minded aficionados. Many have proclaimed that 20mm is a dead scale for World War II. I can honestly say it’s the furthest thing from the truth. There are quite a few established manufacturers, as well as some new quality manufacturers out there. I would even argue that the scale is on a cusp of a renaissance., both in plastic and metal. This is going to be the first article in a series about 20mm and World War II, starting with a look at what I consider some of the best lead 20mm World War II manufacturers out there and where I’d go to get started in the scale.

Part 2 will be about the plastic side of the hobby, and Part 3 will be a discussion of various rules sets. 

Why 20mm?

20mm has had many advantages traditionally for miniatures gaming. The availability of soft and hard plastic figures has always been good, and for a box of $10, you can put together the beginnings of an army in many rules sets. When I was a kid, I used to call it “platoon in a box.” Most lead manufacturers back in the 70s and 80s used to have their 20mm lines supplement these plastic figure lines. But that’s not the case anymore. Now, there are many fine lead 20mm lines that stand on their own that we’ll be discussing here today. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s meant to show that 20mm as a scale for World War II is far from dead.

So, what is 20mm? 

20mm, as wargamers call it, is a nebulous scale. We’re using it to refer to the height of a miniature, from the sole of a figure’s foot to the level of his eyes. To be honest, most “20mm” figures range on a scale between 18mm and 23mm. Let’s be honest, most scales have that sort of range, and sometimes, some manufacturers don’t play well with other manufacturers. It’s just a question of getting to know what you’re looking for. 

As for vehicles, the scale corresponds with 1/72 to 1/76 scale, with many gamers preferring 1/76, but I personally like 1/72. I just like the larger vehicles, and it’s easier to find vehicle kits in 1/72 these days. That not to say you can’t mix the scales on the table-top, but I wouldn’t do it too often. The differences in scales can be a bit jarring, to say the least.

Here’s a comparison side-by-side of some of the more popular figure lines out there:

A Whistle-Stop Tour Through the Land of 20mm!

A.B. Miniatures – Their offerings in 20mm are basically the gold standard of 20mm World War II right now. The sculpts are excellent! (I can personally attest to their British as those figures are excellent in their quality and proportions). The packs are well-designed, and one pack usually gets you what you need for a given squad or heavy weapons crew. The packs are designed to mostly cover the mid-to-late war period, with Americans, Brits, Germans, Soviets, with some extra tank crews for the Italians and the French and some Polish paras for Arnhem. I will say the German Fallschirmjager works well for the Low Countries, Norway, and Crete, so long as you remember which kit you’re buying (no Stg-44s or Pak-40s). Their website is easy to navigate, and for American customers, you can purchase them through Eureka USA. One plea from this American customer, can you please do late war Americans in M43 uniforms? 

Wargames Foundry – This is a reissue of a miniatures line from the 1980s. There are things to like about the line, and there are things I don’t like about the line. I have some of the figures from some secondhand purchases at conventions, but not a full set of anything. The sculpting quality, like all Foundry products, is excellent but not quite as good as AB in 20mm. I don’t like that in many sets, you mostly get the same poses. I wish there were more dynamism in the sets. That said, you have German DAK, Fallschirmjager, Panzergrenadiers, winter dress, late war Germans with the anklet boots, tank crews, as well as early war Germans. You also have Italians in European and African uniforms and Askari colonial troops. You also have Nationalist Chinese (one of the few 20mm manufacturers to have them), as well as 1939 Poles, 1940 French, including Colonial infantry, and Foreign Legionnaires for Bir Hakim and Resistance types to fight the Boche at home! There are also Australians, Finns, Indians in turbans (all suitable for North Africa) as well as the SAS and Americans in summer and winter dress. It’s a fairly complete range, but the poses are an issue for me. Prices are a bit high with shipping on this side of the pond, and I am not familiar with any American distributor of the line currently.

Britannia Miniatures – Currently being sold by Grubby Tanks, I own a lot of these. The depth and breadth of the line is extensive! Want SS Cavalry on Horseback? They have them. Want late war Japanese? They have them. There’s very little they don’t have. Much of my Soviet army are Britannia and I rather like them and their manner of sculpting makes them easy to paint. Some aren’t nuts about it, as the figures tend to be on the larger side than other 20mm, but I find they mix well with most lines if you’re careful. Again, I am not aware of any current U.S. distributors for the range, but the prices are reasonable, but postage these days is going to take a bite.

Simon’s Soldiers – Simon Ford has been in the miniatures industry for a long time. He has retained the services of Andrew Stevens who has sculpted for Drews Militia, Battlefield, Wartime, and now Simon’s Soldiers. I’ve always liked Andrew’s sculpting style, especially for the Germans (of which I have legions of). All of the figures are full of character and give you that “I’m a tired guy on the frontline” look and I can recommend his Volkssturm line and the Panzer Lehr. The late war Americans are also particularly good figures. There’s really nothing bad I can say about them. My only regret is there’s no U.S. distributor, as while the Australian Dollar is lower than the U.S. Dollar, you’re gonna get nuked on postage these days. But, if you make a big order, you can probably order enough to make the postage not hurt as much! And you have to love Simon’s customer service. Who can’t like a guy who reminds you on Facebook you haven’t purchased any figures lately? Pay Simon a visit, and tell them Jason sent you. Simon and I are friends, and I can honestly recommend his product. Andrew also works for Playa Manor, a new Spanish company focusing on Battle of the Bulge, and the figures are gorgeous!

Ehliem Miniatures - I really like their sculpts, and Matt Hingley (See our previous interview here) does a fine job of customer service and providing miniatures nobody else does in 20mm for World War II. I mean, he has early, mid, and late-war Waffen-SS (FAA does Early War S.S., but their sculpts are a bit…eh compared to Ehliem). One of my favorites—and I might be a bit biased as I commissioned them—were the Soviet Navy sailors he produced. They’re the only ones with helmets in 20mm. Everyone else does them in the full uniforms, rather than the mixed uniforms of Army and Navy gear they wore as the war ground on. Again, postage is a bear from the U.K., but Matt will work with you! Again, tell him Jason sent you. 

This article barely scratches the surface of what’s out there, as you have Xan and Adler, whom I haven’t tried, but hear good things about, and the multitude of fast build plastic kits out there, which we’ll discuss in a subsequent article. But 20mm World War II is a plethora of options. If you want to wargame World War II in 20mm, a grand adventure awaits. One more piece of advice. I’d pay the Frontline Wargaming – WW2 Facebook group a visit. The group is a great place for the novice 20mm gamer to visit, and you’ll get tons of help and advice there.  

--

At Epoch Xperience, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse Epoch Xperience’s service on our parent site, SJR Research.

-- (This article is credited to Jason Weiser. Jason is a long-time wargamer with published works in the Journal of the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers; Miniature Wargames Magazine; and Wargames, Strategy, and Soldier.)

[enthusiasticsobrietyabuse]

For parents desperate to find help for their troubled teenagers, Bob Meehan was a man with the answers.

After a visit by the controversial U.S. therapist, credited for getting actress Carol Burnett's daughter off alcohol and drugs, Breakaway, a peer-recovery group for teenagers, was formed in Burnaby and Penticton.

At the time no drop-in programs for teenagers existed in B.C. and the parents were critical of the government's drug and alcohol outpatient clinics for not providing enough services for youth.

"When Meehan came up there wasn't much help for young people," said Langley MLA Carol Gran, who met the therapist last year during a talk he gave to a group of North Vancouver parents.

"He did this thing about what a terrible person he was who finally got off drugs and alcohol," Gran said. "It was emotional - he was like an evangelical person, who had people crying."

It was through Meehan the parents were able to hire four San Diego counsellors knowledgeable in Meehan's 12-step treatment method.

The three Burnaby counsellors resigned recently after controversy that the dogged Meehan in the U.S. surfaced in B.C. The Penticton's program director is still with Breakaway.

Burnaby's day program was temporarily suspended after B.C.'s drug and alcohol programs stopped referring clients over a concern that it was "cult-like." Breakaway's board of directors said they're now restructuring the program to make it "more palatable" to government.

In 1986 in San Diego, a drop-in program called Freeway, founded by Meehan, disbanded after allegations it was a cult and a front to channel paying clients into Meehan's $5,400-a-month residential, Sober Live-In Centres.

Also in San Diego the same year, officials shut down three of Meehan's residential centres because he had operated them for three years without a license.

"He had three different locations in San Diego, none of which were ever licensed," said Tom Hersant, director of state licensing in San Diego.

"Two were uncovered after he said he only had the one." Hersant said Meehan would no be eligible for a license if he were to reapply because he "deceived" officials. "He's not a person who would respond to regulation."

San Diego lawyer Don Ceplenski said his 23-year-old daughter Jill became active with Meehan's group at age 16. He claims the group alienated Jill from her family and she now refuses to talk with them.

"The group ends up anti-social. It's telling the parents and the public one thing but, when you find out what is really going on, it's very disturbing. In San Diego the group became a gang." Ceplenski said.

"Vancouver is like we were in 1981 when Meehan came to town - there were no drug programs for teenagers. There were no people who could communicate with them."

"What is so hard is unsuspecting parents think Meehan sets it up and leaves town and has nothing to do with the group but the counsellors are in touch with Meehan. The whole operation is set up to feed his SLIC (Sober Live-In Centre) ranches."

In Phoenix, Arizona, another of Meehan's Sober Live-In Centres was ordered closed by the department of health services in 1986 for operating without a license. Meehan appealed the Arizona closure and was reissued a license, which expires this June.

But the Arizona drop-in program disbanded after a visit to its board of directors by a group of disgruntled San Diego parents who claimed it was a cult.

They were led by a 42-year-old, colorful consumer vigilante called Captain Sticky. Formerly Richard Pesta before a legal name change, Captain Sticky said he chose his new monicker 15 years ago because of the "sticky situation" he got into as a consumer advocate.

Speaking from his home in San Diego, Captain Sticky said he has been invited to B.C. to investigate the Burnaby Breakaway program by a small group of parents led by Susan Shoesmith.

Although the date of his visit is not confirmed, Captain Sticky said he will come dressed in his "full-battle regalia" of a blue jumpsuit with a gold "S" on the chest and gold cape.

"It took 19 days to shut him down (in San Diego) and some bizarre action on my part," said Captain Sticky, who is the director of a marketing company called Captain Sticky Promotions.

"I go head on head. It got into a war-like atmosphere. I try to force my opponent into a confrontation. Most parents went into denial and stood with him (Meehan) but most of them said, if Sticky is lying, Meehan should sue him, but he never did."

Meehan, who runs a consulting firm in San Diego, could not be reached for comment. His secretary said he's on a U.S. speakers' tour all this month.

[jana-hallford]

Baby Boomer Memories: Liddle Kiddle Dolls

I was a girly little girl, and loved dolls. (I still do.) Most of my favorite dolls were by Mattel, including Barbie, my beloved Sister Belle, and my last childhood doll, Dancerina. Mattel was a major, major toy maker for the Baby Boomer generation.

Elliot Handler, founder of Mattel (and husband of Ruth Handler, inventor of the Barbie doll!) wanted a line of dolls representing small children in neighborhoods across America. Famed doll sculptor Martha Armstrong Hand, who sculpted other popular dolls including Drowsy (1965) and Cheerful Tearful (1966), made the first ten Kiddles in 1965. They were soft vinyl, with bendable wired legs, painted facial features, and rooted hair that could be brushed and combed. Each came with accessories and a little illustrated “komic” or story booklet.

Florence Niddle (1966 - 1967), one of the first 24 Liddle Kiddle dolls.

Bunson Burnie (1966 - 1967), one of the original 24 Liddle Kiddles. 

Rolly Twiddle (1967) the only African American doll of the first 24 Liddle Kiddles released. She is highly sought after, especially with her original clothes, wagon, pail and shovel, and Komic booklet.

Freezy Sliddle (1967), one of the first 24 Liddle Kiddle dolls.

Liddle Kiddles were introduced at the New York Toy Fair in 1966. The Toy Fair is a buying show, not open to the public, so the dolls hit the market a little later.

I was the fourth grade and turned nine years old in 1967, the perfect age to discover Liddle Kiddle dolls. They were about three inches tall -- much smaller than most dolls of the day -- with playful accessories and outfits. I had so much fun with them!

I had the Storybook Kiddle Liddle Biddle Peep doll (1968), and two Lucky Locket Kiddles. Liddle Biddle Peep was, of course, Little Bo Peep, complete with a chenille sheep and a little shepherd’s crook, a pink dress with paniers, and a matching bonnet. Like all the Storybook Kiddles, Liddle Biddle Peep came with a storybook. She was played with until wires started poking out from her limbs. 

Liddle Biddle Peep from the Storybook Kiddles collection. I loved her. 

Sleeping Biddle Storybook Kiddle. I wanted this one so much!

Lucky Locket Kiddles were about two inches tall, and came in wearable plastic lockets with “jeweled” frames and clear plastic bubble fronts. There was a stand on the back that could be pulled out, allowing the locket to be displayed like a picture frame. Unlike their larger siblings, Lucky Locket dolls were not wired, and their clothes were sewn on.

This excellent collection of Lucky Locket Kiddles includes some from the original “Gold Series,” plus some later issues.

My first Lucky Locket Kiddle was Lois Locket, the sole black doll in the Lucky Locket series. I loved her. The summer between fourth and fifth grade, when I was ten, my family drove to San Francisco for a rare vacation. Lois went with me. While we were in San Francisco, we visited a Russian family we had befriended in Japan. When we arrived, we met the newest addition to the family, a darling little girl named Lana but called Kinka. She was five and spoke only Russian, but language was not a barrier. Kinka saw me and immediately pulled me away to play with her. The first thing she did was show me her big sister Tanya’s room. I could tell she attached special importance to Tanya’s make-up and View-Master. I gave Kinka a coin purse from a set I had shaped like dolls. (I was in my “It’s a Small World” phase, and the coin purse dolls represented various nations.) Kinka liked my Lois Locket, and my mother encouraged me to give it to her when we were leaving, so I did. I was not able to replace Lois.

Larky Locket.

My next and last Kiddle was Larky Locket, a sweet blonde baby. I still have her, sans locket, in an ornate, Rococo-inspired little doll cradle. Lois and Larky were both in the first set of seven Lucky Locket Kiddles (1967), known as the “Gold Set,” since the frames were gold.  Lois was the only doll repeated in the second set of seven Lockets called the “Pastel” set, (1968) due to the difference in frame colors. I’m almost certain my Lois was from the second set, as I recall her locket frame as pastel green, but I could be wrong. Her clothing was the same in both.

The cover of a Lucky Locket Kiddles set of paper dolls shows photos of the actual dolls inside illustrated frames. Larky Locket, in the center, was the baby of the bunch. I still have her. Lois Locket, just to her right, was the only African-American Lucky Locket Kiddle.

Carrying cases were sold for the dolls. Some of my friends had them. There were also tie-in coloring books and paper dolls.

Liddle Kiddles Klub carrying case, exterior.

Liddle Kiddles Klub case, interior.

Pink train case-style Liddle Kiddle carrier.

Liddle Kiddle and hat-box style case.  Sailor doll Lola Liddle (1966-1967) came with a sailboat. (She is not missing her shoes -- her feet were bare.) The picture on the case shows her with Howard "Biff" Boodle (1966). Lola Liddle and Biff Boodle were among the original 24 Kiddles released. Each was sold with a Komic book that featured them both together.

Mattel released many additional Kiddles, including Kola Kiddles and Kiddle Kolognes. These were two-inch dolls, much like their Locket sisters, but in clear plastic bottles that looked like soft drink bottles and perfume bottles. The tiniest Kiddles were Jewelry Kiddles, from just under to just over one inch high. The largest, four-inch Skedaddle Kiddles, were able to walk, ride vehicles or wave thanks to an internal mechanism. Five Holiday Kiddles (1968 - 1969) representing Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day, had soft bodies and vinyl faces. They could be worn as pins, and the Christmas dolls could also serve as tree ornaments.  Four Kiddles n’ Kars dolls (1969 - 1970) wore old-fashioned dresses and drove cars based on early automobiles. 

Rosebud (1968 - 1969) from the Kiddle Kolognes collection. The Kologne Kiddles were scented. 

Apple Blossom (1968 - 1969) from the Kiddle Kolognes series, shown outside of her bottle.

Some of the other later releases were four tiny (two inch) dolls in animal costumes with yarn hair, the Animiddle Kiddles (1969-1970) that could be worn as pins, and four Zoolery Kiddles (1969-1970). Zoolery Kiddles were four plastic animals (panther, lion, chimpanzee, and bear) rather than children, in plastic circus cages, each attached to a bracelet. The cages could be combined to form a circus train.

Robin Hood and Maid Marion from the Storybook Kiddles Sweethearts Collection.

Never opened Lady Crimson from the Tea Party Kiddles series (1969).

From 1968 to 1970 the Storybook Kiddles Sweethearts, tiny but well-detailed pairs of Kiddles portraying star-crossed lovers, such as Romeo and Juliet, and Robin Hood and Maid Marian, were released, along with the Tea Party line in 1969, featuring girls in beautiful gowns, each with a teacup and saucer large enough for human use. This was also the year of the wonderful, whimsical Kozmic Kiddles -- glow-in-the-dark space aliens in flying saucers. I remember Kozmic Kiddles from the Sears Christmas Catalog. How I wanted one of those!

Kozmic Kiddle Greenie Meanie (1969). The Kozmic Kiddles fetch some of the highest prices.

Six Sweet Treat Kiddles with ice cream and lollipop motiifs came out 1969 - 1970. Three Playhouse Kiddles, one set in a kitchen, one in a parlor, and one in a bedroom, were sold only in 1970. Four Liddle Baby Kiddles were also released in 1970.  (I was glad to see one of the Liddle Baby Kiddles was African American. For the time, the representation was significant.) I was aware of the Sweet Treats, but otherwise don’t remember most of the later Liddle Kiddles.

A story I read as a child compared growing up to going through a magic door. It closes behind you, but a new door opens. When I was 12, I gradually stopped playing with dolls the way I had before, even though I still liked them. I felt  profound sadness for leaving my childhood, but understood it was inevitable, and looked forward to what was ahead. I vowed not to forget what it was like to be a child, and like many creative people, I do remember.

Coincidentally, as my childhood and the 1960s came to a close, so did the heyday of Liddle Kiddles. The rising price of petroleum was bad news for makers of vinyl and plastic products, including toys. Mattel made drastic cuts, and the last Kiddles were released in 1970. ln 1971 production discontinued. (The iconic and perennial best-seller Barbie endured.)

There were a few postscripts in the late 1970s. Lucky Locket Kiddles were reissued 1976 - 1978 with bright color frames, then some final ice cream theme Sweet Treat Kiddles were released in 1979, but otherwise the Liddle Kiddle series was no more. Their influence remains. Liddle Kiddles paved the way for other small dolls, including a Kiddles-like series by Uneeda in the 1980s.

Liddle Kiddles remain very popular with collectors, and there are many on-line resources and collector groups. For quite of few of us, these dolls are a treasured memory.

[miramodhvadia]

Neon

Neon colors percolated in 2018 in accessories and streetwear, and they are set to explode in 2019 as luxury players like Prabal Gurung, Brandon Maxwell and Off-White give the intense hues red carpet approval. The colors—mostly neon yellow and green—play up the nostalgic feeling of other ’90s items like mini backpacks, cropped jean jackets and bike shorts, while adding an instant cool factor to contemporary sportswear. The throwback color scheme also lends itself well to the growing category of Instagram-worthy travel wear. Expect to see fast fashion retailers go wild for neon this spring/summer.

Tie-dye

DIY’ers are in luck. Tie-dye, that youth-driven trend that remerges every 20 years or so, is spiraling back into fashion in 2019 but with a designer touch. A symbol of slacker style, disenchanted youth and activism, the trend sums up the independent spirit of Gen Z and millennial consumers. And with designers like Louis Vuitton and MSGM offering the psychedelic print, we expect tie-dye to further fuel the market’s obsession for highbrow versions of street, surf, skate (and every other recreational activity in between) style.

Mini backpacks

The mini backpack—the accessory made famous by Cher Horowitz and her squad in the ’90s teen film Clueless—proves good things come in small packages. Consider the mini backpack as the offspring of two major accessories trends from 2018: the backpack and the fanny pack. Both bags filled the gap in demand for more traditional fashion styles like totes and satchels. Plus, functional as it is fashionable, mini backpacks offer brands a petite canvas to play with other ’90s trends like neon colors, logos and leopard print.

Lingerie as daywear

Silky camisole tops, spaghetti strap slips and baby doll dresses were de rigueur of teen girl idols of the ’90s. The “Lolita” look was worn by everyone from Drew Barrymore and Courtney Love, to most of the Spice Girls. However, the lingerie-inspired trend is updated for 2019 through a more mature lens. The silhouettes remain the same, but designers are ditching cutesy frills and ditzy prints in favor of sophisticated transparent layering and silk for daytime.

Track suits

With athleisure being a bona fide fashion category, it’s not surprising that ’90s-style track suits are the next sport-inspired trend to infiltrate street style. The suits—be it the classic three stripes, color blocked windbreakers or logo emblazoned sets—were the de facto comfort uniform in the ’90s for teens, boybands, suburban moms and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. And the design hasn’t changed much over the years. Comfort remains a top priority, as well as oversized silhouettes, unisex design and statement color. Expect to see designers elevate the leisure look for night with satins and silks.

Goth

The styling of ’90s goth rocker Marilyn Manson is tame compared to today’s standards of shock fashion, but back then the verdict was still out on black latex, ripped hosiery and cross-dressing. In 2019, however, goth fashion returns in the form of dominatrix-like black leather jackets, black lace and combat boots with platform soles. The trend is already trickling into denim through superfluous hardware and chains. And expect to see vintage concert and band tees featuring the likes of Manson, Korn and Nine Inch Nails gain popularity (and value) in 2019.

Platform shoes

The platform shoe belongs to several decades and subcultures. However, the iteration from the ’90s, a black chunky sole black boot, oxford or Mary Jane (often with a curved heel) is the one to keep an eye on in 2019. The shoe is part of the goth uniform and a coquettish accoutrement for the lingerie as outerwear trend. And after several seasons of sensible block heels and comfortable flats, Junior’s and women’s fashion shoes are eager for a lift.

Leopard print

Leopard print still has bite. The animal print left its mark on ’90s fashion through trends like goth, furry coats and even zoot suits, which regrettably swung into style toward the end of the decade. And despite being a top-selling trend in 2018, leopard print secures its place in 2019 as both a neutral and fashion statement redone in untraditional colors like neon yellow and red.

Polo shirts

The polo shirt is an antidote to this year’s flurry of brash trends. In 2019, the polo can swing one of two ways: as a fitted basic with a tongue-in-cheek nod to classic, preppy Ralph Lauren, or as an oversized, logo-adorned shirt that harkens back to urban fashion in the ’90s. And there’s a polo for everyone, from the classic pique, to trendier updates like a knit mesh and chiffon.

Flare jeans

Flare jeans, which were basically reincarnated bell bottoms from the ’70s, were a staple with young Hollywood in the ’90s. And it’s the same group that is bringing the trend back to life in 2019, but with fewer bells and whistles. Look for clean washes, minimal distressing and a higher rise to give the jeans a modern look.

Black and white

If you were a pre-teen or teenage girl in the ’90s, you’ll likely remember the black and white dress that both Brenda Walsh and gasp Kelly Taylor wore to the spring dance on 90210. The “who wore it better” moment is ingrained in ’90s fashion history and exemplifies one of the more refined ways ’90s kids wore black and white together. From Vans’ checkerboard prints to the wide leg striped pants sold by ’90s-era retailers like Delia’s and Contempo Casuals, the color combo served several unforgettable sartorial moments that are being recreated in 2019 by fast fashion retailers like Zara and Asos.

Versace style

The decadent world of Versace is a playground for fearless fashionistas in 2019. In recent seasons, the Italian fashion house has revisited archival pieces from its iconic ’90s collections, inspiring ladies and gents to embrace their inner Donatella or Gianni. It’s a simple formula to follow: vivid colors, opulent prints, gold and sex appeal. Expect to find this trend in women’s dress, men’s shirting and swimwear, where the flavor of South Beach is always in style.

Bike shorts

The bike short has come a long way. The second-skin short was an outrageous style in the ’90s, yet it has somehow found itself on the cusp of being acceptable fashion in 2019. Social media is likely to thank, or blame, for its comeback. With celebrities like Gigi and Bella Hadid adopting the trend in its early stages, consumers have become acclimated with swiping and liking the sporty garb. And with styles as colorful and shiny as ever, the bike short is may be the single ’90s trend that has come back less refined as its predecessor.

Embellished denim

Depending on which end of the decade you want to examine, embellished denim in the ’90s skewed either chintzy with homemade embroideries and fabric paint, or glitzy with rhinestones and crystals glued to seams, pockets, shoulders and collars. In 2019, denim brands borrow a little from both worlds, offering jeans with subtle splashes of sparkle and details that feel handmade and personal. The goal, however, remains the same: to stand out in a sea of blue.

Flannel

Marc Jacobs sealed grunge’s fate when he announced in November that he would reissue his iconic Spring ’93 collection for Perry Ellis. Grunge was back, bringing along with it a new spotlight on baby doll dresses, beanies, combat boots and the hallmark of all grunge looks—flannel. Expect to see oversized plaid flannel shirts serve as a protective layer during festival season and carry into the fall season for both men and women.

Bodycon

When Herve Leger designed the bandage dress in 1989, he created the template for form-fitting dresses that designers to this day still follow. Fortunately for Leger, the birth of the dress coincided with the rise of the supermodel, who would become natural muses for the figure-hugging silhouette during the decade. In 2019, the Kardashians and retailers like Fashion Nova are putting bodycon dresses back on the radar, updating the shapely silhouette with liquid-like fabrics, shimmering metallics and intense colors.

https://sourcingjournal.com/denim/19-fashion-trends-90s-cool-again-133798/

[myrecordcollections]

The Carpenters

Live at the London Palladium

@ 1977 HK Pressing

****

Live at the Palladium is the second live album by American music duo Carpenters. It was recorded during a week of live concerts at the London Palladium in November 1976. No singles were released from the album, although it reached number 28 on the UK Albums Chart. On the cover of the record, Karen is wearing the same dress as in The Carpenters' Very First Television Special. The album was remastered and reissued in the 1980s on the budget Pickwick music label and went Gold in the UK. This album was not released in the U.S. but was widely available as an import.

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

YA & School Love in LGBTQIA+ Historical Romances

First off, I’m glad to say that the YA novels of today are teeming with LGBT characters, many of them MCs. That said, this is just a taste of a few that I really enjoyed or by authors you might not be aware of yet. @lgbtqreads is an excellent resource for more exhaustive lists, and also companies like Book Riot.

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages. Short story anthology of LGBTQIA teenagers throughout history, from across the spectrum. Ed by Sandra Mitchell

- Take a journey through time and genres to discover stories where queer teens live, love and shape the world around them. Seventeen young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens. From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobain, forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish convent or an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories across cultures, time periods and identities, shedding light on an area of history often ignored or forgotten.

Hayden Thorne novels are being reissued. She specializes in YA LGBT romance novels, many with fantasy elements, but all of them well constructed and inventive. I’ve read almost all of her novels in this genre, and several are mentioned elsewhere on this blog. Just, please, check out this amazing author’s work for some very creative takes on some of your favorite tropes, and ideas I’ve never read anywhere else.

A Place for Wolves by Kosoko Jackson

- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets Code Name Verity in this heartbreaking and poignant historical thriller. (YA!!)

James Mills isn’t sure he can forgive his parents for dragging him away from his life, not to mention his best friend and sister, Anna. He’s never felt so alone. Enter Tomas. Falling for Tomas is unexpected, but sometimes the best things in life are. Then their world splits apart. A war that has been brewing finally bursts forward, filled with violence, pain, and cruelty. James and Tomas can only rely on each other as they decide how far they are willing to go—and who they are willing to become—in order to make it back to their families.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee (Review)

- A young bisexual British lord embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee - Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets the 1700s.Henry "Monty" Montague doesn't care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family's estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty's reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.Witty, dazzling, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

Don't miss Felicity's adventures in The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, the highly anticipated sequel!

Pantomine by Laura Lam (Micah Grey Trilogy Book 1)

- In a land of lost wonders, the past is stirring once more . . .

Gene's life resembles a debutante's dream. Yet she hides a secret that would see her shunned by the nobility. Gene is both male and female. Then she displays unwanted magical abilities - last seen in mysterious beings from an almost-forgotten age. Matters escalate further when her parents plan a devastating betrayal, so she flees home, dressed as a boy.

The city beyond contains glowing glass relics from a lost civilization. They call to her, but she wants freedom not mysteries. So, reinvented as 'Micah Grey', Gene joins the circus. As an aerialist, she discovers the joy of flight - but the circus has a dark side. She's also plagued by visions foretelling danger. A storm is howling in from the past, but will she heed its roar?

Ash by Malinda Lo

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted. The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Their friendship, as delicate as a new bloom, reawakens Ash's capacity for love--and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love. Entrancing and empowering, Ash beautifully unfolds the connections between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara

- A clever, romantic novel based on the true story of a girl who disguised herself as a boy to sail with the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Calico Jack—and fell in love with Anne Bonny.

There’s no place for a girl in Mary’s world. Not in the home of her mum, desperately drunk and poor. Not in the household of her wealthy granny, where no girl can be named an heir. And certainly not in the arms of Nat, her childhood love who never knew her for who she was. As a sailor aboard a Caribbean merchant ship, Mary’s livelihood—and her safety—depends on her ability to disguise her gender.

At least, that’s what she thinks is true. But then pirates attack the ship, and in the midst of the gang of cutthroats, Mary spots something she never could have imagined: a girl pirate.

The sight of a girl standing unafraid upon the deck, gun and sword in hand, changes everything. In a split-second decision, Mary turns her gun on her own captain, earning herself the chance to join the account and become a pirate alongside Calico Jack and Anne Bonny.

For the first time, Mary has a shot at freedom. But imagining living as her true self is easier, it seems, than actually doing it. And when Mary finds herself falling for the captain’s mistress, she risks everything—her childhood love, her place among the crew, and even her life.

Breathlessly romantic and brilliantly subversive, The Unbinding of Mary Reade is sure to sweep readers off their feet and make their hearts soar.

Deviant Desire by Jackson Marsh (Just came out March 7th!)

- The Victorian East End lives in fear of the Ripper and his mission to kill rent boys. Silas Hawkins, nineteen and forging a life on the streets could well be the next victim, but when he meets Archer, his life changes forever. Young, attractive and rich, Archer is The Viscount Clearwater, a philanthropist, adventurer and homosexual.When Archer suspects the Ripper is killing to lure him to a confrontation, he risks his reputation and his life to stop the madman's murders. Every man must play his part, including Silas.A mashup of mystery, romance and adventure, Deviant Desire is set in an imaginary London of 1888. The first in an on-going series, it takes the theme of loyalty and friendship in a world where homosexuality is a crime. Secrets must be kept, lovers must be protected, and for Archer and Silas, it marks the start of their biggest adventure - love.

The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang

- Set in Paris, this graphic novel follows Sebastian, a prince with a secret. By day, Sebastian laments his parents' fervent search for his bride-to-be, but by night, Sebastian transforms into fashion icon Lady Crystallia! Sebastian's best friend and dressmaker, Frances, has kept his secret, but when the secret becomes too hard to keep, she may risk their friendship and Sebastian's trust for her own shot at the spotlight.

A Light Amongst Shadows (Dark is the Night series Book 1) by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

This whole series is gold, but here is the information on the first novel...

James Spencer is hardly the typical troubled youth who ends up at Whisperwood School for Boys. Instead of hating the strict schedules and tight oversight by staff, James blossoms, quickly making friends, indulging in his love of writing, and contemplating the merits of sneaking love poems to the elusive and aloof William Esher. The rumours about William’s sexuality and opium reliance are prime gossip material amongst the third years…rumours that only further pique James’ curiosity to uncover what William is really like beneath all that emotional armor. And, when the normally collected William stumbles in one night, shaken and ranting of ghosts, James is the only one who believes him. James himself has heard the nails dragging down his bedroom door and the sobs echoing in the halls at night. He knows others have, too, even if no one will admit it. The staff refuses to entertain such ridiculous tales, and punishment awaits anyone who brings it up. Their fervent denial and the disappearance of students only furthers James’ determination to find out what secrets Whisperwood is hiding…especially if it prevents William and himself from becoming the next victims.

Originally, this list was going to include professors too, but they were already on a list and May/December romances will be on the list for May.

Adding a link for a list of best LGBT fantasy romances in the YA genre, because they have several novels with historical themes that I know friends/fellow readers I know, have enjoyed.

[marlaluster]

The new feminine but also off the wall look displayed by some men celebs nowadays is really a result of the world ending...

I just saw a picture of Adam Lambert wearing blue eye shadow and other loud makeup. He looked really bad but nowadays others are also wearing makeup as who are supposed to be okay, like Lil Nas X and others I can't recall. But I can think of men stars who wear quite feminine looks, like Harry Styles who wears costume jewelry and it looks really bad. I've seen the rapper Kid Cudi wearing makeup on at least one occasion and other times wearing feminine jewelry.

Recently I saw some pictures of a singer named Bad Bunny with similarly bizarre and supposedly feminine looks in this reality. He apparently sings in Spanish and is from Puerto Rico. He had fake nails in some pictures I saw and also was wearing a skirt in one picture. He had pearly beads stuck on his face in one picture and a gold string on his face in another picture. I can share some pictures and links to the pictures here...

The looks aren't really JUST feminine. They are very bizarre and not seeming rebellious or challenging of boundaries in a way that people would look okay to go outside certain limitations on fashion or self expression. The looks are out of bounds bad looking, crazy looking. The looks seem to reflect that the people don't really know what is okay. They look really horrible.

The devil was making it so I couldn't hear from my soulmates on this topic. It was very irritating. It was saying fake things abd pretending my soulmates were talking.

But I know this sudden change in how make celebs dress is not really something that looks okay. It's pretended it's something to lush the envelope, but really it's where this reality is really tasteless and disgusting and not okay to an actual person and the celebs displaying this look are reflecting these things.

[jordanianroyals]

Royal Fashion → Royal Ascot Day 1, the U.K. (19 June 2018)

Roland Mouret “Etty” Dress in Dusty Blue ($1,110)

Chanel “Reissue 2.55” velvet & gold-tone metal handbag in blue ($4,800)

Philip Treacy S/S 17 “OC 294″ hat

Sheikha Al Jalila

Dior “Lady Dior” mini bag in navy cannage lambskin ($3,100)