#Anton Goering

[podartists]

Setophaga fusca | Setophaga magnolia | Setophaga striata | Setophaga castanea | Setophaga pensylvanica | Setophaga virens

Plate XII | Die Nordamerikanische Vogelwelt (1891)

[uwmspeccoll]

A Red-Flourish Feathursday

Today we present a chromolithograph of a male Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), a male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), and a male and female Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) from a painting by German naturalist and artist Anton Goering (1836-1905), reproduced in our 2-volume set of Our Native Birds of Song and Beauty by the late-19th-century director of the Milwaukee Public Museum Henry Nehrling, and published in Milwaukee by George Brumder from 1893-1896.

The Tanager and Grosbeak are currently in the Cardinal family, while the Towhee is a sparrow. All three are fairly common in our neighborhood, but unfortunately, we rarely see them. However, we do hear them, or at least we think we hear them, since the song of the Tanager and Grosbeak are similar, and even worse, they both sound, to our ears, somewhat similar to the very common American Robin, which is an unrelated thrush:

Scarlet Tanager song

Rese-breasted Grosbeak song

American Robin song

Fortunately, the Towhee has a very distinctive call that we find easily recognizable:

Eastern Towhee song

Because German was prominently spoken in Milwaukee through the middle of the 20th century, these birds are also identified in Nehrling's book by their common German names:

Scarlet Tanager = Scharlachtangara

Rose-breasted Grosbeak = Rosenbrüstiger Kernbeisser

Eastern Towhee = Erdfink

View more posts from Nehrling’s Our Native Birds.

View more Feathursday posts.

[landschaftsmalerei]

Wildlife in der Mitte Orinoco, Venezuela von Christian Anton Goering, Farblithographie

[gyumibear]

ᯓᡣ𐭩 STUPID CUPID !! | SIX: byob (bring your own baby)

warnings — swearing, mentions of alcohol consumption, kys jokes, child endangerment(?), jealousy, mentions of injuries, mentions of brainwashing and morally grey behavior

written section — under the cut! (word count: ~1.6k)

Walking into Julie and Natty’s off-campus apartment, you were a little shocked with the amount of bodies venturing around the place. You knew that Natty was popular, but damn… The girl was popular. You could’ve sworn you saw a few western celebrities tucked into corners giggling to themselves with how many notable figures were there. How did she even meet them? “Hi cuties, thanks for coming!” The ‘she’ in question called, swinging her body around a corner to wrap arms around Belle’s torso. “You guys look sexy. I’d definitely hit.”

“Alright, alright,” You smiled back, reaching into your bag to pull out a bottle of alcohol that you’d brought, “We brought a little gift for you, Nat.”

“Thank you~” She gave you a small kiss on the forehead, taking the drink and then proceeding to swing back around the corner, presumably to the kitchen. “Make yourselves comfortable~!”

After she’d gone, your group of friends split off, all looking to greet other friends and party goers alike. You knew for sure Belle was off to possibly make friends with Ariana Grande, who was off playing Darts in the corner. Anton left to go find Sohee and Seunghan and Haneul went to find Julie, the other owner of the apartment.

So what were you to do?

You shifted your weight around, thinking. You looked around, taking in more people who were at the party, but you knew you were only truly trying to spot one person. Wonbin had to be around there somewhere right? Your heart was beating with anticipation of seeing him. Maybe tonight you’d finally talk to him like a real person?

Inside your bag was the potion that had been left in your school mailbox. You’d grabbed in earlier, morbid curiosity taking over, but you had no intention of using it tonight. It just looked like colored water to you, but you weren’t gonna take chances. You didn’t have time to take it out of your bag before you were being hauled to the party, otherwise you definitely would have left it in your room.

“YN!” Sohee stumbled over to you, clutching a red cup, his red face alerting you, “Hi…”

“Hi Hee, are you drunk?” You raised your eyebrow, letting him curl up around you in a sloppy hug. "You're absolutely plastered, aren't you?"

“Noooo…” He trailed off, taking another sip from his cup, “I have a high tolerance!”

“He does not have a high tolerance.” Seunghan appeared next, expertly plucking Sohee’s cup from his hands, making him groan out in pouty disapproval. “He’s had like two cups.”

“Typical,” You chuckled, hugging a pouting Sohee back, “Hee, your head is gonna hurt tomorrow if you keep going.”

“Don’t care… I want another drink!” Sohee murmured, nuzzling into your neck. “You look so pretty, YN.”

“Thank you Hee.”

“He never tells me I look pretty.” Seunghan crossed his arms in mock annoyance, “Bogus.”

“Maybe because you’re not pretty?” Anton was the next to appear, a bottle of water in his hands. “Here Sohee.”

“Nuh uh!” Sohee and Anton started bickering back and forth, with the younger desperately trying to get the older to sober up a little bit. You and Seunghan shook your heads in tandem, used to the routine of sobering up Sohee as if it were second nature. In a way, it kind of was. He wasn't the drinker the rest of you were.

"Sohee, did you just fucking bite me?" Poor Anton.

-

A few minutes later, you lowered a passed out Sohee onto the couch, shaking your head at how instantly knackered he’d gotten. Never let him drink alone, you concluded to yourself. Not that you didn't already know that. You took a squat next to him, checking your phone for anything new.

Outside of those silly little posts, you decided to check your messages too. None, since most of your friends and acquaintances were at this party. You had half a mind to go find something to drink yourself, but Seunghan and Anton had already left and you didn’t want to abandon Sohee. If he woke up and started drinking again, you'd definitely be responsible.

“Sup, YN.” Eunseok, ever so gorgeous, sat on the couch next to you. “Sohee drank?”

“Yep.”

“Figures.” He side eyed you, “You got him dumped on you, right?”

“Yep.”

“Poor thing." He laughed. "I’ll take care of him, you go have fun.”

“Really?” Your eyes widened, making Eunseok laugh and nod his head. “Don’t you want to go have fun?”

“Nah, I’m the DD.” He smiled, standing to his feet to pull you to yours. “Go! Before I change my mind.”

Stupid! You wouldn’t let him get the chance. You turned on your heel and walked into the crowd of bodies, sending Eunseok a finger gun on the way. You could see a small hint of a smile on his face as you did. If he wasn't your favorite upperclassman before, he definitely was now. Rest in pieces Shotaro and Sungchan.

-

“And that’s how we ended up here.” You explained to Haneul, her bright brown eyes staring at you like you’d grown another head. “And before you say it, yes, I do care about internet safety.”

“It really doesn’t sound like you do.” Belle facepalmed, “Yeesh YN.”

“Have you ever talked to Park Wonbin at all?” Natty asked, poking out her hip. “He’d probably fall in love with you as soon as you said ‘hi my name is.’ No love spell needed. You're gorgeous!”

“I know!” You threw your hands up into the air, exasperated. “I was just thinking about it! I wasn't gonna do it... I don't think.”

“Okay, so this love potion,” Julie spoke slowly. “Can we see it?”

You reached into your bag, pulling out the lightish pink bottle to show to them. Hmm, that was kind of weird. You remembered the bottle being clear and not pink, but maybe you'd just remembered wrong. Either way, you produced the bottle, your friends leaning in to see it clearly. All their eyes widened, but then immediately dropped into faces of pure pity.

“YN. This looks like water with food coloring.” Haneul deadpanned.

“I know! I was just gonna pour it into the sink later.”

“It’s so obviously fake.”

“What if it isn’t though?”

“The fuck are you talking about Julie?”

The girl in question stared at you all in silence before snatching the bottle from your hands and running off.

“Julie???”

Your friends didn’t have quite the chance to stop you before you were chasing after Julie, desperate to get the bottle back. You ducked and zoomed in between dozens of people, apologizing as you went. Some people cursed at you, others quickly hopped out of the way, but you didn’t care. Julie could be unpredictable! And even though you didn’t believe the love potion was real, it would be irresponsible of you to even let her play with something like that.

A person's back quickly stopped your chase, sending you falling onto your ass.

“Woah!” Wonbin exclaimed, quickly spinning around to be greeted by the sight of you. “Hey, you okay?”

“Mm yeah…” You placed your hands over your face in utter embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”

“You’re perfect, don’t worry.” He offered a hand, which you took, helping you to your feet. “Where’s the fire?”

“I was chasing a friend…” You rubbed your arm awkwardly, not even letting the fact that you were upfront talking to your crush even slide into your mind. You’d definitely shut down if it did. “Clearly, I’m not good at chasing.”

“I am.” Wonbin smirked at you, making your heart race. “Just who are we chasing?”

“Me!” Julie appeared behind you, nearly making you jump out of your skin. “Sorry about that.”

Before you could even start to open your mouth to yell at her, she slid her arm around you, producing a red cup in her other hand. You raised your eyebrow in question, but she wasn’t looking at you. She was looking at Wonbin, who was quietly watching the exchange. Now he was looking at you.

“Taro told me to bring you this.” She shook the red cup, handing it to Wonbin. “He mixed it for you.”

“Julie, is that-”

“Taro’s secret mixture, yes YN it is.” Julie cut you off with a close eyed smile, silenting hinting at you to shut up. “For Wonbin.”

“Oh cool. I love his little concoctions.” With that, Wonbin took a sip.

Julie made herself scarce, leaving the two of you alone (as alone as you could be in an apartment of bodies), claiming she had more drinks to pass around. You knew what she had done. But clearly, if Wonbin wasn’t reacting… then did it really not work? Wonbin took a glance down into the cup and you thought you could’ve seen a quick flash of realization in his eyes, but when you blinked he was back to drinking it like normal. Maybe you'd been imagining it.

“How… is it?” You asked, trying to gauge if nothing truly happened.

“Hmm…” Wonbin downed the rest of the cup before answering. “It tastes great. Like it was made with a lot of love.”

Oh shit.

“Haha… What…” You looked around desperately for a way out. "Really..."

“No really. Taro’s great at mixing up stuff.” Wonbin stepped closer to you, “By the way... You’re really pretty.”

Scratch that. Reverse it. What did he say???

“Huh?” You blanked, making Wonbin smirk again.

“You’re really pretty.” He repeated himself, staring into your eyes like he couldn’t get enough. "Can I take you on a date?”

WHAT. You almost choked on air, fighting for your life to remain composed in front of him. The love potion worked? There's absolutely no way.

"Yeah, sure!" Was what you said when you remembered that you needed to reply. "I'd love that..."

"I love you."

Okay, now you really were choking.

BACK | SERIES MASTERLIST | NEXT

notes — “cupid” (wonbin) when the real cupid pulls up: 💀

sc tidbit #6 — soobin does have a habit of bringing babies to parties because nobody has the heart to tell him to stop. it’s always a new baby every time. nobody knows where they’re from or how he acquired them, but he takes care of them well so nobody cares that much!

taglist — open! [if your @ is bold, check your privacy settings because i am unable to tag you! if you need any additional help, send me a message! please remember to request to be added via the masterlist only!]

@onlyhyunjin @pxnklover @glorism @nujeskz @soheendo @starwonb1n @miyawwn @yoursyuno @akemiixx01 @i03jae @bebubilu @film-sea @saranghoeforanton @https-yeonjun @icewons @nctrawberries @neoculturewhat @hisrkive @taroddori @wonychu @fae-renjun @kyusqult @riizing777 @romehan @conwunder @sirenla

[hittoki]

[ PROFiLES.02 ] く jobless ppl ₊☆

PARK WONBIN : a guitar player who works at his family's music store. wonbin, although he's very talented, has trouble getting gigs. luckily, a certain girl *wink wink* knows the right people.

LEE CHANYOUNG (ANTON) : plays cello in the seoul youth orchestra. one of wonbin's best friends. he likes to joke that he and wonbin are brothers because they constantly hang out.

KIM JIWON (LIZ) : jiwon is wonbin's very distant cousin who also likes to sing. she doesn't post her singing, though, because she's very shy.

SEOK WOOHYUN (MATTHEW) : matthew is an avid gym-goer. matthew met wonbin at the gym and later found out that he likes to sing too. he has a crush on this girl who goes to the same gym as him.

prev | masterlist | next

★. . description 𓂃 y/n plays the violin in a prestigious youth orchestra. wonbin is a struggling artist who works for his family's music store. when y/n's bow snaps during a rigorous day of practice, she searches high and low for her favorite brand but cannot find it anywhere. she settles for the local music shop and, low and behold, they sell it. wonbin needs a girlfriend and when y/n unintentionally interrupts his argument with his parents, he takes the opportunity.

★. . taglist 𓂃 @istphanie @tiziamattaga @sungbbinieworld @eun-luv @koeuh @hanizms | open! (send an ask or reply to this post to be added)

© 2024 HITTOKI. All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or steal anything I post!

[kingliam2019]

One Night in Cordonia

Chapter 7 : Almost back to normal

Series: One Night in Cordonia, a @choicesprompts Round Robin Event.

Fandom: TRR so far, but others could be added in

Pairings: Various

Word count : ~ Rating: Mature

Warnings: talks about sex, innuendos, language

Prompt: Fantasy @choicesjunechallenge or @liaromancewriter.

A/N: This has been a whirlwind, and Loved every minute of it.Thanks for including me. My sincere thanks to @angelasscribbles and @lizzybeth1986 for being the force behind the scenes.

A/N 2: I really am sorry that this is shorter than I wanted but, I had a family matter come up and I wanted to get something out. Xo 

Next author: jerzwriter

Summary: It's Leo's social season. The day is Beaumont bash after the formal dinner is done and the royal couple has left. Anton sends his second in command Claudius to spread a fog "Death Smash" that would leave the guests paralyzed and he would attack. But the gas delivered was Shagging smog 2.0, by mistake, leading to a sexual frenzy amongst guests. Anton himself goes to check and falls prey to the gas. The only unaffected members are Max (immune), Leo (because he was in the gardens and Olivia (partially affected, trying to fight the effects)

After getting off the phone with his father, Leo went looking for Olivia and Max. Locating them he ordered them to gather up some of the Kings guards,” Liv, Max instruct the guards to gather everyone and lock them in all in separate rooms, I have the sex smog coming in an hour to reverse this fiasco but I need to get them separated so we don’t end up causing a huge scandal when they see who they are with.” “Okay we’re on it, come on Liv” Max called to Liv while on the phone to the second in command. 

Standing in the main room in Ramsford, Connie could only shake his head at the chaos he just walked into. “ Hey pop’s” Leo called to him. “ I’m working on getting them into separate rooms so once the fog gets here and hooked up we can hopefully get the shit show under control” “ Okay son plus I need to talk to Maxwell these Bash’s have been out of control in the last few years, I don’t mind them their great for relieving stress but this has gone too far.” “ Yea I know,” Leo gives him a sad look knowing that this will more than likely depress Max, scaling down the Legendary Bash.  

About an hour later, while Leo, Max, Connie and Liv were outside the Estate as the workers pumped in the Shag smog to try and reverse the effects it took on the party goers. Looking up into the windows of where they were locked in, Leo saw confusion in Liam’s eye’s as to what happened. 

#choicesprompts#round robin#round robin 2023#trr au#collaboration#trr#the royal romance#choices fic writers creations#cfwc fics of the week

[helloblobbyblobfish]

Hypnovember day 14: tail

I did not seach a pic for that day either, but it's the last one. I just had a clear idea in mind, and finding the exact furry art would have been complicated. @mathhypnostories

-

Nakura the jaguar had received an intriguing gift for his birthday by his shaman brother Numba. It was a little bell to tie at the end of his tail, which his brother had promised had hypnotic powers.

Nakura had someone in mind to use the bell on, but he was a bit uncertain how powerful the artifact was. So, he was planning on joining his best friend Raom on this week-end day so that they could try together. But then, he saw that handsome snow leopard in a green tank top that barely covered his entire chest and couldn’t hide a massive six pack, plus arms the size of a thick tree branch exiting the gym, and Nakura’s dick sprang to life in his pants.

Looking around to make sure that no one else was there to witness, Nakura took the bell out of his backpack and tied it with a purple ribbon. He then ran across the street to join the hot guy, the bell making a lot of noises as he sprinted. When he reached the snow leopard, the guy had stopped moving, and Nakura could observe him with rapt attention. The stranger was wearing black jeans so tight they were a sin, and had a bead bracelet around the left wrist. 

Nakura was very flustered. “Wha-What is your name?” “Jukra, Master.” “Anton, Master.”

Shocked, Nakura turned and saw that a man had exited his car without the jaguar’s notice. It was a wolf with gray fur save for a few spots of white around his jaws, wearing leggings, baskets and a gray gym shirt that could barely contain the man’s pecs. The wolf was the male who had introduced himself as Anton.

Nakura was not expecting his brother’s gift to be THAT effective, certainly. But he was definitely enjoying it. Danfling the bell, he could see both the leopard and the wolf following the bell. “You are my slutty slaves who love to obey my every wish.”

“We are your slutty slaves who love to obey your every wish.” The pure unisson in the two rumbling voices was making Nakura’s tent inside his pants hurt. “Play with your pecs.” He was mostly interested with Anton, but Jukra immediately pinched his own nipples that had started to harden behind the tank top and moaned as he twisted them.

“Okay, no. Forget that last order!” Nakura smiled. “I know a place where we could have sex, you want this more than anything, right?” “Yes Master”. It was said as if the two gym-goers were about to climax. Nakura couldn’t wait to see those two banging on the table while his friend Raom, a swimmer, would be sucking him...

[reasoningdaily]

By their very name, secret societies inspire curiosity, fascination and distrust. When the Washington Post broke the story in 2016 that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spent his final hours in the company of members of a secret society for elite hunters, people instantly wanted to know more about the group.

The fraternity in question, International Order of St. Hubertus, was incorporated by Count Anton von Sporck in 1695 and was originally intended to gather “the greatest noble hunters of the 17th Century, particularly in Bohemia, Austria and countries of the Austro Hungarian Empire, ruled by the Habsburgs,” according to its official website. After the organization denied membership to Nazis, notably military leader Hermann Goering, Hitler dissolved it, but the order reemerged after World War II, and an American chapter was founded in the late 1960s.

The order is just one of many clandestine organizations that exist today, though the popularity of these secret clubs peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, writes Noah Shachtman for Wired. Back then, many of these societies served as safe spaces for open dialogue about everything from academia to religious discourse, removed from the restrictive eye of the church and state. As Schatman writes:

These societies were the incubators of democracy, modern science, and ecumenical religion. They elected their own leaders and drew up constitutions to govern their operations. It wasn’t an accident that Voltaire, George Washington, and Ben Franklin were all active members. And just like today’s networked radicals, much of their power was wrapped up in their ability to stay anonymous and keep their communications secret.

The emphasis on secret was what inspired so much distrust in the exclusive clubs. No less than the New York Times weighed in on secret societies in 1880, not wholly dismissing the theory that “Freemasonry brought about the civil war and acquitted President Johnson and… has committed or concealed crimes without number.” The Times comments, “This able theory of Freemasonry is not so readily believed as the theory that the European secret societies are the ruling power in Europe, but there are still many people as yet outside the lunatic asylum who firmly believe it.”

Many religious leaders felt at the very least conflicted about secret orders. In 1887, Reverend T. De Witt Talmage wrote his sermon on “the moral effect of Free Masonry, Odd Fellowship, Knights of Labor, Greek Alphabet and other Societies.” The reverend, who said he had “hundreds of personal friends who belonged to orders” used Proverbs 25: 9 —"discover not a secret to another” —to ask his audience to question whether or not being a member of a secret society would be a positive or negative decision for them. Meanwhile, that same week, Cardinal James Gibbons took a more definitive stand on secret orders, saying that they had “no excuse for existence.”

In the United States in the late-19th century, there was enough of a national uproar against secret societies that one concerned group created an annual “Anti-Secret Society Convention.” In 1869, at the national convention in Chicago, the attendees went after the “secular press.” The organization’s secretary said that the press "either approved or ignored secret societies” while “few religious papers have spunk enough to come out for Christ in opposition to Masonry.” But by 1892, the group, which deemed the societies an "evil to society and a menace to our civil institutions," had failed to “secure them anything but strong denunciation,” as the Pittsburgh Dispatch commented.

While The Da Vinci Code novelist Dan Brown and his contemporaries have shined a light upon some of the bigger secret fraternal organizations like the Order of Skull and Bones, Freemasons, Rosicrucians and the Illuminati, there are still other, lesser-known groups that have compelling stories of their own. Here are just a few:

The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

In 1907, the Seattle Republican reported on the Order of Elks, writing that "it is claimed by members and officers that it is one of the most thriving secret societies among Afro-Americans of this city." According to the non-profit African American Registry, the fraternal order was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1899 after two black men were denied admission to the Benelovent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, which is still popular today and, despite questions raised on discriminative practices, now allows any American citizen, 21 years or older, who believes in God to be invited to join its ranks.

The two men decided to take the order’s name and make their own club around it. Formally called the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, the order was once considered to be at the center of the black community. During the era of segregation, the lodge was one of the few places where black men and women could socialize, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote. In recent years, however, the Post-Gazette commented that the secret organization has struggled to retain its relevance.  Still, the secret society continues to sponsor educational scholarship programs, youth summer computer literacy camps, parades as well as community service activities throughout the world.

The Grand Orange Lodge

The Grand Orange Lodge, known more commonly as the “Orange Order” got its name from Prince William III, the Prince of Orange, and was founded after the Battle of the Diamond outside a small village in modern-day Northern Ireland called Loughgall. Its purpose was to "protect Protestants" and that’s why, in 1849, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, George William Frederick Villiers, captured the ire of Dublin’s Waterford News for supporting the society. The paper wrote, "Lord Clarendon has been holding communication with an illegal society in Dublin for upwards of ten days. The Grand Orange Lodge, with its secret signs and pass-words, has been plotting with his Excellency during the whole of that period. This may seem strange, but it is a fact…”

At the time, secret societies were banned from Ireland as they were said to have acted in “antagonism to the “Land League,” an Irish political organization, according to Ireland’s official records on statistics of eviction and crime.

The Grand Orange Lodge is still around today with clubs in Ireland, as well as others around the world. Prospective members of the Protestant fraternity don’t take a pledge, they just have to affirm their acceptance of the Principles of Reformation, as well as loyalty to their country. As to the question of whether they are “anti-Roman Catholic”, the official website states, “Orangeism is a positive rather than a negative force. It wishes to promote the Reformed Faith based on the Infallible Word of God - the Bible. Orangeism does not foster resentment or intolerance. Condemnation of religious ideology is directed against church doctrine and not against individual adherents or members.”

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Perhaps one needs to be a member of the altruistic and friendly society known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to know for sure when the club first started, but the first written record of the order comes in 1812, however, and it references George IV.

Even before he was named Prince Regent of the United Kingdom, George IV, had been a member of the Freemasons, but as the story goes, when he wanted a relative of his to be admitted to the society without having to to endure the lengthy initiation process, the request was emphatically denied. George IV left the order, declaring he would establish a rival club, according to a history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows published by the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph in 1867. The official website of the order, however, traces the clubs origins all the way back to 1066.

Regardless of how it first started, it’s fair to say the king got his wish. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is still around today, and the club counted British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Stanley Baldwin among its ranks. The Odd Fellows, as they call themselves, are grounded in the ideals of friendship, love and truth. There are real skeletons in the order’s lodges; they are used during initiation to remind its members of their mortality, the Washington Post reported in 2001.

The Knights of Pythias

The Knights of Pythias was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, a government employee in Washington, D.C., in 1864. He felt there was a moral need for an organization that practiced “brotherly love,” which would make sense, seeing as the country was in the midst of the Civil War. The name is a reference to the Greek legend of Damon and Pythias, the Pythagorean ideal of friendship. All of its founding members worked for the government in some capacity, and it was the first fraternal order to be chartered by an act of Congress, the order’s official website writes.  The Knights of Pythias’ colors are blue, yellow and red. Blue signifies friendship, yellow charity and red benevolence, the North Carolina Evening Chronicle wrote in a special edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the club in 1914.

The Knights of Pythias is still active and is a partner of the Boy Scouts of America, the second organization to receive its charter from the United States Congress.

The Ancient Order of the Foresters

Known today as “Foresters Friendly Society,” the Ancient Order of the Foresters was initially established in 1834, according to the society’s website, albeit under a slightly different name. The Ancient Order was created before state health insurance began in England, so the club offered sick benefits to its working class members.

In 1874, the American and Canadian branches left the Ancient Order and set up the Independent Order of the Foresters.  Candidates looking to be admitted to the club had to “pass an examination by a competent physician, who is himself bound by his connection with the order,” the Boston Weekly Globe wrote in 1879.  The society still provides insurance policies today for its members, who also engage in a variety of community service activities.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen

John Jordan Upchurch and 13 others in Meadville, Pennsylvania, founded the Ancient Order of United Workmen in 1868 with the goal of bettering conditions for the working class. Like the Foresters, it set up protections for its members. Initially, should a member die, all brothers of the order contributed a dollar to a member’s family. That number would eventually be capped at $2,000.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen is no longer around, but its legacy continues, as the order unintentionally created a new kind of insurance that would influence other fraternal groups to add an insurance provision in their constitutions.

The Patriotic Order Sons of America

The Patriotic Order Sons of America dates back to the early days of the American Republic, according to its official website. Following in the footsteps of The Sons of Liberty, the Order of United Americans and Guards of Liberty, the Patriotic Sons of America, which later added the word “Order” to its name, became one of the “most progressive, most popular, most influential as well as strongest patriotic organizations” in the United States in the early 20th century, the Allentown Leader wrote in 1911.

How progressive the order actually was is up to interpretation. In 1891, the Sons of America refused to delete the word “white” in its constitution, defeating a proposition that would allow black men to apply. Today, the order opens its membership up to “all native-born or naturalized American male citizens, 16 years and older, who believe in their country and its institutions, who desire to perpetuate free government, and who wish to encourage a brotherly feeling among Americans, to the end that we may exalt our country, to join with us in our work of fellowship and love.”

The Molly Maguires

In the 1870s, 24 foreman and supervisors in the coal mines of Pennsylvania were assassinated. The suspected culprit? Members of the secret society the Molly Maguires, an organization with Irish origins brought to the United States by Irish immigrants. The Maguires likely got its name because members used women’s clothing as a disguise while allegedly carrying out its illegal acts, which also included arson and death threats. The group was finally undone by a mole planted by the famed Pinkerton Detective Agency, which was hired by the mining companies to investigate the group. In a series of criminal trials, 20 Maguires were sentenced to death by hanging. The Order of the Sons of St. George, another secret organization, which was founded in 1871 to oppose the Maguires also appears to have vanished. 

[thehungrykat1]

Experience a Bigger Oktoberfest Celebration at Newport World Resorts

Oktoberfest at Newport World Resorts is back for its highly anticipated second edition on October 24 to 26, 2024 at Hilton Manila. Deemed its most authentic—and bigger than ever—celebration this year, the country’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destination is set to welcome more than a thousand fest-goers for three days of indulgence in Bavarian fare, live entertainment, and overflowing steins. The iconic beer festival from Munich, Germany has now become one of the property’s most-awaited signature festivals, thanks to popular demand since launching last year. For this edition, bier lovers will enjoy a selection of classic Bavarian draft beers from the Weihenstephan Brewery, the world’s oldest continuously operating brewery. Serving up an even grander spread of Bavarian favorites, attendees will be treated to hefty servings of freshly baked pretzels and German rye bread with flavorful dips, Munich-style sausage salad, platters of pork bratwurst and frankfurter paired with tangy sauerkraut, crispy pork knuckle, chicken schnitzel, and cheese-topped spaetzle. To top off this Bavarian-style feast, indulge in baked apple tart and Kaiserschmarrn for dessert.

From October 24 to 26, starting every 6 PM, The Ballroom of Hilton Manila will be fully decked out into a traditional Bavarian beer hall with classic long benches, festive buntings, checkered tablecloths for guests to gather round. To complete the experience, world-renowned AnTon Showband all the way from Austria, will keep everyone dancing and celebrating all night. Get first dibs on Oktoberfest tickets with an early bird promotion of P4,900 nett per person until September 30. The regular price goes for P5,400 nett per person from October 1. All Oktoberfest ticket holders can avail an overnight stay at Hilton Manila with breakfast for two at a special rate of P7,500 nett per room valid during the festival. Guests can also retreat in Holiday Inn Express - Newport City’s overnight stay package inclusive of breakfast for two at P4,000 nett. Join the festivities and enjoy exclusive offers through www.newportworldresorts.com/oktoberfest-2024.

[denimbex1986]

'Those who have been following my stage reviews know I’m a big proponent of live theater. There’s no experience like it. Unlike a film, the magic is happening right in front of you, on a platform where no performance is ever the same from one show to another. Every high moment and mistake is there for the audience to see, to participate in, creating a different type of relationship. However, a downside is having to be present to see these shows, meaning they aren’t always easily accessible. So when you’re able to see a taped performance of a live show, such as Vanya, it’s the next best thing.

Based on Anton Chekhov’s classic Uncle Vanya, Vanya is currently playing on screens worldwide, thanks to National Theater Live, having recently played at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London. Vanya is adapted by Simon Stephens and Directed by Sam Yates, who also directed Magpie starring Daisy Ridley, which premiered at SXSW 2024.

Perhaps the most significant change is that Andrew Scott plays every part on stage, instead of an ensemble cast. As the only performer and co-creator, Scott carries this play on his shoulders.

[Warning: spoilers from Vanya are below!]

Vanya is a case study of humans and their relationships

I was unfamiliar with Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, which is pretty much a retelling of another work, The Wood Demon. The original play explores the interconnectedness between four people and the emotions that become involved as they grow closer.

The major players in this version of the story are Alexander, an elderly filmmaker, his young second wife Helena, his daughter Sonia, the exhausted doctor Michael who has been called to the estate to provide some care, and of course Vanya. Andrew Scott plays a total of eight characters, each one with a distinct personality, mannerisms as well as patterns of speech.

Vanya brings these characters with larger-than-life personalities to the stage, allowing audience-goers a moment to sit down and experience life among them. The play is a case study of the human experience, which is perhaps one of the best parts of the entire show.

It’s not a super active play, with a gigantic story that moves from scene to scene. Instead, most of the play takes place in one room, with these characters conversing their way through difficult situations. Through this moment-by-moment exploration of these relationships, we learn so much about not just the characters, but also ourselves.

This feat is only amplified when you remember that every one of these characters is played by the same actor. One scene could see Scott jump between any of the eight characters, sometimes all of them, having to change his voice and his mannerisms very suddenly. It takes a high caliber of talent to be able to do, and Scott does it with such ease.

Switching between a gregarious character bouncing a tennis ball around the stage to a delicate, feminine character who fidgets with her necklace and speaks in a soft tone isn’t easy. I’ve heard stories about how difficult it can be to hold a single character when acting, let alone bouncing between extremes. It speaks to the talent that Andrew Scott has, as not many actors could do what he does live, night after night on stage.

A confusing narrative in this Anton Chekhov play

While the talent is impeccable here, there are quite a few downsides to this version of Chekhov’s play, the first being how much I struggled to follow along with the narrative. Part of this problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a specific narrative that connects Vanya from scene to scene; which is a result of the above-stated human case study that the play offers. Vanya is a narrow view into a specific point in these characters’ lives. The audience is getting a snapshot of each character in this exact moment, which doesn’t necessarily lend itself well to an overall narrative.

Instead, Vanya feels like it’s meandering through a story where not much happens. For some, this may be perfectly fine. However, I prefer a bit more story to my stage plays. Adding to the confusing nature of Vanya is the quick transitions that Andrew Scott has to manage throughout the show. At times, Scott switches between characters so quickly, that it becomes near impossible to discern who exactly he’s supposed to be. There’s one scene in particular where he’s sitting on a swing and switches between two characters, with barely enough time to switch the mannerisms that signify who exactly he’s playing.

As a result, I spent a good chunk of time unsure of what I was watching or what was going on throughout the play. I thought that it had something to do with it being an adapted Russian classic, which has never been one of my favorite genres, but it seems to be more reflective of the creative choices for this specific version of Uncle Vanya.

That being said, the work and effort put into this show by Andrew Scott is something spectacular to behold. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone who is not only great at acting, but loves what they are doing, and doing it well. Scott is in his element, with this being another successful role(s) among a long list of fantastic characters he’s brought to life.

Final thoughts on Andrew Scott’s Vanya

While I was a bit confused a few different times throughout Vanya, this version still feels like essential viewing for theater lovers. Now that I’ve seen it once, I think I would appreciate it more on additional viewings because I have a better understanding of what is going on and who exactly each one of these characters is.

The love and work that Andrew Scott put into this show are apparent from the first moment he arrives on stage. Vanya should be at the top of your viewing list.'

[podartists]

Tyrannus forficatus | Cardellina rubrifrons | Arremonops rufivirgatus | Cyanocorax luxuosus

Plate XXXII | Die Nordamerikanische Vogelwelt (1891)

[curatedglobaltravel]

Ski-in, ski-out: Haute retreats across the Alps

The Alps’ summit-ready towns — Lech, St. Moritz and Chamonix, to name a few — make quite the convincing case to embrace the cold. Whether you’re a seasoned skier in pursuit of the world’s gnarliest peaks or a spa-goer chasing a treatment-heavy itinerary, here are my top destinations for exploring Europe’s high-altitude adventures.

POWDER PARADISE: MY TOP SKI-IN, SKI-OUT HOTELS

 When clients ask what makes a ski trip spectacular, convenience is always at the top of my list. At a ski-in, ski-out hotel, you will step out of your suite and onto the slopes, eliminating the need for transportation to and from the mountain. Better yet, waking up to the panoramic views and enjoying sunsets over the snow-capped peaks creates the most magical atmosphere for an alpine getaway. When you’re ready to book, let’s look into a few of my favorite destinations:

Cheval Blanc Courchevel in Courchevel, France

Four Seasons Hotel Megève in Megève, France

Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St Moritz in St. Moritz, Switzerland

The Chedi Andermatt in Andermatt, Switzerland

Request Details  ⟶

SKI HARD, APRÈS SKI HARDER: HERE’S TO YOUR ALPINE GETAWAY

 In the Alps, après ski celebrations aren’t just a practice; it’s a fully-fledged tradition. From sun-kissed brunches and boot-stomping concerts to firepits crackling with laughter and steam pouring from the spa, here are my top post-slope scenes.

 Courchevel, France, is part of the extensive Three Valleys ski area and offers a luxurious après-ski experience, from upscale dining to exclusive clubs. Unwind in the many wellness centers with a massage, sauna session and other pampering treatments. Where to stay: L’Apogee Courchevel, an Oetker Collection Hotel, or Aman Le Mélézin

 Val d'Isère, France, is renowned for its heated outdoor terraces accompanied by stunning mountain views. Skiers and snowboarders gather on the terraces after a day on the slopes to bask in the sun. Enjoy warm drinks, live music and picturesque scenery. Where to stay: Airelles Val d'Isère, Mademoiselle

 Lech, Austria,is home to some of the most cozy and rustic lounges and chalets in the Alps. Plus, Lech-Oberlech-Zürs is linked to Warth-Schröcken-St. Anton via the Flexenbahn cableway, allowing you to conveniently explore après ski experiences across the Arlberg. Where to stay: Post Lech Arlberg

 Verbier, Switzerland, combines challenging slopes with a vibrant nightlife. This resort city has numerous bars and clubs to suit all tastes, and boasts world-renowned DJs and bands. If dancing speaks to you, check out Farinet Lounge and the legendary Farm Club. Where to stay: The Lodge Verbier

Request Details  ⟶

SPOTLIGHT ON:The Alps Chamonix, France

MICHAEL SHANE STEPHENS Curated Global Travel An affiliate of Protrave michael@curatedglobaltravel.com 310.691.7461 curatedglobaltravel.com

Copyright © 2024 Global Travel Collection 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

[dariaandjanelanefanboy]

Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music. The more I listened to Schoenberg’s earlier pieces, the “accessible” Romantic ones, I realized that his writing isn’t any more “easier” in conventional tonality either. Instead of thinking of Schoenberg as a revolutionary Modernist whose music is somehow “above” the general public, think of him as an extension of Brahms, pushing harmonies out of “order”, not to be cold and mathematic, but to be deeply passionate. The second string quartet is a great example of breaking convention for musical expression. It was written during a very painful moment in Schoenberg’s life, when he found out his wife had been having an affair with their friend and neighbor, the artist Richard Gerstl. She left Schoenberg with their kids to stay with Gerstl, but fellow composer and friend Anton Webern convinced her to come back to Schoenberg. The heartache drove Gerstl to suicide. So much melodrama and pain at once! Betrayal from his wife, from his friend, and then the suicide of that same friend. You can hear this pain in the music, this quartet dedicated to his wife. The opening movement starts in f# minor, but immediately it modulates into distant keys. The main melody pops up again and again, our only life preserver in a relentless ocean of flowing harmonies. Even though the ambiguity, the movement ends in f# minor. The second movement starts out implying d minor, but again, it immediately flies all over the place, like stormy winds, knife stabs. The third movement is so far the least conventional, where tonality is hinted at, a soprano joins the quartet in a song, a poem by Stefan George, a poem about pain, longing for peace and love. The final movement has no key signature, and is the first concrete example of complete tonal abandonment in western music. The second song, another poem by George, opens with “I feel the air from another planet”. This poem and movement is almost a celebration of the ecstasy of the sublime, like a spiritual transcendence that can barely be explained. Reception was poor. The audience was alright with the first movement, but the rest of the movements were off putting. Apparently, at a pause in the music, someone sneezed and that caused an uproar of laughter that couldn’t be contained. When the soprano came on stage, people hissed, telling her to shut up and get off the stage, that they’ve had enough. No one clapped. This music was too bizarre. And I imagine, for a turn of the century Austrian music goer, scary. This was music of another planet, a new world, the world of the 20th century. I understand the fear. Movements: 1. Mäßig 2. Sehr rasch 3. “Litanei”, langsam 4. “Entrückung”, sehr langsam

mikrokosmos: Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music.…

[werewolvesandaccordions]

Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music. The more I listened to Schoenberg’s earlier pieces, the “accessible” Romantic ones, I realized that his writing isn’t any more “easier” in conventional tonality either. Instead of thinking of Schoenberg as a revolutionary Modernist whose music is somehow “above” the general public, think of him as an extension of Brahms, pushing harmonies out of “order”, not to be cold and mathematic, but to be deeply passionate. The second string quartet is a great example of breaking convention for musical expression. It was written during a very painful moment in Schoenberg’s life, when he found out his wife had been having an affair with their friend and neighbor, the artist Richard Gerstl. She left Schoenberg with their kids to stay with Gerstl, but fellow composer and friend Anton Webern convinced her to come back to Schoenberg. The heartache drove Gerstl to suicide. So much melodrama and pain at once! Betrayal from his wife, from his friend, and then the suicide of that same friend. You can hear this pain in the music, this quartet dedicated to his wife. The opening movement starts in f# minor, but immediately it modulates into distant keys. The main melody pops up again and again, our only life preserver in a relentless ocean of flowing harmonies. Even though the ambiguity, the movement ends in f# minor. The second movement starts out implying d minor, but again, it immediately flies all over the place, like stormy winds, knife stabs. The third movement is so far the least conventional, where tonality is hinted at, a soprano joins the quartet in a song, a poem by Stefan George, a poem about pain, longing for peace and love. The final movement has no key signature, and is the first concrete example of complete tonal abandonment in western music. The second song, another poem by George, opens with “I feel the air from another planet”. This poem and movement is almost a celebration of the ecstasy of the sublime, like a spiritual transcendence that can barely be explained. Reception was poor. The audience was alright with the first movement, but the rest of the movements were off putting. Apparently, at a pause in the music, someone sneezed and that caused an uproar of laughter that couldn’t be contained. When the soprano came on stage, people hissed, telling her to shut up and get off the stage, that they’ve had enough. No one clapped. This music was too bizarre. And I imagine, for a turn of the century Austrian music goer, scary. This was music of another planet, a new world, the world of the 20th century. I understand the fear. Movements: 1. Mäßig 2. Sehr rasch 3. “Litanei”, langsam 4. “Entrückung”, sehr langsam

mikrokosmos: Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music.…

[tinas-art]

Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music. The more I listened to Schoenberg’s earlier pieces, the “accessible” Romantic ones, I realized that his writing isn’t any more “easier” in conventional tonality either. Instead of thinking of Schoenberg as a revolutionary Modernist whose music is somehow “above” the general public, think of him as an extension of Brahms, pushing harmonies out of “order”, not to be cold and mathematic, but to be deeply passionate. The second string quartet is a great example of breaking convention for musical expression. It was written during a very painful moment in Schoenberg’s life, when he found out his wife had been having an affair with their friend and neighbor, the artist Richard Gerstl. She left Schoenberg with their kids to stay with Gerstl, but fellow composer and friend Anton Webern convinced her to come back to Schoenberg. The heartache drove Gerstl to suicide. So much melodrama and pain at once! Betrayal from his wife, from his friend, and then the suicide of that same friend. You can hear this pain in the music, this quartet dedicated to his wife. The opening movement starts in f# minor, but immediately it modulates into distant keys. The main melody pops up again and again, our only life preserver in a relentless ocean of flowing harmonies. Even though the ambiguity, the movement ends in f# minor. The second movement starts out implying d minor, but again, it immediately flies all over the place, like stormy winds, knife stabs. The third movement is so far the least conventional, where tonality is hinted at, a soprano joins the quartet in a song, a poem by Stefan George, a poem about pain, longing for peace and love. The final movement has no key signature, and is the first concrete example of complete tonal abandonment in western music. The second song, another poem by George, opens with “I feel the air from another planet”. This poem and movement is almost a celebration of the ecstasy of the sublime, like a spiritual transcendence that can barely be explained. Reception was poor. The audience was alright with the first movement, but the rest of the movements were off putting. Apparently, at a pause in the music, someone sneezed and that caused an uproar of laughter that couldn’t be contained. When the soprano came on stage, people hissed, telling her to shut up and get off the stage, that they’ve had enough. No one clapped. This music was too bizarre. And I imagine, for a turn of the century Austrian music goer, scary. This was music of another planet, a new world, the world of the 20th century. I understand the fear. Movements: 1. Mäßig 2. Sehr rasch 3. “Litanei”, langsam 4. “Entrückung”, sehr langsam

mikrokosmos: Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music.…

[hushilda]

Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music. The more I listened to Schoenberg’s earlier pieces, the “accessible” Romantic ones, I realized that his writing isn’t any more “easier” in conventional tonality either. Instead of thinking of Schoenberg as a revolutionary Modernist whose music is somehow “above” the general public, think of him as an extension of Brahms, pushing harmonies out of “order”, not to be cold and mathematic, but to be deeply passionate. The second string quartet is a great example of breaking convention for musical expression. It was written during a very painful moment in Schoenberg’s life, when he found out his wife had been having an affair with their friend and neighbor, the artist Richard Gerstl. She left Schoenberg with their kids to stay with Gerstl, but fellow composer and friend Anton Webern convinced her to come back to Schoenberg. The heartache drove Gerstl to suicide. So much melodrama and pain at once! Betrayal from his wife, from his friend, and then the suicide of that same friend. You can hear this pain in the music, this quartet dedicated to his wife. The opening movement starts in f# minor, but immediately it modulates into distant keys. The main melody pops up again and again, our only life preserver in a relentless ocean of flowing harmonies. Even though the ambiguity, the movement ends in f# minor. The second movement starts out implying d minor, but again, it immediately flies all over the place, like stormy winds, knife stabs. The third movement is so far the least conventional, where tonality is hinted at, a soprano joins the quartet in a song, a poem by Stefan George, a poem about pain, longing for peace and love. The final movement has no key signature, and is the first concrete example of complete tonal abandonment in western music. The second song, another poem by George, opens with “I feel the air from another planet”. This poem and movement is almost a celebration of the ecstasy of the sublime, like a spiritual transcendence that can barely be explained. Reception was poor. The audience was alright with the first movement, but the rest of the movements were off putting. Apparently, at a pause in the music, someone sneezed and that caused an uproar of laughter that couldn’t be contained. When the soprano came on stage, people hissed, telling her to shut up and get off the stage, that they’ve had enough. No one clapped. This music was too bizarre. And I imagine, for a turn of the century Austrian music goer, scary. This was music of another planet, a new world, the world of the 20th century. I understand the fear. Movements: 1. Mäßig 2. Sehr rasch 3. “Litanei”, langsam 4. “Entrückung”, sehr langsam

mikrokosmos: Schoenberg – String Quartet no.2 “in f# minor” I have to admit it’s taken me a long time to appreciate the Second Viennese School. I always defended them from haters, because I respect their contribution to music and their importance in music history, but at the same time I felt like I never “got” their music.…