#Building Woodford

[davidnajewiczphotography]

Three windows in rickhouse - Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY - limestone buildings constructed around 1895

[bullet-prooflove]

Send me a made-up fic title and I'll tell you what I would write to go with it

5 Times That Matthew Keller Almost Said "I Love You" and the 1 Time He Finally Did

The first night he killed for you. He has no problem with putting a bullet in anyone or using a knife if it’s protecting his own interests. You were just another partner, someone he needed to help pull off the con, he shouldn’t give a shit about leaving you high and dry even if he is sleeping with you. But he finds himself lingering, waiting for you to exit the building and then you just don’t… So he does back in, he sees that security guard with his hands on you, touching you and honestly he loses his shit. This isn’t a reaction, it’s overkill. He shoots the fucker in the chest until the clip runs out, until the gun stops discharging bullets. It’s later that night when he’s fucking you, that the words almost roll off his lips. He’s looking into your eyes and he can’t stop thinking about the fear he felt in that moment, the rage and he realises that he would do anything for you, anything you god damn asked him.

There’s a night when he comes home from casing a job, you’re standing there in nothing but his shirt, painting on a canvas, it’s something you do for fun, to relax. You’re good at it, some of your work hangs in the indie galleries. It’s how you met, him studying your work during one of the shows he was vetting. He realises that he likes, coming home to you, watching you, being with you. He likes it a lot. When he comes to stand behind you, he wraps his arms around you, his face buried in your throat and he thinks this is home, this is the place he’s meant to be. He almost whispers it against your skin, but he stops himself. He always stops himself.

The morning he leaves. He wakes up beside you, it’s the third night in a row he’s told himself he’s going, the third night in a row he’s stayed. His thumb chases over the apple of your cheek and he finds himself smiling because you just look so beautiful when you sleep, his lips brush over yours and it is just the sweetest sensation. He almost says it then, I love you, I want to stay here with you but he catches himself because doing that means admitting he’s vulnerable and Keller, he just can’t allow himself to do that so he forces himself to leave, to sell the Degas and disappear to Europe.

The night he calls you from a hotel room in Europe. He’s drunk on an expensive bottle of wine and he’s just fucked another woman but he can’t stop thinking about you, how he wishes he was fucking you, sleeping with you. After she leaves he picks up the phone and calls you but he gets your voicemail and he almost says it then, he almost says I love you, I miss you but he doesn’t. Instead he listens to the sound of your voice over and over again until he falls asleep.

When he comes back. He stands on the balcony and he watches you fuck another man. He knows you’re teaching him a lesson, that he deserves it but it but it hurts like a hell. That night when he comes to you, when he submits to you, he almost tells you then. His hands are bound above his head and you’re riding him slowly, your gaze locked on his. There’s such an intimacy in that moment, such sensuality. He can’t explain what it does to him to be back here like this with you. You don’t understand how much I love you, he almost says, how much it scares me.

When he does say it, he’s holding you in his arms and there’s blood on your lips because Woodford, he figured it out, that you didn’t want him, that you didn’t love him so he shot you, he shot you in the chest. He left you to die in the bed where Matt made love to you this morning, where he kissed you goodbye before he moved millions for that man.

“I love you,” Matt whispers as he cradles you against to his chest. “Don’t you dare leave me here alone.”

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[palomahasenteredthechat]

Lady Luck

He's baaaaaack.

Just a dark little drabble to round out an uneventful weekend.

Warnings: 18+, MINORS DNI, M/F intercourse, suggestions of drug use. A whole host of sin.

The knock is expertly soft but insistent.

Turning his head, he smooths the wrinkles from his trousers and lumbers to standing, already unsteady on his feet. The drugs here pack a wallop and he keeps forgetting to halve his doses, but the nervous energy propels him forward until he hits the door. He fumbles with the chain and swings it open to reveal her, sucking in air through his teeth in approval.

She was exactly right. Long legs and curves, sexy but not tacky. Expensively dressed. He wondered if she was a dancer. 

“Come in,” he murmurs and she does, coolly taking in the view from the suite onto the Strip below. He steps toward the bar and trips, righting himself as he takes her elbow. “Can I get you a drink?” he asks and his words are almost slurring. 

“Let’s take care of business first,” she coos, taking in his unsteady gait, the sweat stains underneath his armpits on the designer silk. He nods. “Of course.” So it’s come to this. He fishes his wallet out of his pants and counts out the hundred dollar bills, handing her the cash and watches as she expertly counts it and puts it in her handbag. She takes out her phone and texts whoever was waiting, and looks up and smiles a megawatt smile, revealing ferociously perfect teeth. “I’ll take a bourbon.”

He turns to the bar and sources out a bottle of Woodford Reserve and shakily pours her a healthy two fingers of the amber liquid. I’ll probably pay for that too, he thinks. 

It was easier this way. No mess, no entanglements. No sneaky social media posts, hinting at something that wasn’t there. Angering Jules to the point of a heated argument in the rain whilst stuck on the freeway (that’s not why she was angry, whispered a voice but he pushes it back down into the recesses of his mind).

Regardless, Jules was gone, headed back to LA, and he was here, off the clock for a day or two until he was required to show up somewhere else and perform. Sin City at his fingertips. Would be a waste of an opportunity to simply sit on the couch and scroll through Raya until he’d satisfied himself.

He hands her the heavy tumbler glass and watches as she sips, confidently tossing her purse on the table and taking in the view. The back of her dress dips to the convex of her lower back, jutting out suggestively above her firm ass. Definitely a dancer, he thinks and he flushes, remembering.

She turns and takes in the burn on his cheeks. “Don’t be nervous,” she says. “I only bite if you pay extra.”

He grins. “I think I’ve got another hundred in my wallet somewhere.”

—---

She’s exquisite. He thrusts slowly, savoring the velvety sensations, amplified by the edible. He’s floating on a wave of euphoria, as the pleasure builds in soft waves. Her legs are wrapped around his waist and he runs his fingers along her thigh before squeezing it and raising her leg against his shoulder, followed by the other. She braces her hands above her head for support as he rises to his knees and speeds up, the force of his thrusts shaking the mattress against the headboard.

Sweat drips into his eyelids and he locks eyes with her, chasing his orgasm, already thinking about the next one. Once he gets going he can’t stop. His sexual urges have become kaleidoscopic, nonexistent one day and unceasing the next. There were days when he couldn’t maintain an erection and days when he was insatiable. Part of the thrill was the unknown each time he embarked on a new adventure. 

His hands shake as he gets closer, riding the edge of release, hoping to finish before the acid in his stomach rises into his throat. He holds his breath and wonders if he could get her to punish him. He does own her for the night after all.

She squeezes him with her pelvic muscles and he releases his breath in a sharp laugh as he ejaculates, slowing down and milking himself until he collapses on top of her. He grins and kisses the side of her face and she turns away. “You’re really sweaty.”

“Comes with the territory, love,” he whispers and then rolls off of her, mopping his brow with the sheet. “I’ll try to clean up before we have another go.”

“Sure,” she says. “I’ll be right back.” She rises and he watches her perfect ass as she goes into the bathroom. Suddenly exhausted, he flops back against the mattress and stares at the ceiling. The ringing in his ears sounds like the clang of slot machines, an echo of earlier when he sat at the blackjack table nursing a watered down drink, numbly watching the cards turn over as the dealer’s hands moved so fast they were a blur.

It was all a blur, come to think of it. It kept speeding up and he didn’t know when it was going to stop. But goddamn he was going to enjoy the ride.

It’ll be alright, he thought. I’ll be fine. He looked over to the bedside table to find his phone, because he wanted to text that thought before it slipped away, but she came back out of the bathroom and climbed on top of him before he remembered who he was supposed to text it to.

[spaceoperetta]

Last stop on our day trip was unplanned - a woman at Woodford recommended we check out the grounds of Castle and Key, just up the road from them. Seeing as Woodford and Buffalo Trace were an easy twenty minute drive from each other, we swung back on our way home.

Can’t comment on the booze, but the old buildings were impressive! A theme of all three destinations was “if it ain’t broke!”

I thought Bourbon had to be made in Kentucky - no, just in America - but 95% of it is as the limestone and the water and the seasons makes the conditions perfect. Also, you can’t reuse barrels so many of them are shipped off to Scotland and Ireland for use there!

Making a weekend of it - there are so many distilleries - would be a bit much, but I had a lovely day trip with my family.

[husheduphistory]

Mystery and Missing: The Tragic Trails of the Bennington Triangle

Nestled into the southwestern region of Vermont lies an expanse of wilderness stretching approximately 100 square miles. Thick with forest and natural wonders including the Glastenbury Mountain this region, roughly bordered by the towns of Glastenbury, Woodford, and Bennington, has deep rooted history including the first town created in Vermont and significant chapters in the American Revolution. It is scenic, it is historic, and to many it’s also terrifying.

 The chilling stories of Glastenbury Mountain began centuries ago when the Native American population regarded the space as sacred, but also cursed. Being the place “where the four winds meet” they used the area only for the burial of their dead and warned people not to travel the region. They also told the tale of a large and malicious stone that would swallow up anyone who stood on it.  If a curse placed by nature, a revered-but-feared burial ground, and a rock that could consume a human was not enough, there were also the tales of the wild men, large hairy human-like creatures that roamed the dense woods alongside other beasts.

Postcard showing Glastenbury Mountain. Image via legendsofamerica.com.

These tales were known but in the decades after the Civil War the old warnings faded and people now living in the region looked to transform their town. In 1872 the town began its first metamorphosis, becoming a logging community fed by the ample and seemingly endless supply of lumber surrounding them.  A train line was built extending nine miles to Bennington and three coal kilns supplied coal that would be shipped down the mountain on the rails. The operations were a success and by 1880 the little town had a school, post office, and a population of 241 people. It looked promising but in the 1890s a black cloud seemed to take a firm residency over the region.

The first strike came on April 4th 1892 when Glastenbury residents Henry McDowell and John Crowley had a confrontation. It is unknown what words were exchanged, but McDowell felt they were strong enough to warrant grabbing a rock and bludgeoning Crowley to death before escaping into the woods. He was eventually caught in Connecticut, convicted, and sent to Waterbury State Hospital. After some time though, the guards felt he could be trusted to spend some time out in the yard. Once outside he saw his moment and hid in a coal cart before making his escape. He was never seen again. Five years later in October 1897 John Harbour of nearby Woodford was found dead, killed by a single gunshot wound. His killer was never found.

It was in that same year that Glastenbury came face to face with a big problem. They were a lumber town, but they were running out of trees to cut. Given that they already had cleared land, created pathways, and had a number of silent buildings from the now-extinct lumber industry, they decided to take an entirely different turn and transform the area into a resort town with a trolley, hotel, and casino. The hopes were high, but after one season the dreams were decimated when massive flooding ravaged the town. With no trees or root systems to help alleviate the impact of the water, it ran over with nothing in its path, destroying the railways leading to the resort that was going to save the town. The flood was the death blow to Glastenbury and with seemingly no other option, the residents moved on leaving the town nearly abandoned with less than ten residents remaining. This low population was one of the reasons that in 1937 the town was disincorporated, putting it in place to officially become a ghost town.

Image showing the repurposed buildings and trolley meant to transform Glastenbury. Image via obscurevermont.com.

The region sat quietly while the wilderness reclaimed it, largely remaining out of the public eye until November 12th 1945 when it became the focus of search parties and newspaper headlines. The man they were searching for was Middie Rivers, an outdoorsman who had become closely acquainted with these woods in his almost seventy-five years. An avid hunter and fisherman, Rivers was spending the day hunting with a small party including his son-in-law. While the group was stopped near Bickford Hollow, Rivers decided to move ahead of the party. By the time the clock struck 4pm he had not returned, and the concerned hunting party went out to find him. When the group saw no sign of Rivers they traveled down to Bennington and asked Fire Chief Wallace Mattison to help them search. The search went on for days and grew to include hundreds of people and soldiers from Fort Devens in Massachusetts. Hours marched on, the sun rose and set multiple times, and the hope that Rivers was fine out in the woods that he knew so well and that he would just show back up one day quickly faded when the snow began to fall. Rivers was never found and the only thing ever recovered was a single rifle cartridge from his gun.

The tragic disappearance of Middie Rivers might have slipped away into time, but instead it unfortunately became “the first one.” 

In December 1946 eighteen-year-old Paula Jean Welden was a sophomore at Bennington College where she studied art, had an interest in botany, and worked at the college cafeteria. After her shift on December 1st she told her roommate she was going to do some hiking on the Long Trail, a 272-mile footpath that follows Vermont’s Green Mountains up to the border of Canada. She was dressed in sneakers, blue jeans, and a red parka, clothing that was fine for that afternoon but would offer no protection for the kind of cold that settled in after dark. She left just before 3pm and she was seen several times that afternoon. One owner of a gas station claims he saw a woman matching her description near a gravel pit, she began hitchhiking and was picked up by a local contractor who took her as far as his house which was about 2.5 miles from the beginning of the Long Trail. Once she began walking on the trail she encountered a group of hikers who answered some questions she had before they moved on in the opposite direction of Welden. According to some reports a local man named Ernest Whitman may have had one of the last encounters with Welden when she stopped to speak to him at his cabin. She asked how long she could go on the trail and he informed her it was four miles to a fork. He warned her that she was not dressed for the weather but she went on her way anyway.

When Welden’s roommate didn’t see her return that night she was not worried, she assumed she was just in another part of the college or in the library studying late. But, when she realized the next morning that Welden was still gone she went to the faculty. The president of the college called her parents in Connecticut and asked if their daughter was home with them. She was not. And when Welden’s mother was informed her daughter was also not at school she fainted on the spot.

Missing person flyer used for Paula Welden. Image via wikipedia.com.

The search for Paula Welden had one huge roadblock from the start, the structure of the search itself. At the time of her disappearance Vermont did not have its own state police force so the search was assembled and conducted by the president of Bennington College and Welden’s father. A group of 370 students and faculty went out to search for her, splitting into groups and throwing confetti on areas that were already searched so other groups knew that that area had already been looked at. In time both the Connecticut and New York state police were brought in to assist and a reward of $5,000 was offered. It was no use, no trace of Paula Welden was ever found.

Image used in the search of Paula Welden. Image via wikipedia.com.

It is easy to say that both Middie Rivers and Paula Welden were probably unfortunate victims of the elements in the wooded expanse that includes Bennington and Glastenbury, but the story of James Tedford is much more difficult to explain away.

It was late into 1949 and James Tedford was supposed to be back home, but he was not. The sixty-eight-year-old World War II veteran had been spending some time visiting his wife and family in Fraklin, Vermont before boarding a bus in St. Albans to return back home to the Vermont Soldiers’ Home where he lived in Bennington.

Along the way back there was a stop in Burlington where Tedford ran into an old friend and the pair chatted a bit before he once again boarded the bus on the final stretch of his ride home. When the bus stopped back in Bennington it was discovered that the veteran was nowhere to be found. His last known whereabouts was on the bus on December 1st at approximately 4pm, almost exactly three years after the last known sighting of Paula Welden in the same region. There was no question that Tedford boarded the bus, not only was he seen getting back on but his suitcase, unfolded map, and unchecked bus ticket were still sitting on his seat. He was simply gone. Shockingly, it took days for anyone to put the pieces together that Tedford never returned home and a search for the man did not take place for over a week after he was last seen. No trace of James Tedford was ever found.

Newspaper clipping about the disappearance of James Tedford. Image via vermontdailychronicle.com.

The disappearances already seen in the region were unsettling but with the end of 1950 came a string of incidents that made some people genuinely begin to question what was going on in the wilderness around Glastenbury Mountain. The first took place on October 12th 1950 when eight-year-old Paul Jepson went missing under some eerily similar circumstances. The eight-year-old was out with his mother, some report that he was with her at the local dump that they maintained, and others state he was helping her tend to the pigs near their Glastenbury farmhouse. Allegedly he was in the family pickup truck and his mother walked away to do some work before returning to the truck and finding the child missing. Like Welden he was also wearing red and his time of disappearance was between 3 and 4pm, approximately the same timeframe that Fisher, Welden, and Tedford also all vanished. A search was launched for Jepson and hundreds of people from the local region combed through the dump, the town, and went into the mountains with no success. Bloodhounds were brought in from the New Hampshire State Police and they did pick up the scent of the boy, but it was lost at an intersection near where Welden was last seen. In the days and weeks that followed Jepson’s disappearance there were reports of motorists seeing a young boy walking along a road but subsequent searches came up empty. Paul Jepson was never seen again.

Newspaper clipping about the disappearance of Paul Jepson. Image via vermontdailychronicle.com.

With the disappearance of Jepson still fresh in the minds of the locals, they very quickly found themselves facing a growingly familiar story when two weeks later on October 28th fifty-three-year-old Freida Langer also walked into the woods and seemingly vanished. Like Middie Fisher, Langer was extremely familiar with the woods so there was nothing to be concerned about when she left her family’s camp cabin for a hike with her cousin. During their walk Langer fell into a stream near the Somerset Reservoir and rather than continue on in her wet clothes she decided to walk the half mile back to the camp where she and her husband had spent every weekend for the last decade, change clothes, and meet her cousin back in the woods to resume their walk. When Langer did not return the concerned cousin went back to the family campsite and was horrified to learn that Langer had never even made it back the half mile to change her clothes. Once again a search was launched, and once again there was no sign of Langer. But, unlike all the previous disappearances, the Langer case would have closure.

Nearly six months after Langer walked into the woods two fishermen were out on the Deerfield River when they made the gruesome discovery of human remains. They had been out that morning but were not having any luck where they were so they decided to move downstream in hopes to find more fish, instead as they moved through the water something caught their eye under the grass hanging over a large water-filled hole at the bank of the river. Langer’s body was found three miles from where she left to walk back to her cabin and it took the pair of fishermen nearly three hours to hike the three miles through intensely thick forest to Somerset Road where they hitchhiked to a home to call for help. The body was badly decomposed but there was no question that the remains were Langer, on the skull was a metal plate, the result of brain surgery that she had five years earlier. It was the surgery that led to the official conclusion that Langer must have suffered a seizure, fallen in the water, and died of accidental drowning. How the experienced hiker who was so well versed in the woods ended up two and a half miles away from her familiar destination remained unknown.

Image of Freida Langer. Image via legendsofamerica.com.

Before 1950 came to a close there was one more name that would join the unfortunate ranks of souls last seen in the wilderness of southwestern Vermont. On November 29th 1950 sixteen-year-old Martha Jeanette Jones was reported missing by her parents. But, at the time she was reported gone Jones had already been missing for an entire month. She was last known to be hitchhiking to school in Manchester and traveling through the infamous region when she too disappeared. The school was under the impression that she was home while her parents assumed she was at the school. Like so many others, Jones was never seen or heard from again.

With the number of mysterious occurrences in the Glastenbury-Bennington region there are bound to be theories about what happened to the missing. There are purely logical ones, Langer may have had a seizure and drowned, the young Paul Jepson or Paula Welden may have been kidnapped, James Tedford may have decided he no longer wanted to live at the Vermont Soldiers’ Home and silently left the bus with no one noticing, one of more of the missing may have simply succumbed to the ruthless wilderness and elements. There are these theories, and there are others that believe that there is something very abnormal going on in the woods of southwestern Vermont.

The stories go back to the Native American tales of the land being cursed and a human-swallowing rock, but there was something else they spoke of, that being the “wild men” of the woods. The idea of large, hairy creatures roaming the woods is easy to dismiss as Native American legend, but there is an account of many others seeing a similar creature in the late 1800s. According to the story a stagecoach full of people were traveling through the mountains near Glastenbury during a torrential downpour that made progress nearly impossible. The stagecoach driver came to a halt and when he climbed down with lantern in hand he noticed a large set of footprints in the mud in front of them. The tale continues that people started to come out of the stagecoach to look at the footprints when the horses began to get extremely restless. Then, something hit the stagecoach with tremendous force and everyone inside scrambled out. According to their accounts whatever was hitting the coach finally hit it with a blow strong enough to knock it on its side and through the pelting rain they saw a massive human shape, covered with hair, and two huge eyes in the darkness that turned and ran back into the woods.

The creature dubbed The Bennington Monster became yet another mystery of the region, but it was looked at a little stronger in November 1943. Before the “first” disappearance of Middie Fisher in November 1945 there was the story of Carol Herrick. Herrick was also an outdoorsman and an avid hunter who went out hunting one day with his cousin Henry. Allegedly, the two men got separated and Henry contacted authorities to try and find his cousin. Carol Herrick was found days later laying near his gun that had not been fired. The cause of death was equally confusing and disturbing, it was said that his lungs were punctured by his ribs and it appeared that he had been “squeezed” to death.

Since its earliest days the forests of southwestern Vermont have been surrounded by unsettling stories. The Native American tales of the land being cursed, man-eating rocks, and wild men live in the collective memory alongside tales of beasts attacking stagecoaches, inexplicable sounds coming from the woods, and even reports of mysterious lights and flying objects being seen over the treetops. It is the disappearances though that earned the region the name “The Bennington Triangle”, coined by author Joseph Citro in 1992. When it comes to The Bennington Triangle the years between 1945 and 1950 will forever be synonymous with the disappearances of Middie Rivers, Paula Welden, James Tedford, Paul Jepson, Freida Langer, and Martha Jeanette Jones, but these names reflect only a small sliver of the strange occurrences in the woods.

The terrifying truth is that we may never fully know the extent of the unexplained that already has, and continues to unfold, in the region of The Bennington Triangle of Vermont.

***********************************************

Sources:

Abramovich, Chad. “The Vanished Town of Glastenbury and the Bennington Triangle.” Obscure Vermont, 31 Mar. 2020, urbanpostmortem.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/the-vanished-town-of-glastenbury-and-the-bennington-triangle/.

Alexander, Kathy. “Bennington Triangle, Vermont.” Legends of America, Oct. 2023, www.legendsofamerica.com/bennington-triangle-vermont/.

Dailey, Eva. “The Bennington Triangle: The Ghost Town of Glastenbury Vermont.” The Looking Glass, 17 Oct. 2018, svclookingglass.com/4299/art/writing/the-bennington-triangle-the-ghost-town-of-glastenbury-vermont/.

Fair, Bethany. “History Space: Tale of Two VT Ghost Towns.” Burlington Free Press, 29 Oct. 2018, www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/10/29/history-space-tale-two-vt-ghost-towns/38202243/.

Leahey, Maynard. “Verdict of Accidental Drowning Closes Freida Langer Mystery.” The North Adams Transcript, May 14th 1951, https://www.newspapers.com/image/545381347/?terms=%22Frieda%20Langer%22&match=1

“Missing Jepson Youngster Makes Fourth Disappearance of Local Persons in 5 Years” The Bennington Evening Banner, October 24th 1950, https://www.newspapers.com/image/546025887/ 

“Missing Schoolgirl, 16, Brings To 6 Numbers of Persons Lost in Southern Vt.” The Burlington Free Press, December 13th 1950, https://www.newspapers.com/image/198069883/?terms=%22Paul%20Jepson%22&match=1

Page, Timothy. “Secrets of the Bennington Triangle - Vermont Daily Chronicle.” Vermont Daily Chronicle - News & Commentary for Vermont, 29 Sept. 2023, vermontdailychronicle.com/secrets-of-the-bennington-triangle/.

“74 Year Old Hunter Lost For Two Days.” The Bennington Evening Banner, November 14th 1945, https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Michael_C._Dooling_Collection_MS_062/5262/ms062_01_18_middieRivers.pdf

Rossen, Jake. “The Lost Girl of Vermont’s ‘Bennington Triangle.’” Mental Floss, 26 Apr. 2023, www.mentalfloss.com/posts/bennington-triangle-paula-welden-vermont-mystery.

[casskeeps]

kleobis and biton

basic information

name: kleobis and biton

date: 580 bce (early archaic)

artist: polymedes the argive

function: votive offerings to apollo at delphi

size: 2m high (monumental)

original, reconstruction, or copy: original parian marble

subject matter

kleobis and biton wer two brothers, known for their impressive strength and piety; they are particularly notable for carrying their mother to a sacred festival by pulling the cart themselves, then being so happy and pious that they died in their sleep that night. supposedly, this is a wonderful thing - dying at the peak of their lives meant they would be forever pious and joyous, remembered that way by their families for the rest of time.

these two kouroi are particularly notable for their size - less in height than in the robustness of their forms - they are much more dedicated to displaying strength than delicate geometric forms.

context

still in the archaic period, we are displaying idealised male forms; nude male figures with athletic builds. this is where kleobis and biton start to deviate from the norm - instead of appearing lithe and slender, the two figures have a much stronger impression of force and brute strength.

composition

the statues depict two kouroi in the typical archaic “walking pose”, with the left leg extended forward and the right leg held behind. both statues have their arms rigidly by their sides, although there is a more naturalistic bend in the elbow. the effect of this pose is that the statues are more balanced, and so less prone to breaking catastrophically - the tensile strength of marble is particulary low.

the figures are depicted as strong and robust, with vigorously rounded planes on the buttocks, thighs, and calves. this depiction of musculature is vastly different to that of the new york kouros, which is much lither and slenderer. the eyes are insectoid, however, as they are oversized and protrude from the skull more than is natural for human faces. there is still some influence from geometricism in these statues, particularly in the depiction of the pectorals, which are depicted using a softened gull-wing pattern, as well as more three-dimensional effects with the vigorous curving of the planes.

the two kouroi depict naked male figures (although they were originally wearing soft boots), robust and clearly an idealised representation of masculine strength and piety.

both kouroi have evidence of an archaic smile, used to enliven the statue, but are otherwise emotionless and stoic, as demonstrated by the lack of interaction between the mouth and the upper facial muscles – this helps to display a stoic and pious impression, supporting their existence as votive statues of kleobis and biton.

the kouroi, while still regular and consistent in the anatomy, have much thicker limbs and musculature than other kouroi – the waist is considerably smaller than the thighs, hips, and shoulders. this impressive musculature is also demonstrated by the difference in size between the thighs and the ankles – the upper legs are much larger than the ankles, demonstrating and emphasising the strength and power conveyed by these statues.

stylistic features

these statues are both clearly archaic, although they do have some deviation from the traditions of the era. they are still members of the archaic smile club and the insectoid eyes club, but the sculptor demonstrates an awareness of musculature that is less common for the time. interestingly, they also appear to have more non-muscular weight than many archaic kouroi; the stomach has very little definition, and the pectorals are more three dimensional than on previous (and later) sculptures.

the approach to hair is also notably different to that of other kouroi; the braids are thicker (perhaps to enhance the overall sense of robustness) and fall over the shoulder instead of into a curtain at the back.

scholars

woodford: "more interested in giving an impression of robustness through vigorously curved forms"

herodotus: "the argives made and set up images of them because of their excellence"

extra information

smarthistory

khan academy

[oricarnell]

starter for: @nickambrose

location: Versailles (the one in Kentucky)

"It should be around here." Orion cast a glance around, taking in his surroundings as he lead Nick through the little piece of forest towards the building already visible through the treeline. Why the Woodford Reserve Distillery was so far outside of town, seperated from the rest, Orion didn't know. He had paid enough credits to get them relatively close, but they'd still landed just a bit off, in the woods surrounding them.

"This should just be a quick run. Anything specific you are going for?" Orion asked, casting a glance back at the other man to make sure that Nick was they following as they stepped onto the grass surrounding the Distillery. The building was a little overgrown, clearly abandoned, but otherwise in good condition. What they were looking for was generally obvious- whiskey. "I should be able to take one or two of the barrels back. It should be aged well enough by now."

Orion took a step towards the building. "Do you use the teleports on your own frequently? I believe we have not made a run together."

[cheepuppp]

Social Gaming: More Than Just Play

If you’ve ever spent time in an online gaming community, you know it’s not just about winning or leveling up. It’s about the friendships forged during late-night raids, the epic betrayals that leave you fuming, and the shared laughs over ridiculous in-game fails. Social gaming isn’t just playing, it’s living, connecting, and sometimes yelling at your screen. Whether it’s MMORPGs like EVE Online, Fortnite’s frantic showdowns, or the social sleuthing of Among Us, these games create digital spaces where people build, bond, and occasionally clash.

But social gaming isn’t always sunshine and perfectly executed headshots. It’s messy, chaotic, and full of lessons about collaboration, conflict, and the complex beauty of community.

Social Gaming: Not Just a Game

Let’s talk about EVE Online, one of the most fascinating gaming ecosystems out there. It’s not your average game. It’s a digital universe where players form alliances, run economies, and wage wars that rival the complexity of real-world geopolitics. De Zwart and Humphreys call it the "lawless frontier of deep space," and they’re not kidding. Players make the rules or break them on their own terms.

Imagine spending months building a powerful fleet with your alliance, only to have it wiped out in a massive battle because someone betrayed you. This isn’t hypothetical; it happens all the time in EVE Online. Suzor and Woodford explore how this dynamic blurs the line between in-game actions and real-world emotions. The stakes feel real because the time, effort, and creativity invested are real.

But EVE is just one part of the picture. Platforms like Twitch bring the social aspect of gaming to the forefront. Gamers don’t just play, they perform, interact with audiences, and build communities in real time. Watching your favorite streamer nail an impossible challenge or chat about their day feels oddly personal, like you’re part of a little digital family. Then there’s Steam, a hub where gamers exchange reviews, mods, and endless banter in forums. It’s not just about playing; it’s about belonging.

Collaboration and Chaos: The Magic of Social Gaming

One of the best things about social gaming is the teamwork. Whether it’s coordinating a raid in World of Warcraft or forming alliances in EVE Online, collaboration is often the key to success. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of a perfectly executed strategy where everyone pulls their weight and victory feels like a collective triumph.

But with teamwork comes conflict. EVE Online is infamous for its betrayals and wars. Players can spend years building alliances, only to see them crumble when someone double-crosses them. These betrayals often lead to massive in-game battles that destroy millions in virtual currency and countless hours of effort. It’s heartbreaking and exhilarating all at once, a rollercoaster of trust and treachery.

Outside of EVE, games like Among Us take conflict to a smaller, sillier level. Trying to figure out which of your friends is lying while maintaining your own poker face is both frustrating and ridiculously fun. These moments highlight the social skills gaming can develop, from negotiation and deception to teamwork and strategic thinking.

The Challenges: Not All Fun and Games

As incredible as gaming communities can be, they aren’t without flaws. Toxicity is a persistent issue. Harassment, trolling, and gatekeeping often make gaming spaces feel unwelcoming, especially for women and marginalized groups. De Zwart and Humphreys point out that the lack of clear rules in games like EVE Online can create a survival-of-the-fittest environment that excludes less experienced players.

There’s also the challenge of balancing freedom with fairness. Giving players the ability to self-govern, as in EVE, is exciting but chaotic. Suzor and Woodford emphasize that without clear norms or accountability, these spaces can quickly become hostile. Gaming communities need to find ways to stay inclusive while still preserving the freedom that makes them so dynamic.

Personal Reflection

Social gaming has been a wild ride for me. I’ve spent hours coordinating with strangers to take down virtual bosses, and I’ve felt the sting of losing everything because of a poorly timed mistake. One time, in a raid, my group spent weeks preparing, only for someone to accidentally pull the boss early and wipe out the whole team. We laughed about it later, but at the time? Absolute chaos.

What keeps me coming back isn’t just the gameplay, it’s the people. The camaraderie, the inside jokes, the shared victories and defeats. But I’ve also seen how toxicity can ruin these spaces. Watching a new player get mocked for not knowing the mechanics or seeing sexist comments in chat is disheartening. It’s a reminder that these communities, while amazing, need to keep working to be better.

Conclusion

Social gaming is so much more than playing. It’s about building worlds, creating friendships, and learning how to navigate the messy, wonderful chaos of human interaction. Whether it’s the political intrigue of EVE Online, the silly deceptions of Among Us, or the real-time camaraderie on Twitch, gaming communities are vibrant, complex, and endlessly fascinating.

At their best, these communities remind us that even in virtual worlds, connection is everything. But like any space, they need care, accountability, and effort to remain inclusive and welcoming. Social gaming is a reflection of the real world, full of collaboration, conflict, and the potential to create something truly extraordinary.

References

De Zwart, M., & Humphreys, S. (2014). The Lawless Frontier of Deep Space: Code as Law in EVE Online. Cultural Studies Review, 20(1).

Suzor, N., & Woodford, D. (2013). Evaluating Consent and Legitimacy Amongst Shifting Community Norms: An EVE Online Case Study. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, 6(3).

Twitch. (n.d.). Official Website. Retrieved from https://www.twitch.tv

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Fund entrepreneur Peter Hargreaves: ‘I can never see the point of spending money for the sake of it’

The Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder on building one of the UK’s most valuable companies, his take on the Neil Woodford scandal — and why he regrets buying a private jet

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Driving Lessons Dagenham – Your Path to Safe and Confident Driving

If you’re searching for Driving Lessons Dagenham, look no further than GSM Driving Academy. With over four decades of experience in teaching driving skills, GSM Driving Academy is the go-to choice for quality driving instruction in Dagenham and surrounding areas. We are one of the most trusted driving schools in East London, offering a comprehensive range of lessons tailored to suit your needs.

Why Choose GSM Driving Academy for Driving Lessons Dagenham?

GSM Driving Academy provides top-notch Driving Lessons Dagenham with many benefits:

Highly Experienced Instructors: Our instructors have achieved top grades (5, 6, and A from the new Standards Check), providing expert guidance to help you pass your test.

High Pass Rates: Our consistent success in helping students pass their driving tests demonstrates the quality of our teaching methods.

Flexible Lesson Plans: We offer both manual and automatic driving lessons, so you can choose the type of car you prefer to learn in.

DBS-Checked Instructors: Your safety is our priority. All our instructors undergo DBS checks to ensure a secure learning environment.

Specialized Programs for Nervous Drivers: Our instructors are patient and skilled at helping anxious learners feel at ease, building confidence from the first lesson.

Types of Driving Lessons in Dagenham

At GSM Driving Academy, we offer a variety of Driving Lessons Dagenham to cater to all needs:

Beginner Driving Lessons: Perfect for those just starting their driving journey. Our instructors will teach you the fundamentals step by step.

Intensive Driving Courses: Ideal for learners who want to pass their driving test quickly, often within a four-week period.

Refresher Driving Lessons: If you haven't driven in a while and need a confidence boost, our refresher lessons can help.

Motorway Lessons: Gain valuable skills for driving on the motorway, including high-speed navigation and lane discipline.

Night Driving Lessons: Develop essential driving skills for low-light conditions, enhancing your safety and awareness on the road.

Key Features of Driving Lessons in Dagenham

With our Driving Lessons Dagenham, you can expect the following:

Full Hour Sessions: Each lesson is a full hour, allowing ample time to focus on improving your driving skills.

Home Pickup and Drop-Off Services: For your convenience, we can pick you up from home and drop you off after the lesson.

Bilingual Instructors Available: Need lessons in a different language? We offer multilingual instruction to accommodate your preferences.

Manual and Automatic Cars: Choose between learning in a manual or automatic vehicle, depending on your preference.

Areas We Cover

GSM Driving Academy provides Driving Lessons Dagenham and covers several surrounding areas, including:

Barking

Ilford

Romford

Stratford

East Ham

Woodford Green

Why GSM Driving Academy Stands Out

Established Since 1977: With over 40 years of teaching experience, we are one of the most reputable driving schools in East London.

Flexible Scheduling: We offer lessons seven days a week, allowing you to learn at times that suit your schedule.

Gift Vouchers Available: Want to gift someone driving lessons? We provide vouchers for all our driving services.

Book Your Driving Lessons in Dagenham Today!

Ready to start your driving journey? Booking your Driving Lessons in Dagenham with GSM Driving Academy is quick and easy. We offer pay-as-you-go options or affordable packages. If you are interested in becoming a driving instructor, we also provide instructor training courses.

Contact GSM Driving Academy Today! To schedule your Driving Lessons Dagenham, call us at 020 3633 3003 or 07716 060070, or email info@gsmonline.co.uk. Visit gsmonline.co.uk for more details.

Safe Driving Starts Here

Learning to drive with GSM Driving Academy ensures you get the best instruction to become a skilled and confident driver. Contact us today to book your Driving Lessons Dagenham and experience quality teaching that sets you up for success.

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DRIVEWAYS SOUTH WOODFORD

If you are looking for the perfect driveway installation to compliment your property, then you have come to the right place.

The team at Touchstone Drives Ltd offer a wide range of driveway solutions for residential and commercial customers whatever their material preferences and budget. With over 20 years of experience working in the paving industry, we specialise in the design, build and installation of block paving, resinbound, tarmac and gravel driveways in South Woodford.

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Copper Pot Stills, Woodford Reserve Distillery -  Versailles, KY. Housed in beautiful limestone building from 1838, one of the oldest in KY

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Patio Design And Build South Woodford

Whether you have a traditional or modern property in South Woodford, our experienced team at Touchstone Patios can design and build the perfect patio to suit your preferences and budget.

A well designed and built patio in South Woodford can add charm and character to your garden as well as complimenting your home and adding value to it.

Take advantage of our free site visit so we can come and discuss your individual requirements and issue you with a written quotation without any obligation. We do not have pushy salesmen and offer a 14 day cooling off period on all of our competitive quotations so you have time to ensure you have made the right decision for your property.

Our patios are designed using quality building materials from the UK´s leading suppliers such as indian sandstone, natural and porcelain stones.

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When you hear the words servant leader, what comes to mind? Tune in to this meaningful conversation I had with Coach Norman Murray ‪@BuildingBridges520‬ to learn more about this topic! You can listen to this full episode by clicking the link below!

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amber-johnson40/episodes/B-E-E--Channel-Presents-Servant-Leadership-Featuring-Coach-Norman-Murray-e2i1f0f

Here is a little bit of info about Coach Norman Murray : Norman is currently a Deacon at Praise Temple Apostolic Faith Church of Virginia in Woodford, VA. He currently serves under Pastor Terrence S. Brown. Norman was ordained in 2013 and has served in this capacity since. He is now part of the ministerial staff as he moves towards becoming a licensed minister. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Norman has lived in various cities along the east coast and mid-west. In 2008, the Lord saw fit to have Norman build his spiritual foundation in Minnesota. It wasn’t until March of 2009 when Norman decided to surrender his life completely to Christ and was baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost. During this time, He was a member of Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Roseville, MN where the late Bishop Charles Foye was the senior pastor. Norman is also an entrepreneur & podcaster, having started Building Bridges LLC in 2020. Most of his free time is spent being a loving husband, father, and grandfather. The Lord has blessed him to be married to Sister Shelby Murray for 30 years. They also have two children, Anthony, and Charisma and four grandchildren (Anthony Jr., Anari, Amora, & Adonis). Catch up with Coach Norman Murray by visiting his website buildingbridges520.com

[amoveremovals]

Welcome to Extra Building Maintenance Specialist in Woodford! We offer comprehensive home maintenance repairs and a reliable plumbers call-out service, all at the most competitive prices in the area. Contact us today for exceptional service and unbeatable value.

07956 664305 info@ebm-specialist.co.uk works@ebm-specialist.co.uk https://ebm-specialist.co.uk Extra Building Maintenance Woodford

[ebmspecialist]

EBM Specialists

Welcome to Extra Plumbing & Building Maintenance Specialists in Woodford! We offer comprehensive home maintenance repairs and a reliable plumbers call-out service, all at the most competitive prices in the area. Contact us today for exceptional service and unbeatable value.