#Independent Birmingham Festival

[justforbooks]

Bournville by Jonathan Coe

Coe is a compassionate witness to key moments in the life of a family and a nation

Jonathan Coe’s 14th novel opens with a snapshot of recent history that will stir fresh and uncomfortable memories. As the Covid pandemic is descending on Europe in early 2020, thirtysomething Lorna, a struggling jazz musician, is on tour in Austria and Germany. Lorna’s exhilaration at gigging overseas for the first time is tempered by a growing sense that the world is menaced by something extraordinary. It is both ominous and comic. Arriving in Vienna, Lorna can barely squeeze into her host’s car beside the stockpiled toilet rolls. For the reader, there’s an additional and more worrying dramatic irony: we can see that Lorna’s overweight musical partner, Mark, will be particularly vulnerable to the virus.

In Vienna, Lorna and Mark are taken to dinner by Ludwig, the owner of a small independent record label. A jazz fan and passionate anglophile, Ludwig is struggling to figure out what has happened to a nation he once admired for its tolerance, humour and self-awareness. “And now this same generation is doing … what? Voting for Brexit and for Boris Johnson? What happened to them? … What’s going on?”

Events since 2020 have only sharpened the urgency of Ludwig’s questions. And the loving, funny, clear-sighted and ruminative examination of recent British history that follows might be considered an attempt to answer them. Bournville travels back in time from March 2020 to stage a series of tableaux in which we witness key moments in the lives of the nation and Lorna’s extended family. The successive set-piece events show this family – and Britain – changing.

Our first stop is 1945, where we meet Lorna’s grandmother, Mary, as a child, on the eve of the VE Day celebrations. Mary’s parents, Doll and Sam, live in the chocolate-manufacturing suburb of Birmingham that gives the book its title. There is warmth and humour in the portrait of lower middle-class life presented, but it’s not sanitised. A strain of xenophobia bubbles up throughout the episode and climaxes in an act of violence that will echo throughout the book.

This sets the pattern of the novel, which tracks Doll, Sam, Mary and other members of the family through six further landmarks: the 1953 coronation, the 1966 World Cup final, the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales, the 1981 royal wedding, the death of Princess Diana, and the scaled-down anniversary of VE Day in 2020.

As ever, prizing clarity over verbal fireworks, Coe’s writing draws the reader into the family dramas as they unfold over the decades. He has the great gift of combining plausible and engaging human stories with a deeper structural pattern that gives the book its heft.

We see young Mary as child and then return eight years later to find her a young woman, struggling with a romantic dilemma and then settling into motherhood. We then join her children on family holidays in Wales, follow them into adulthood and watch all their lives intersect with the larger national events. Beat by beat, we’re invested in their stories: which of her suitors will Mary choose? How will her own offspring fare? And although we know it’s going to happen all along, it’s still poignant and strange to watch young Mary gradually becoming Lorna’s elderly Gran.

Bittersweet as the eponymous bar of plain chocolate, the book ranges over a huge span of time, includes a large cast of characters, yet never flags nor confuses. It manages to squeeze in, among other things, the history of Bournville, European disputes over the labelling over chocolate, Welsh nationalism, the Festival of Britain, the launch of the Austin Metro and tensions over the European Union. As we leaf through the family album, there are touching jolts of recognition. It’s hard not to be stirred by your own memories of the events portrayed and thoughts of your own family.

Like the moving images in a zoetrope, Coe’s snapshots invite us to notice changes and continuities, track growth and decay; the strengthening of some relationships, the failure of others. There are striking reverberations along the book’s long passageways: unregarded turning points whose importance only becomes clear much later, echoes of behaviour, incidents that recur in a world that is the same but different.

As the nation changes and the racial makeup of the family alters, it’s not so much that bigotry gives way to tolerance, but that the ambiguities deepen. All along, we are reminded of the contradictory facets of the nation and of each individual character: the snobbishness that coexists with kindness, humour and narrow-mindedness, rationality and unexamined prejudices.

When one of Mary’s son’s starts dating a non-white girlfriend, his grandmother Doll is disquieted. “‘Do you treat her the same?’ Doll wanted to know. ‘I mean … do you treat her the same as you would any other girl?’” This striking line is an unsettling and plausible combination of compassion and racism.

The book also builds a deeper integrity out of echoes and motifs, like a piece of music. The phrase “all that caper”, a particular corner of a Birmingham pub, a yellow cravat, a line of Latin verse, the sound of laughter in a school playground – all set off chains of associations that ripple throughout the novel. A piece of casual homophobia will be recalled decades later by a son trying to come to terms with his sexual orientation.

Subtle, considered, but not programmatic, Coe doesn’t stick to any consistent aesthetic principle. He uses omniscient narration for some sections, first-person narration for others. There are bits in the past tense, bits in the present tense, chunks of news reports, extracts from a diary, a long reminiscence by a recurring character from one of his other novels. None of this sophistication makes the book less pleasurable – quite the reverse. It combines a welcoming accessibility with a box of clever narrative tricks.

It struck me that there is something hopefully British about the book’s flexible approach to narrative. There’s no theoretical doctrine underlying it. The decisions are made, moment by moment, on the basis of what works, what is clear, what is engaging, and what best serves the story. In the end, while the novel can’t explicitly allay Ludwig’s disquiet, its compassionate and undogmatic approach to its characters and craft embodies a set of values that give some grounds for optimism.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[pinewoodpipit]

slàinte, mo ghràdh - Fic Meta

A meta post for my fluff fic, slàinte, mo ghràdh! I'll put the meta thoughts in after a cut, as usual.

-

The Fic's Title

The title, "slàinte, mo ghràdh", is Gaidhlig / Scottish Gaelic for "cheers, my love". I'm not a fluent Gaidhlig speaker but I am learning, and I'm really fond of it as a language. Gaidhlig is really incredibly important to our culture, especially because speaking our native Scottish languages was actually illegal here for a long time as part of an assimilation effort to "civilise" the Highlands. Very few people speak our languages here, now, but we're working hard to try and keep our languages alive. I thought this would be a nice way to include it.

-

Real Places

Lots of the places in this fic are real places in Edinburgh! The museum, of course, is real.

The hotel they stayed in is also real, and I even looked ahead of time to see what their rooms would look like.

The restaurant they went to get the cranachan is the Abbotsford Bar and Restaurant, since I'd read that their cranachan is good and gets recommended by Edinburgh locals. The main street is, of course, real, and the park they went to when it was snowing is The Meadows, the same place where the torch procession started.

The horse statues at the end are The Kelpies, giant horse head statues which light up at night and look incredible in the snow. They're bigger than you might think just from looking at pictures!

-

Foods Mentioned

Most food mentioned in this fic is real.

Rumbledethump is a real cabbage dish here, made with cabbage, potato, swede, and cheese, and you can get it in little pastries sometimes.

Cranachans are a real dessert here, and a very historical one, originally made to celebrate the autumn harvests :) they're great, although usually better when made at home rather than eaten at a restaurant.

Sticky toffee pudding is INCREDIBLE and one of the best things we've got. That sauce could heal any wounds. It's meant to come with hot sauce to drench the cake, and the ice cream melts into it. UGH I could die.

Curry stuffed naan is a real thing you can get at our Christmas markets in Edinburgh - curry is also pretty widely loved in the UK. Tikka Masala was invented here by a Bangladeshi-Scottish man, Ali Ahmed Aslam, back in the 1970s! Phall was also invented in Birmingham. The UK really likes curry.

Cock-a-leekie is a real soup here. It's just chicken and leek soup. Cullen skink is also a real meal here, and it's a thick haddock soup. Seafood and fish is very commonly eaten here, and salmon is especially good in Scotland. We do seafood right.

I disagree fundamentally with "British food sucks" jokes because honestly, I feel like people who say that haven't tried actual British food. British is not synonymous with English; Britain is a collection of several countries which includes England, and just using Scotland as an example, we have some really fantastic foods. It's sad to me to see it get written off when so much of Scottish culture has had to fight tooth and nail just to exist after centuries of assimilation efforts. Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all countries in our own right and our cultures - and tastes in food - exist independently from England.

-

Hogmanay

New Year is focused on a little more in this fic, and there's a reason for that - generally, New Year is a bigger holiday in Scotland than Christmas, and there's historical context for it. Christmas was actually made illegal here back in the 1600s, and as a result, Hogmanay (or New Year) became a large celebration in its own right. The Scots LOVE Hogmanay, and New Year celebrations in Edinburgh is a festival which lasts several days, including the torch procession (a LOT of our celebrations include fire), ceilidh, live music festivals, drinking pub nights, and fireworks etc.

The ban on Christmas was lifted about seventy years later, but Hogmanay was still a huge celebration, and it's an important part of our lives, now.

-

Clothes

The ugly sweaters mentioned in the fic are real.

The nicer ones are also real, and I really like them! Truly though, they're not warm enough to keep you cosy in the snow. You need a thick coat, winter boots, and probably also a hat/gloves/scarf for that. The cold here is no joke; even though the temperatures don't look that cold, Scotland is so humid and wet that it's really impossible to escape and it burrows deep. I know people who live through -20C Canadian winters with no problem but HATE wintering in Scotland because it's miserable, even if it's not that cold on paper.

-

Other

The reindeer plush is a reference to my freckle fic!

It's him, but reindeer flavoured.

[brookston]

Holidays 5.24

Holidays

Aviation Maintenance Technician Day

Battle of Pichincha Day (Ecuador)

Bermuda Day [if weekend, nearest weekday]

Blink 182 Day

Brooklyn Bridge Day

Brother's Day

Camping with Barry White Day (David Letterman)

Carb Day

Culture and Literacy Day (Bulgaria)

Cuti Bersama (Indonesia)

Day for the Naming of Rocks and Planets

Duck Day (French Republic)

Dylan Day (a.k.a. Bob Dylan Day)

Empire Day (British Empire; Pre-1930s)

European Day of Parks

Eurovision Song Contest Day

First Responders Appreciation Day (Ohio)

International Clown Day

International Day Against Epilepsy

International Tiara Day

International Women’s Day for Peace & Disarmament

Little Lamb Day

Long Snapper Appreciation Day

Lubiri Memorial Day (Uganda)

Morse Code Day

National Aviation Maintenance Tech Day

National Beautiful Girls Day

National Blue Badge ay of Action (UK)

National Caterers Appreciation Day

National DevOps Day

National DILF Day

National Emergency Medical Services Recognition Day

National Mike Day

National Poppy Day

National Road Trip Day

National Schizophrenia & Psychosis Awareness Day (Canada)

National Telegram Day (Utrean Empire)

National Work From Home Day

National Wyoming Day

Night Baseball Day

Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day

Parking Meter Day

Play Kick the Can With A Kid Day

Public Garage Day

Sara the Black's Day (Gypsy)

Scavenger Hunt Day

Sinking of the Bismarck Day

Slavonic Enlighteners' Day (Macedonia)

Slavonic Literature and Culture Day (Russia)

Vala Asteroid Day

What Hath God Wrought Day (Morse Code)

World Product Day

World Schizophrenia Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Asparagus Day

Endless Breakfast Day (Denny’s)

Judgment of Paris Day

National Coffee Day (Brazil)

National Escargot Day

National Lamb Day (New Zealand)

National Schlumpia Day

Yucatan Shrimp Day

Independence & Related Days

Commonwealth Day (Belize, Lesotho)

Ecuador (from Spain, 1822)

Eritrea (from Ethiopia, 1993)

Nueva Vizcaya Day (Philippines)

Orange Free State (Annexed by UK; 1900)

4th Friday in May

Ascension Friday (Belgium)

Don't Fry Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Heat Safety Awareness Day [4th Friday]

National Cooler Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Death Busters Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Polka Festival begins [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Road Trip Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Wig Out Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

Title Track Day [4th Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 24 (3rd Full Week)

National Polka Weekend (Ennis, Texas) [thru 5.26] (Memorial Day Weekend)

Old Time Player Piano Weekend (thru 5.26) [Memorial Day Weekend]

Festivals Beginning May 24, 2024

Arcadia Broiler Dairy Days (Arcadia, Wisconsin) [thru 5.26]

Bath Fringe Festival (Bath, UK) [thru 6.9]

Nattjazz [Bergen International Jazz Festival] (Bergen, Norway) [thru 6.1]

Blue Crab Festival (Palatka, Florida) [thru 5.26]

Blues, Brews, and BBQ (Beaver Creek, Colorado) [thru 5.26]

BottleRock Napa Valley Music & Food Festival (Napa, California) [thru 5.26]

California Roots Music and Arts Festival (Monterey, California) [thru 5.26]

Cannon River Rendezvous (Cannon Falls, Minnesota) [thru 5.27]

Carassauga Festival (Mississauga, Canada) [thru 5.26]

Comicpalooza (Houston, Texas) [thru 5.26]

ConFuzzled (Birmingham, United Kingdom) [thru 5.26]

Feast of the Flowering Moon (Chillicothe, Ohio) [thru 5.26]

Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival (Fredericksburg, Texas) [thru 5.26]

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival (Garden Grove, California) [thru 5.27]

Jambalaya Festival (Gonzales, Louisiana) [thru 5.26]

Marcon [Multiple Alternative Realities Convention] (Columbus, Ohio) [thru 5.26

MCM London Comic Con (London, United Kingdom) [thru 5.26]

Moonshine Festival (New Straitsville, Ohio) [thru 5.27]

Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival (Morgan Hill, California) [thru 5.26]

Mudbug Madness 39 (Shreveport, Louisiana) [thru 5.26]

Newport Beach Wine Festival (Newport Beach, California) [thru 5.26]

Northwest Folklife Festival (Seattle, Washington) [thru 5.27]

Orlando Carnival Downtown (Orlando, Florida) [thru 5.26]

Phoenix Fan Fusion (Phoenix, Arizona) [thru 5.26]

Portland Rose Festival (Portland, Oregon) [thru 6.9]

Scandinavian Heritage Festival (Ephraim, Utah) [thru 5.25]

Vivid Sydney (Sydney, Australia) [thru 6.15]

Worlds Largest Brat Fest (Madison, Wisconsin) [thru 5.26]

ZestFest (Fort Worth, Texas) [thru 5.26]

Feast Days

Aldersgate Day (a.k.a. Wesley Day; Methodism)

Alexei Savrasov (Artology)

Anna Pak Agi (Christian; One of The Korean Martyrs)

Barinthus (Celtic Book of Days)

Brigantia Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Carmine Infantino (Artology)

David I of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Day of the Horae (Pagan)

Donatian and Rogatian (Christian; Saint)

Emanuel Leutze (Artology)

Feast of Artemis (Ancient Greece)

Feast of Hermes Trismegistus (Patron of Alchemy)

Henri Michaux (Artology)

Jackson Kemper (Episcopal Church)

St. Jerome (Positivist; Saint)

Joanna (Christian; Saint)

John de Prado (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Brodsky (Writerism)

Mary, Help of Christians (Christian; Saint)

Michael Chabon (Writerism)

Mollusc Day (Pastafarian)

The Mothers (Celtic Prosperity Festival)

Nicetas of Pereaslav (Christian; Martyr)

Philip Pearlstein (Artology)

Pontormo (a.k.a. Jacopo da Pontormo; Artology)

Sacred Furrow Day (Cambodia; Everyday Wicca)

Saints Cyril and Methodius’ Day (Macedonia)

Sam the Robot (Muppetism)

Sarah the Black (celebrated by the Romani people of Camargue; Christian; Saint)

Victory Over the U.S. Day (Church of the SubGenius; Canada)

Vincent of Lérins (Christian; Saint)

William Trevor (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

A Good Day for Love (The Book of Days)

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because I danced ‘cause I wanted to. I left my friends behind, because my friends didn't dance and since they didn't dance, they were no friends of mine.)

Premieres

Backdraft (Film; 1991)

Beep, Beep (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

Before Midnight (Film; 2013)

Bluebeard’s Castle, by Bela Bartok (Opera; 1918)

Booksmart (Film; 2019)

Braveheart (Film; 1995)

The Day After Tomorrow (Film; 2004)

Diamond Dogs, by David Bowie (Album; 1974)

Drop Dead Fred (Film; 1991)

Epic (Animated Film; 2013)

Fast & Furious 6 (Film; 2013) [F&F #6]

Faust, selected scenes, by Goethe (Play; 1819)

The Golden Hen (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn (Novel; 2012)

Gravity’s Rainbow, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1993)

Hollywood Steps Out (WB MM Cartoon; 1941)

Hudson Hawk (Film; 1991)

An Inconvenient Truth (Documentary Film; 2006)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Film; 1989)

Jumpin’ Jack Flash, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1968)

Le Pig-Al Patrol (The Inspector; 1967)

Mission: Impossible 2 (Film; 2000)

Onion Pacific (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

The Riddle-Master of Hed, by Patricia A. McKillip (Novel; 1976)

1776, by David McCullough (Book; 2005)

The Source, by James A. Michener (Historical Novel; 1965)

Spirit (Animated Film; 2002)

Spy Hard (Film; 1996)

Sugar, Sugar, by The Archies (Song; 1969)

Symphony No. 2 in Eb Major, by Edward Elgar (Symphony; 1911)

Thelma & Louise (Film; 1991)

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (Film; 1974)

Truth or Dare (Documentary Film; 1991)

A View to a Kill (Film; 1985) [James Bond #14]

Welcome to the Dollhouse (Film; 1996)

Today’s Name Days

Dagmar, Esther (Austria)

Filip, Ivana, Šimun (Croatia)

Jana (Czech Republic)

Esther (Denmark)

Alar, Alari, Allar, Aller (Estonia)

Touko, Tuukka (Finland)

Donatien (France)

Dagmar, Esther (Germany)

Markiani, Palladia, Photini (Greece)

Eliza, Eszter (Hungary)

Amalia, Maria (Italy)

Agate, Anšlavs, Estere, Ilvija, Marlena, Ziedone (Latvia)

Gerardas, Gina, Vilmantas (Lithuania)

Ester, Iris (Norway)

Cieszysława, Estera, Jan, Joanna, Maria, Mokij, Wincenty, Zula, Zuzanna (Poland)

Simeon (România)

Ela (Slovakia)

Auxiliadora, Auxilio, María, Susana (Spain)

Ivan, Vanja (Sweden)

Christian (Ukraine)

Chelsea, Chelsey, Chelsie, Landon (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 145 of 2024; 221 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 21 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 13 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ji-Si), Day 17 (Wu-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 16 Iyar 5784

Islamic: 16 Dhu al-Qada 1445

J Cal: 25 Magenta; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 11 May 2024

Moon: 99%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 4 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Jerome]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 67 of 92)

Week: 3rd Full Week of May

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 4 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.24

Holidays

Aviation Maintenance Technician Day

Battle of Pichincha Day (Ecuador)

Bermuda Day [if weekend, nearest weekday]

Blink 182 Day

Brooklyn Bridge Day

Brother's Day

Camping with Barry White Day (David Letterman)

Carb Day

Culture and Literacy Day (Bulgaria)

Cuti Bersama (Indonesia)

Day for the Naming of Rocks and Planets

Duck Day (French Republic)

Dylan Day (a.k.a. Bob Dylan Day)

Empire Day (British Empire; Pre-1930s)

European Day of Parks

Eurovision Song Contest Day

First Responders Appreciation Day (Ohio)

International Clown Day

International Day Against Epilepsy

International Tiara Day

International Women’s Day for Peace & Disarmament

Little Lamb Day

Long Snapper Appreciation Day

Lubiri Memorial Day (Uganda)

Morse Code Day

National Aviation Maintenance Tech Day

National Beautiful Girls Day

National Blue Badge ay of Action (UK)

National Caterers Appreciation Day

National DevOps Day

National DILF Day

National Emergency Medical Services Recognition Day

National Mike Day

National Poppy Day

National Road Trip Day

National Schizophrenia & Psychosis Awareness Day (Canada)

National Telegram Day (Utrean Empire)

National Work From Home Day

National Wyoming Day

Night Baseball Day

Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day

Parking Meter Day

Play Kick the Can With A Kid Day

Public Garage Day

Sara the Black's Day (Gypsy)

Scavenger Hunt Day

Sinking of the Bismarck Day

Slavonic Enlighteners' Day (Macedonia)

Slavonic Literature and Culture Day (Russia)

Vala Asteroid Day

What Hath God Wrought Day (Morse Code)

World Product Day

World Schizophrenia Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Asparagus Day

Endless Breakfast Day (Denny’s)

Judgment of Paris Day

National Coffee Day (Brazil)

National Escargot Day

National Lamb Day (New Zealand)

National Schlumpia Day

Yucatan Shrimp Day

Independence & Related Days

Commonwealth Day (Belize, Lesotho)

Ecuador (from Spain, 1822)

Eritrea (from Ethiopia, 1993)

Nueva Vizcaya Day (Philippines)

Orange Free State (Annexed by UK; 1900)

4th Friday in May

Ascension Friday (Belgium)

Don't Fry Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Heat Safety Awareness Day [4th Friday]

National Cooler Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Death Busters Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Polka Festival begins [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Road Trip Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

National Wig Out Day [Friday before Memorial Day]

Title Track Day [4th Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 24 (3rd Full Week)

National Polka Weekend (Ennis, Texas) [thru 5.26] (Memorial Day Weekend)

Old Time Player Piano Weekend (thru 5.26) [Memorial Day Weekend]

Festivals Beginning May 24, 2024

Arcadia Broiler Dairy Days (Arcadia, Wisconsin) [thru 5.26]

Bath Fringe Festival (Bath, UK) [thru 6.9]

Nattjazz [Bergen International Jazz Festival] (Bergen, Norway) [thru 6.1]

Blue Crab Festival (Palatka, Florida) [thru 5.26]

Blues, Brews, and BBQ (Beaver Creek, Colorado) [thru 5.26]

BottleRock Napa Valley Music & Food Festival (Napa, California) [thru 5.26]

California Roots Music and Arts Festival (Monterey, California) [thru 5.26]

Cannon River Rendezvous (Cannon Falls, Minnesota) [thru 5.27]

Carassauga Festival (Mississauga, Canada) [thru 5.26]

Comicpalooza (Houston, Texas) [thru 5.26]

ConFuzzled (Birmingham, United Kingdom) [thru 5.26]

Feast of the Flowering Moon (Chillicothe, Ohio) [thru 5.26]

Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival (Fredericksburg, Texas) [thru 5.26]

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival (Garden Grove, California) [thru 5.27]

Jambalaya Festival (Gonzales, Louisiana) [thru 5.26]

Marcon [Multiple Alternative Realities Convention] (Columbus, Ohio) [thru 5.26

MCM London Comic Con (London, United Kingdom) [thru 5.26]

Moonshine Festival (New Straitsville, Ohio) [thru 5.27]

Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival (Morgan Hill, California) [thru 5.26]

Mudbug Madness 39 (Shreveport, Louisiana) [thru 5.26]

Newport Beach Wine Festival (Newport Beach, California) [thru 5.26]

Northwest Folklife Festival (Seattle, Washington) [thru 5.27]

Orlando Carnival Downtown (Orlando, Florida) [thru 5.26]

Phoenix Fan Fusion (Phoenix, Arizona) [thru 5.26]

Portland Rose Festival (Portland, Oregon) [thru 6.9]

Scandinavian Heritage Festival (Ephraim, Utah) [thru 5.25]

Vivid Sydney (Sydney, Australia) [thru 6.15]

Worlds Largest Brat Fest (Madison, Wisconsin) [thru 5.26]

ZestFest (Fort Worth, Texas) [thru 5.26]

Feast Days

Aldersgate Day (a.k.a. Wesley Day; Methodism)

Alexei Savrasov (Artology)

Anna Pak Agi (Christian; One of The Korean Martyrs)

Barinthus (Celtic Book of Days)

Brigantia Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Carmine Infantino (Artology)

David I of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Day of the Horae (Pagan)

Donatian and Rogatian (Christian; Saint)

Emanuel Leutze (Artology)

Feast of Artemis (Ancient Greece)

Feast of Hermes Trismegistus (Patron of Alchemy)

Henri Michaux (Artology)

Jackson Kemper (Episcopal Church)

St. Jerome (Positivist; Saint)

Joanna (Christian; Saint)

John de Prado (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Brodsky (Writerism)

Mary, Help of Christians (Christian; Saint)

Michael Chabon (Writerism)

Mollusc Day (Pastafarian)

The Mothers (Celtic Prosperity Festival)

Nicetas of Pereaslav (Christian; Martyr)

Philip Pearlstein (Artology)

Pontormo (a.k.a. Jacopo da Pontormo; Artology)

Sacred Furrow Day (Cambodia; Everyday Wicca)

Saints Cyril and Methodius’ Day (Macedonia)

Sam the Robot (Muppetism)

Sarah the Black (celebrated by the Romani people of Camargue; Christian; Saint)

Victory Over the U.S. Day (Church of the SubGenius; Canada)

Vincent of Lérins (Christian; Saint)

William Trevor (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

A Good Day for Love (The Book of Days)

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because I danced ‘cause I wanted to. I left my friends behind, because my friends didn't dance and since they didn't dance, they were no friends of mine.)

Premieres

Backdraft (Film; 1991)

Beep, Beep (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

Before Midnight (Film; 2013)

Bluebeard’s Castle, by Bela Bartok (Opera; 1918)

Booksmart (Film; 2019)

Braveheart (Film; 1995)

The Day After Tomorrow (Film; 2004)

Diamond Dogs, by David Bowie (Album; 1974)

Drop Dead Fred (Film; 1991)

Epic (Animated Film; 2013)

Fast & Furious 6 (Film; 2013) [F&F #6]

Faust, selected scenes, by Goethe (Play; 1819)

The Golden Hen (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn (Novel; 2012)

Gravity’s Rainbow, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1993)

Hollywood Steps Out (WB MM Cartoon; 1941)

Hudson Hawk (Film; 1991)

An Inconvenient Truth (Documentary Film; 2006)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Film; 1989)

Jumpin’ Jack Flash, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1968)

Le Pig-Al Patrol (The Inspector; 1967)

Mission: Impossible 2 (Film; 2000)

Onion Pacific (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

The Riddle-Master of Hed, by Patricia A. McKillip (Novel; 1976)

1776, by David McCullough (Book; 2005)

The Source, by James A. Michener (Historical Novel; 1965)

Spirit (Animated Film; 2002)

Spy Hard (Film; 1996)

Sugar, Sugar, by The Archies (Song; 1969)

Symphony No. 2 in Eb Major, by Edward Elgar (Symphony; 1911)

Thelma & Louise (Film; 1991)

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (Film; 1974)

Truth or Dare (Documentary Film; 1991)

A View to a Kill (Film; 1985) [James Bond #14]

Welcome to the Dollhouse (Film; 1996)

Today’s Name Days

Dagmar, Esther (Austria)

Filip, Ivana, Šimun (Croatia)

Jana (Czech Republic)

Esther (Denmark)

Alar, Alari, Allar, Aller (Estonia)

Touko, Tuukka (Finland)

Donatien (France)

Dagmar, Esther (Germany)

Markiani, Palladia, Photini (Greece)

Eliza, Eszter (Hungary)

Amalia, Maria (Italy)

Agate, Anšlavs, Estere, Ilvija, Marlena, Ziedone (Latvia)

Gerardas, Gina, Vilmantas (Lithuania)

Ester, Iris (Norway)

Cieszysława, Estera, Jan, Joanna, Maria, Mokij, Wincenty, Zula, Zuzanna (Poland)

Simeon (România)

Ela (Slovakia)

Auxiliadora, Auxilio, María, Susana (Spain)

Ivan, Vanja (Sweden)

Christian (Ukraine)

Chelsea, Chelsey, Chelsie, Landon (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 145 of 2024; 221 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 21 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 13 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ji-Si), Day 17 (Wu-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 16 Iyar 5784

Islamic: 16 Dhu al-Qada 1445

J Cal: 25 Magenta; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 11 May 2024

Moon: 99%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 4 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Jerome]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 67 of 92)

Week: 3rd Full Week of May

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 4 of 31)

[manchesterpreparatory]

Islamic Schools in the UK: Bridging Education and Faith

Islamic schools in UK play a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape for Muslim children, offering an environment where academic excellence meets spiritual and moral development. These schools cater to diverse needs, ensuring that young minds are nurtured with a blend of modern education and Islamic values.

In this blog, we explore the purpose, benefits, and challenges of Islamic schools in the UK, highlighting their importance in today’s society.

The Purpose of Islamic Schools in the UK

Islamic schools aim to create a balanced educational experience that integrates:

Academic Learning: Following the national curriculum to prepare students for modern careers.

Spiritual Growth: Instilling Islamic principles through Quranic studies, Arabic, and Islamic history.

Character Building: Promoting values like respect, honesty, and empathy in daily life.

These schools are not only institutions of learning but also hubs for community building, where students feel a sense of belonging and identity.

Types of Islamic Schools in the UK

1. Independent Islamic Schools

Privately funded and managed.

Often combine Islamic studies with high academic standards.

Examples: Tayyibah Girls’ School, Manchester Muslim Preparatory School.

2. State-Funded Faith Schools

Follow the UK national curriculum while incorporating Islamic values and teachings.

Examples: Al-Hijrah School in Birmingham, Eden Boys’ and Eden Girls’ Schools (Tauheedul Education Trust).

3. Supplementary Schools

Operate after regular school hours.

Focus on Quranic studies, Arabic, and Islamic etiquette.

Benefits of Islamic Schools in the UK

1. Holistic Education

Students gain a comprehensive education that includes academic, spiritual, and moral growth.

2. Faith-Centered Environment

Daily prayers, Quranic studies, and Islamic ethics are integral, helping students stay connected to their faith.

3. Strong Community Bonds

Students, teachers, and parents collaborate to foster a supportive and nurturing environment.

4. Cultural Identity

Celebrating Islamic festivals and values reinforces a sense of pride in heritage and identity.

5. Focus on Character Development

Ethical and moral teachings prepare students to navigate challenges with integrity.

Challenges Faced by Islamic Schools

1. Funding and Resources

Independent Islamic schools often rely on community support, which can limit facilities and opportunities.

2. Stereotypes and Misconceptions

These schools sometimes face prejudice or misunderstanding, making community outreach essential.

3. Balancing Dual Curricula

Merging Islamic studies with the national curriculum requires careful planning and experienced educators.

4. Regulatory Scrutiny

Faith schools must meet strict government standards, ensuring accountability but also posing challenges.

Prominent Islamic Schools in the UK

Manchester Muslim Preparatory SchoolKnown for academic excellence and a strong Islamic foundation.

Eden Boys’ and Eden Girls’ SchoolsPart of the Tauheedul Education Trust, focusing on leadership and academic success.

Al-Noor Primary School (Ilford)Offers a blend of Islamic and secular education with a focus on values-based learning.

Darul Uloom SchoolsFocus on traditional Islamic scholarship alongside modern education.

Future Opportunities for Islamic Schools

1. Technology Integration

Embracing digital tools to enhance both Islamic and secular education.

2. Community Collaboration

Partnering with local organizations and businesses to expand resources and opportunities.

3. Interfaith Dialogue

Islamic schools can serve as platforms for fostering understanding and harmony within multicultural communities.

Conclusion

Islamic schools in the UK are more than educational institutions; they are vital spaces where young Muslims can grow academically and spiritually. These schools provide students with the tools to navigate life with confidence, rooted in their faith and prepared for the challenges of the modern world.

As the demand for faith-based education rises, Islamic schools continue to evolve, ensuring they remain inclusive, innovative, and impactful. They play a pivotal role in nurturing future generations who embody knowledge, compassion, and integrity.

[xrayman2k4]

The Loneliness of the Short Distance Runner from Holly Jacobson on Vimeo.

This was a film that I originally shot back in 2014, but it has taken a long time to get it through the editing process (perhaps because there was never a script!). At Stockport Film Festival I was really inspired by a talk by Mark Herbert (producer of “Four Lions”, “Submarine” and “This Is England” and loads more). I wanted to make a film that was really more of a character exploration and so was born a girl named Zoe. I came up with hundreds of facts and character traits and little idiosyncrasies for this character, most of which never came to light and started filming. It began as a stream of consciousness but ended up as an inevitable journey for this girl that I came to love.

Awards: Challenging Reality Award for Age 9-12, Seoul International Youth Film Festival, 2016 Best Young Director, Birmingham Film Festival 2016 Best Short Film, Youth 6-12, Albany Film Festival 2017 Best Young Filmmaker, High Peak Independent Film Festival 2017

Film Festival Selections: Cardiff Mini Film Festival 2016 Seoul International Youth Film Festival 2016 Birmingham Film Festival 2106 Marcellus Movie Madness Family Film Festival 2016 KIDS First! Film Festival 2016-17 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival 2017 Albany Film Festival 2017 Fresh Film Festival 2017 Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival 2017 Scout Film Festival 2017 High Peak Independent Film Festival 2017

[screen1ne]

Darkly comic sci-fi thriller series CHASER - available from today on Prime Video

Zero Gravity Media Films is delighted to announce that the world premiere of their new Sci-fi series CHASER will be available from today; available on Prime Video. CHASER is distributed by Buffalo 8. It will be available on a pay-per-view basis from today.  A hit on the independent festival circuit, CHASER won Best Series at both the Birmingham Film & TV Festival and Star International Film…

[ahz-associates]

The 10 Best Cities to Study Abroad in the UK!

Studying abroad in the UK is familiar with a wide choice of educational institutions, from historic establishments that led the way in university education to cutting-edge centers of technology, spiritual studies, and more. Among the hundreds of universities in the UK are Russell Group names like Oxford, Cambridge, Queen's University Belfast, Warrick University, London Metropolitan University, and Canterbury Christ Church University. Students from the UK and elsewhere are drawn to this school for reasons other than just the quality of education.

Living close to several colleges and UK institutions offers a unique perspective on life, a unique milieu for studying abroad in the UK, and a variety of life experiences. For this reason, the top UK cities for international students are a constant curiosity for all overseas students. Opportunities to live a new life and pursue newfound independence in a different country are once in a lifetime, whether they are located on the canals surrounding Birmingham, the cobblestone roads throughout Scotland, or in metropolitan London.

The Top 10 UK Cities for Students

International students have been drawn to various UK cities ever since the country's universities were established. Every city and every university is distinct in its own right. Selecting the best one can be challenging for people who are unfamiliar with the subtle differences between each UK city and nation. As a result, we've created a brief overview featuring the top 10 UK cities for students. Choose the virtual tour of each to choose which is the best option for your study abroad experience in the UK.

1. London

There's a reason London tops a lot of lists. There are lots of options for employment, education, and a vibrant social life. More than fifteen prestigious educational institutions, including those ranked in the QS World University Rankings, The Guardian Rankings, Times Higher Education Rankings, and other publications, are located there. In quest of a top-notch education, individuals seeking graduate degrees, first-time university attendees, and even working professionals travel to London. More than 400,000 students call London home, and they attest to its prospects.

London offers excellent institutions, a vibrant social scene, and excellent employment prospects. Pubs, taverns, theaters, movie theaters, eateries serving sports food, festivals, parks, libraries, and more abound. Applying to UK universities in London that are deeply ingrained in the culture is possible at places like King's College, Queen Mary University of London, and the London School of Economics and Political Sciences.

2. The Manchester

Manchester, which is still in England, is a fantastic university city in the United Kingdom. There are lots of job options, excellent living conditions, and university amenities available. It's conveniently located close to London, making it a popular weekend destination for students. One of the most respected universities in the globe, as well as in the UK, is the University of Manchester, which belongs to the Russell Group.

It offers students access to fantastic social and other possibilities and is ranked in the top 20 on several lists. For those interested in the arts, music, sports, history, and other subjects, there are many venues and locations. In addition to the University of Manchester, excellent institutions offering many chances for academic and research objectives include Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, and the Royal Northern College of Music.

3. The Coventry

With more than 40% of international students calling Coventry home, it's one of the most student-friendly cities in the UK. As a result, the city offers exposure to a wide range of cultures, languages, and social situations and is extremely diversified. The University of Warwick is among the top academic institutions in the UK, offering opportunities for both academic and research excellence across a range of subjects. Opportunities are abundant at Coventry University as well. Students can also pursue interests in poetry, literature, dance, music, and other forms of culture.

4. Edinburgh

Travel to Edinburgh in Scotland to see the most breathtaking abundance of nature, a rich history, and excellent academic prospects. Edinburgh is a fantastic city for students, with lots of green space and historic buildings like Edinburgh Castle. Numerous universities may be found in the city, such as Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Edinburgh, and Royal College of Surgeons. There are many modern theaters, galleries, museums, and other establishments outside of colleges, in addition to more social venues including clubs, conventional pubs, retail malls, dining establishments, and so forth.

5. Glasgow

Glasgow ranks fourth among UK cities that are great for students. The city is also among the top 50 for university rankings and student prospects, with a diversified student body that attracts both domestic and foreign students. Prestigious academic institutions include Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow School of Art, and the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde. Students can explore the history and culture of the city after school at a variety of locations, including museums, theaters, pubs, fine dining restaurants, and live music venues.

6. Birmingham

Birmingham ranks seventh among UK cities that are friendly to students. Situated in the nation's center, it is the second-biggest city in the United Kingdom. It is frequently ranked in the top 100 and is the 49th most student-friendly city globally. You can submit applications to a number of universities, including Newman University, Birmingham City University, Aston University, and the University of Birmingham. Along with fantastic dining options, the city boasts excellent retail malls, marketplaces, pubs, historic sites, canals, and other natural areas. In addition, there are other festivals held all year round.

7. Brighton

Returning to England, Brighton is a bustling student city in the UK and is encircled by beaches. There are students from all across the UK and the world attending, making for a very diverse student body. Numerous more universities that score highly in QS and other school rankings exist in addition to the University of Sussex. Students can engage in a wide range of activities in Brighton's vibrant community outside of academic institutions.

8. Aberdeen

Aberdeen is ranked ninth out of the finest institutions in the United Kingdom by QS World Rankings. The city is home to several universities, including Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen, and also has miles of coastline and rural areas. The city is ideal for students due to its reduced cost of living, particularly for international students on a tight budget. The area is fantastic for those who love the outdoors.

9. Newcastle

Newcastle is ranked eighth on this list. There is a lot of diversity to interact with due to the high student-to-teacher ratio. More significantly, it is home to some of the most esteemed universities in the UK, such as Northumbria, Durham, and Newcastle. Newcastle has a bustling nightlife in addition to excellent schools. In addition to live music, sports, theaters, galleries, and cultural events, you may go partying, dancing, drinking, and more.

10. Nottingham

Excellent academic and research opportunities are provided by Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. As the "Home of English Sport," the city is particularly wonderful for sports fans.

[whatsonmedia]

Thursday Thrill: 6 Unmissable Summer Fest Frenzy!

In July's embrace, the world awakens to a kaleidoscope of life's wonders. Music festivals weave their melodies, while tantalizing gastronomic delights tempt our taste buds. Cultural fiestas bloom, revealing the rich tapestry of humanity. Let's dance to July's tune and paint eternal memories on life's canvas. Embrace the magic, for this month promises a symphony of experiences like no other. Made Festival 28 - 30 July The highly anticipated annual Birmingham sell-out Urban dance music festival gets under-way this weekend.  After notching up impressive success story’s Made festival lovers are in for a treat across this two-day music mash up. Its where festival expectations are catered for on every level. With a choice of music genres that includes a roller-coaster of heart pumping House, Drum & Bass, Bass Music, Hip Hop, Disco, Garage and much more Each year the festival organisers go all out, bigger is better.  Showcasing impressive stage productions and a world-class line-up which is the talk of the Midlands.  In Its 9th year, Made has built a fierce reputation becoming a highlight during the festival season. Attendees can look forward to 11 music stages all hosting one of the momentous stellar 2023 line-ups of over 100 DJs & live artists and headline acts including Eva Lazarus, Flowdan, Girl Grind UK, Girls Don't Sync, Shy FX, Alex Bowen, Dan Schofield, Lewis Carroll, BKLAVA, Gentlemens Club, Holy Goof, Tom Shorterz, Dj Mini, HP3, Nathan Pinder, Reeshy, Born On The Road, Rage Twins Crew and many more. Featuring special guests like Sean Paul at Luna Springs on Sunday.  Furthermore, the festival also features art displays and the some of the best Birmingham’s Street food offerings to tickle your taste buds. Taking place in the Digbeth Triangle, Made will surely go down as one of the unforgettable summer festival to be at in 2023 More Info> made-festival.co.uk Y Not Festival 29 - 31 July Y Not Festival is an independent UK music festival with a lineup of rock, indie, and alternative music. There's also a dance tent for evening entertainment. Promoters work tirelessly to create an exceptional atmosphere with a high bar for back-to-back entertainment. The lineup includes Kasabian, The Wombats, Bombay Bicycle Club, Royal Blood, KT Tunstall, Kate Nash, James, Paul Weller, Beabadoobee, Everything Everything, and more. Located in the beautiful Peak District, Derbyshire, this award-winning festival is a hit-list event. Enjoy comedy shows at Flamingo Jacks and movies at the Night Hawk Cinema. Families have their share of fun with dedicated camping and various activities for the little festival-goers. Plan your weekend or go with the flow, either way, Y Not Festival promises to create the best festival memories. Tickets & More Info> ynotfestival.com Camp Bestival 27 – 30 July Winner of the UK Best Family Festival, Camp Bestival is a must-attend event for all the family who love music, food, and fun in the outdoors. This four-day festival is held annually at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, and it never disappoints. With a diverse line-up of musicians and performers, there is something for everyone at Camp Bestival.This festival has live music for everyone, with incredible performances from various artists, headline acts, and DJ sets by Grace Jones, The Kooks, Craig David Presents TS5, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and many others. It's a diverse lineup that will cater to all music lovers' tastes! Its festivals that cover all the basis for having the best experience and with the essentials including an array of fabulous food stalls. From gourmet burgers to vegan options, there is no shortage of delicious food to enjoy. You can also take part in cooking workshops and learn how to create your own culinary masterpieces.In addition to the music and food, there are plenty of activities for all ages. Kids can enjoy the Kids' Garden, where they can take part in arts and crafts, storytelling, and games. Adults can take part in yoga classes, talks, and workshops.Overall, Camp Bestival is a fantastic festival which goes all out on creating a family atmosphere which offers something for everyone. Not forgetting its annual festival theme that encourages festival-goers to get their best dressed attire on. This year’s theme is 'Animal Snap' Whether you are a music lover, a foodie, or just up for a fun weekend away, this festival is not to be missed. Tickets & More Info> campbestival.net Kendal Calling 27 - 30 July Each summer Kendal Calling curates a diverse line up that span across the genres, taking in rock, indie and dance music.  Growing each year in its idyllic surroundings of Hackthorpe Cumbria.  The festival has extended to a four-day musical extravaganza which draws in a 25,000-capacity crowd all eager to get dancing in a field of dreams seeing their favourite music artists & DJs right up close and across its various stages and instillation productions. This year's festival brings an exciting lineup of DJs and music artists, offering festival-goers a diverse range of musical delights. The talented performers include A.Skillz, Annie Mac, Example, Black Honey, Blossoms, DJ Jools, Krafty Kuts, Frank Turner, DJ Yoda, Deja Vega, Happy Mondays, Jaguar Skills, Mike Skinner, Natalie Imbruglia, We Are Scientists, Kasabian, KT Tunstall, Kaiser Chiefs, Nile Rodgers, Reverend And The Makers, and Scouting For Girls. We hope for sunny weather, but it's always good to be prepared with your wellies, wet wipes, and mackintoshes. Let's make it an unforgettable weekend filled with incredible music and great experiences! Tickets & More Info> kendalcalling.co.uk Hospitality In The Harbour 29 July Hospitality In The Harbour, one of Bristol's electrifying festivals, returns after a sold-out event last year. The high-energy festival promises non-stop music at its finest, with a stellar lineup of DJs and performers. This year's festival features an incredible lineup, including Wilkinson, A.M.C, DJ Marky, The Ragga Twins, Flava D, and more. Get ready for an unforgettable experience as elite DJs play the best D'n'B and Jungle music at the beautiful Lloyds Amphitheatre on a perfect Saturday daytime party. In addition to exceptional music, the festival offers captivating art installations, interactive workshops, and various fun activities to enjoy. Fuel yourself with a wide selection of food and drinks available on-site during this celebration of music and creativity. D'n'B fans, don't miss this unmissable dance music event! Be a part of the amazing festival experience. Tickets & More Info> hospitalitydnb.com Womad 27 – 31 July Womad festival is happening this weekend, and it's a place where people can let loose and enjoy music, arts, and culture. The festival keeps getting better each year, with a fantastic lineup of artists from all over the world. From African drums to Indian classical music, Womad offers a variety of mesmerizing sounds for everyone. The colorful parade is a highlight, showcasing traditional costumes and dances from different cultures. Beyond music and dance, Womad offers workshops and talks on culture, sustainability, and this year, a focus on environmental issues and climate change. Experts and activists will be there to make a positive impact on the planet. Get ready for an unforgettable festival experience! Whether you love music, culture, or just want to have fun, this festival has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this celebration of diversity and creativity! The festival lineup includes top acts like Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Bombay Bicycle, Kate Rusby, Mariza, Horace Andy with Dub Asante Band, The Comet Is Coming, Dakh Daughters, Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra, Isaac Birituro and The Rail Abandon, Israel Fernández, Kathryn Joseph, and King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys. It's going to be an incredible mix of music and performances! Tickets & More Info> womad.co.uk Read the full article

[louisupdates]

Louis Tomlinson on his solo career, album collaborators, One Direction and fair prices for fans

by MusicWeek Staff October 17th 2022 at 11:30AM

Louis Tomlinson is Music Week’s cover star for our November issue - and he’s got plenty to say about his solo career ahead of album No.2. 

You can get hold of the issue this week to read the wide-ranging interview with Louis Tomlinson, written by Charlotte Gunn.

Tomlinson is now an independent artist after 12 years in the major label system. Faith In The Future, released on November 11, marks a new deal with BMG, following a long spell with Syco (five One Direction albums and his debut solo release Walls). Tomlinson has 4.25 million monthly listeners on Spotify and the single Bigger Than Me is on 15m streams.

Tomlinson’s guitar-heavy second album has credits including Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Wolf Alice), Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts), Joe Cross (Courteeners), Dan Grech (The Killers, The Vaccines, Halsey), Nico Rebscher (Aurora, Alice Merton) and Rob Harvey (The Music, Kasabian).

Tomlinson wrapped his most recent tour – which included a stop at OVO Arena Wembley – in September. He’s also been championing some of his favourite acts - including The Vaccines, Hinds, Sun Room and Stone - at his own Away From Home Festival.

Ahead of the album release, Tomlinson has dropped a new single, Out Of My System, and confirmed UK and European dates for autumn 2023. The tour includes a stop at The O2 in London (November 17), as well as dates in Sheffield, Manchester, Glasgow, Brighton, Cardiff and Birmingham.

Here, in an exclusive preview of our Music Week cover story with Louis Tomlinson, we present some of the interview highlights…

Louis Tomlinson on his solo career “With hindsight, I always knew I wanted to do it. But the question was, could I? What would it sound like? It wasn’t as sudden as this, but in my brain it felt like I woke up one day and all of a sudden, the band had gone on a break. And it took me a long time to get over that idea. There was a petulance there, I wanted it the way I wanted it.”

Louis Tomlinson on the end of the Syco era “I think it probably made sense for both me and Syco to go opposite ways. I had my own frustrations, I’m sure they had their own frustrations with me to a degree. I wasn’t really the traditional Syco artist. So it was a bit of a no-brainer for me really, and I did feel relieved when I was out of that.”

Louis Tomlinson on his new label home at BMG “Everything BMG stands for is really important. The level of control, even the way that the deal is structured, everything makes you feel like you’re in control and they’re there to help. Yes, they offer opinions, but it’s not saying, ‘This is what the single or video should be.’ I needed that freedom because the last thing I want is to be sitting in my rocking chair when I’m in my seventies thinking I should have made my own decisions. They’ve really embraced me as an artist, all of my ideas and thoughts, which gives me loads of confidence and was what I needed.

Louis Tomlinson on mental health and music “In terms of One Direction, it’s often easy to stereotype these big evil managers or big evil label heads who demanded that we did this [or that]. It wasn’t really like that, I will say that everyone did their best by us, and I’m talking specifically about our mental health. However, being an artist is very individual and the pressures that you have day-to-day, no manager or record boss understands that. Until you experience it, you don’t understand it. Sometimes words are powerful, it can be a little throwaway phrase that comes from this suited label boss and you think about that for the next couple of months.”

Louis Tomlinson on helping his fans “In terms of what I think could be better, honestly, there’s too many fucking greedy fuckers. As artists, we can all do a little bit more to help out, with things like ticket prices, merch prices, everything that we put any kind of price on… Those things are really important to me. I could have had a meet and greet for the seven months I’ve just been on tour, and it would have been amazing fucking money. But the bottom line is, whoever’s got the richest parents or the most money gets a better experience, and that’s not fucking fair.”

Louis Tomlinson on his album collaborators including Courteeners bassist/producer Joe Cross “I definitely had a clear idea of who I wanted to work with, what kind of songs I wanted to make and the direction I wanted to go in. And that meant missing out on any of the moments of treading water and trial and error. When I look down the list of people that have worked on the record, it makes me really proud and especially people like Joe who plays with the Courteeners. I’ve seen loads of Courteeners gigs. Like, that’s fucking dead cool that he’s associated with my record!”

Louis Tomlinson on One Direction “I suppose it’s only a break if we ever get back together! When we had the conversations, we never got any real clarity on what it was. And I can remember going into those meetings and saying, ‘You know, I understand – it’s not what I want – but all I would ask is just put a rough time on how long a break.’ And there was never really an answer. So I definitely came out of the band, crossing my fingers thinking, ‘Oh, maybe it’s only going to be like a year or two.’ That’s also why it took me a long time to get over it because I didn’t really know what it was. I think that’s probably stopped me from going into my solo career because I was still just thinking I wanted to be in that band.”

[swanlake1998]

Article: Black in Ballet: Coming Together After Trying to ‘Blend Into the Corps’

Date: August 17, 2021

By: Brian Seibert

A rare gathering of Black dancers from different companies meet to discuss a new production on Little Island, curated by Misty Copeland and Robert Garland.

Last year, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the protests that followed, American ballet companies started talking a lot more about race. About the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion that organizations of all kinds were addressing, but also aesthetic assumptions, implicit biases and longstanding practices particular to ballet and its history.

“There were innumerable panel discussions,” said Robert Garland, the resident choreographer of Dance Theater of Harlem. “But I felt that for the younger Black dancers, it was a heavy burden to be responsible for all of that.”

Garland wanted to help them, and in the way that he knows best: by making a dance for them. That work, “Stare Decisis (To Stand by Things Decided),” has its debut on Wednesday (August 18, 2021) as part of “NYC Free,” a monthlong festival at Little Island, the new public park on the Hudson River.

The most significant feature of “Stare Decisis” is its eight-member cast: an extraordinarily rare gathering of Black dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem. Misty Copeland — Ballet Theater’s first Black female principal dancer and one of the most famous ballerinas in the United States — is among them. (Little Island asked her to present a program.)

She isn’t dancing, though. Instead, she is a narrator, reciting a collection of quotations about democracy and the effort of defending the common good, drawn from the Declaration of Independence and the likes of Thurgood Marshall, John Lewis and Barbara Jordan.

“I’m at a point in my career when I feel the opportunity to pass the torch,” Copeland said after a rehearsal in a Dance Theater of Harlem studio on Sunday. “Anytime I can give a Black dancer an opportunity and bring Black dancers together, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Recalling her own experience of being the only Black dancer during her first years with Ballet Theater, she added: “Anytime I got the chance to be around people who looked like me, I jumped at it. It’s important for us to be around each other, supporting one another.”

That’s what the cast seemed to be doing at the Sunday rehearsal — relaxing in one another’s company, trading stories. Rachel Hutsell, a City Ballet corps member, likened the whole experience to therapy. Kennard Henson, also with City Ballet, called the environment “crazy,” because this kind of cross-company collaboration “doesn’t happen” and “just being around people you can relate to makes a big difference.”

But it isn’t only the people who make a difference. It’s also Garland’s choreography, which deftly mixes classical ballet steps with moves and attitude from at least a century of Black popular dance.

Keeping the classical vocabulary high in the mix is important to Garland, who said that classically trained Black dancers are too often seen as suited only for contemporary works. But it’s also important to Garland that the young dancers know their Black history, which is why he asked Preston Dugger, a Dance Theater of Harlem alumnus who is serving as D.J., to layer some Gil Scott-Heron and Aretha Franklin over more up-to-date hip-hop beats.

“In Mr. Garland’s work, we get to show who we are through our movement,” said Alexandra Hutchinson, a Dance Theater of Harlem member. “It’s so freeing to be able to do that onstage, because oftentimes we’re told to tone it down.”

Because of the pandemic, the dancers have been rehearsing mainly with members of the same company. That’s reflected in the work’s structure, with representatives of each troupe performing as separate units before everyone mingles in the finale. Then, as the Ballet Theater corps member Erica Lall put it, “We get to groove together.”

On Sunday, that grooving was glorious — joyful, buoyant, liberated. Afterward, Garland, Copeland,Hutsell, Lall, Hutchinson, Henson, Kouadio Davis (Dance Theater of Harlem) and India Bradley (New York City Ballet) all sat down to discuss the experience of making “Stare Decisis” and the meaning of dancing together. (Another cast member, Melvin Lawovi of Ballet Theater, was absent.) It was a conversation that quickly became a wide-ranging discussion of being Black in ballet. Here are edited excerpts.

Kouadio Davis: I feel like maybe we’re entering a new era as Black dancers. I’ve often felt competitive with the other Black people in the room, because there’s so little space [for us]. But this has been an opportunity for me to get it into my body and mind that I need to root for the other Black and brown people in my community.

India Bradley: Growing up, I was always in a class that was completely white. And I never really thought about it. I feel like you go through that phase where you don’t really think about it, and then you have a moment where you realize it. And it’s usually not because of you realizing it. It’s somebody showing you.

Rachel Hutsell: Working with Mr. Garland has been especially fun because he’s trying to draw more out of me. I’ve been told before — even fairly recently — that my excitement takes away from my technique.

Misty Copeland: A lot to unpack there.

Rachel Hutsell: It has to do with literally looking different onstage and “try not to draw too much attention to yourself because you look different.” So it’s taking me a mental minute to realize that I can actually go for it, because my excitement adds to my technique and it’s being asked for and it’s needed.

Misty Copeland: There’s so much disguised language that we’re left to decipher. Nowadays we’re in a place where we can step back from ourselves and see that we don’t have to take it personally. But it’s about something you can’t control: your skin, your personality, “excitement.” To me, it’s like they’re saying, “Don’t be you.”

India Bradley: You look different, but we’ll put you in the brochure.

Rachel Hutsell: Oh my gosh, yes. They won’t cast you in anything, but you can be on the billboard.

India Bradley: For a lot of people in charge of ballet companies, white is the classical beauty standard.

Rachel Hutsell: My sister, who just got into the Birmingham Royal Ballet, sent me a meme that said, “When did you realize you weren’t ugly, you just weren’t white?” That explains it perfectly.

Alexandra Hutchinson: I feel we had a lot of time this year to reflect because we were stuck at home. I had time to think, “Oh, it was because I was Black that I had that experience in the studio.” I’m not the type of person that says it was because of the color of my skin. But sometimes you have to realize, no, it was because I’m Black that I was treated that way, and it’s not OK.

Rachel Hutsell: And nobody comes up to you when you are 14 and says: “At a certain point, you’re going to be every little Black girl’s idol. Get ready. You now have to carry the weight of all that on your shoulders.” You have to take the responsibility of making sure people coming up after you are OK, and you’re not OK.

India Bradley: We could talk about this topic for weeks and still not get to the bottom of it.

Erica Lall: But I think it’s important for audience members to see all of us onstage together, in the spotlight, and not just trying to quote-unquote blend into the corps.

Alexandra Hutchinson: It’s definitely nice just to be yourself.

[helloyoucreatives]

Queer East Film Festival (15 - 26 September) is delighted to unveil its full programme centred on queer storytelling and activism from East and Southeast Asia. This year’s programme includes a selection of 37 features, short films and artists’ moving image works from 15 countries, ranging from new releases to classic retrospectives, mainstream box office hits to radical independent works, accompanied by pre-screening introductions and filmmaker Q&As. A series of online panel discussions with international guests will run throughout the festival period, covering topics such as women in the film industry, queer film festivals, and the development of Asian LGBTQ+ movements.

Launched in 2020, Queer East is a new film festival that aims to amplify the voices of Asian communities in the UK, who have often been excluded from mainstream discourse, despite Asians being one of the country’s fastest-growing ethnic groups. Queer East seeks to facilitate a better understanding of the richness of queer Asian heritage, and to bridge the cultural distance between the UK public and the region. Featuring works made by international filmmakers and Asian diaspora communities, and looking to foster authentic voices, the festival explores a wide range of perspectives, showcasing stories that intersect with personal experiences, cultural norms, and socio-political transitions.

The second edition of Queer East opens with the UK premiere of Daughters (2020), the directorial debut of Hajime Tsuda from Japan; and will close with the multi award-winning Dear Tenant (2020), directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Yu-Chieh Cheng.

This year, the world’s spotlight shone on Japan as the host country for the Summer Olympics. This drew the programmer’s attention to Japan’s history of iconoclastic, inventive and unapologetic queer filmmaking, and its growing strength in advancing LGBTQ+ rights. To mark this, the festival presents Focus Japan, a ten-film programme that looks back on queer representations in Japanese films from the 1980s until today. It features a double bill from the Japanese maestro Nagisa Oshima; Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) and a rare 35mm presentation of Gohatto (1999); a queer revisiting of the 1995 animation Ghost in the Shell (dir. Mamoru Oshii) and the 20th anniversary screening of Ryosuke Hashiguchi’s Hush! (2001), alongside recent releases like Queer Japan (dir. Graham Kolbeins, 2019) and Close-Knit (dir. Naoko Ogigami, 2017).

Building on the success of last year, the festival’s Focus Taiwan strand continues with Days (2020) by the internationally acclaimed auteur Tsai Ming-Liang, the UK premiere of Teddy-award winning director Zero Chou’s Secrets of 1979 (2021), and a special presentation of The End of the Track (dir. Tun-Fei Mou), a rediscovered classic made in 1970. The series also includes an exciting line-up of short films and experimental works that showcase Taiwan’s vibrant queer culture.

Other highlights include a 20th anniversary screening of Lan Yu (dir. Stanley Kwan, 2001), one of the most iconic gay films in the Mandarin-speaking world, presented here in its newly restored version; South Korea’s award-winning drama Moonlit Winter (dir. Daehyung Lim, 2019); and drag comedy Number 1 (dir. Kuo-Sin Ong, 2020) from Singapore.

Significant progress and landmark rulings have been made across Asia in recent years, from India's decriminalisation of homosexuality to Taiwan’s recognition of same-sex marriage. However, challenges and obstacles remain, and are faced by many people. It is within this context that Queer East explores the various forces that have shaped the current queer landscape in East and Southeast Asia, reflecting on what it means to be Asian and queer today through its curatorial approach.

The pursuit of legal protection for, and recognition of, marriage equality and same-sex families has been one of the focal points in campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia. Hence, the programme this year has a particular focus on ‘family’, a noun that conveys strong cultural traditions and ideologies.

Yi Wang, Festival Director and Programmer for Queer East, discusses his approach:

“By showcasing films that challenge conventional understandings of family kinship, I hope to provoke a conversation about how we understand and interpret the meaning and formation of family, through an alternative queer lens, even when the films do not include obvious LGBT storylines.”

Wang continues,

“Global events in the past year, from Covid-19-related anti-Asian attacks to the Black Lives Matter movement, have once again reminded us how vital fair and authentic racial and sexual representation is for our society. LGBTQ+ people have had labels, stereotypes and stigmas imposed on them for a long time. For me, queer is a word without consistent meaning, and we should not settle on a one-note definition. I believe that film is one of the most direct and accessible mediums that allows us to address issues and situations that people simply weren’t aware of before. Films enable us to construct a more positive, inclusive and dynamic LGBTQ+ narrative both outside and within the LGBTQ+ communities.”

Queer East Film Festival is supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. The Focus Japan programme is organised in partnership with the Japan Foundation, with support from Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and Japan Society. The Focus Taiwan programme is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan and Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute. This year’s artists' moving image programme is supported by Arts Council England.

Coming soon – in autumn this year, highlights of the Queer East Film Festival will tour to a number of UK cities including Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield and more. Full details and dates to be announced.

https://queereast.org.uk/festival-2021/

[shreveportinfo]

Famous Residents of Shreveport-Strasburg, Louisiana

Okay, so you have probably already heard about Shreveport, Louisiana. And you may also know that it is the largest city in southeast Louisiana, right beside New Orleans. If you do not live in Shreveport, you may be wondering how you can visit. Well, there are many ways to do just that.

First of all, visit Shreveport whether it is for a weekend or a month. See it up close and personal. Remember, even if it is not your home town, you will be able to recognize the major tourist attractions and local hotspots in Shreveport-Bossier. Now, if you have never lived in Shreveport before, know if this town has what you are looking for. Believe it or not, Shreveport-Bossier has everything from historic cobblestone streets to state park sites, fountains, historical landmarks, parks and museums, historic architecture, food festivals, and much more.

For those who are from the area and want to go back to a bygone era, Shreveport-Bossier has some great attractions that will give you that nostalgic feel. First of all, you should visit the Louis Armstrong House and Museum. Built in 1931 and originally called the Louis Armstrong State Park, the house and museum is now called, The Museum of Shreveport. Louis Armstrong was born in Shreveport. You will learn more about his life and times there.

Also in Shreveport, you will find the Louis B. Frick and Mary E. Frick Homestead. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Louisiana and has been featured on the national TV show Oprah. The Homestead is also known as the "Candy Apple Farm." It was established in 1924 and features over two hundred apple orchards. You can buy fresh picked apples at the farm and then take a ride on the Shreveport Highline train to Shreveport City.

Out of all the attractions, Shreveport-Bossier has one that is truly unforgettable, The Shreveport Guitar Festival. This festival is held every year in mid-July and features top local guitarists and bands, along with a few celebrity guests. Every year, dozens of players gather to play and compete for the championship trophy.

As if this weren't enough, Shreveport-Bossier is home to Joe Bennett, a professional football player for the New Orleans Saints. Joe is currently residing with his wife, Beth, and they have a son, Ryan, and a daughter-in-law named Kayla. He is an active member of a community called the Shreveport Impact Academy and serves as the director of youth development. He is also involved in many recreational sports such as football, basketball, softball, and golf. Bennett was born in Shreveport and grew up in the northern part of the city.

Out of all the notable residents in Shreveport-Bossier, maybe none is more famous than blues musician Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson was born in Shreveport and grew up learning to play the acoustic guitar from his grandmother. After high school, he attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and played football there for two years. After that he signed with Blue's franchises in New Orleans and Chicago before signing with the Chicago Bears as a free agent. He is widely considered the greatest blues guitarist of all time.

Blues musician Junior Parker is another famous resident of Shreveport-Bossier. This former professional basketball player was born in Shreveport. He started playing basketball at an early age and joined the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force he had a chance to pursue music and play in several recording studios. Parker is currently performing with the R&B band Twiddle along with singer-songwriter Jack Scott.

An interesting connection between Shreveport and Louisiana is the fact that professional football player, Terry Bradshaw, was born in Shreveport. Bradshaw is currently the coach of the Houston Texans. Terry Bradshaw is currently the only active professional athlete in the National Football League, who was born in Shreveport-Bossier.

One of the most famous residents of Shreveport-Bossier is professional golfer John Daley. John Daley is currently the Senior Associate Golf Course Professional of the World Independent Golf Association. He is also the Senior Associate Professional of the United States Golf Association. Before he retired from professional golf, Daley was also a professional golfer and he is currently ranked number seventeenth in the world according to Golf Digest. As a result of his achievements, Daley is currently residing in San Diego.

John Daley and John Edwards are just two of the many famous residents of Shreveport-Bossier. If you have never visited Shreveport-Bossier, you should definitely make it a point to do so. The locals are incredibly friendly and you will easily be able to meet people that you would likely never otherwise. In fact, if you happen to find yourself in downtown Shreveport at night, you may well want to attend a concert or show by one of the local celebrities. Regardless of what you happen to be looking for, there is more to do in Shreveport-Bossier than most people realize.

[brookston]

Holidays 3.17

Holidays

Buy Women Owned Day

Camp Fire Girls Day

Children’s Day (Bangladesh)

Day of Comics & Comic Books (Spain)

Doctor-Patient Trust Day

Ennensaii (Kyoto, Japan)

Evacuation Day (Suffolk County, MA)

Glider Day

Kustonu Diena (No Planting Day; Ancient Latvia)

Mobilization Employee Day (Ukraine)

National Children Day (Bangladesh)

National Muay Thai Day

National SBCD Day

National Slime Day

Patrick Star Day (SpongeBob)

Psyche Asteroid Day

Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Day (Philippines)

Rubber Band Day

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Day (Bangladesh)

Social Care Day of Remembrance & Reflection (UK)

St. Carl’s Day (Sacrilege Brewing)

St. Patrick's Day (a.k.a. ... 

Corned Beef & Cabbage Day

Green Ribbon Day

Irish Coffee Day

Irish Stout Day

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

St. Catrick’s Day

Submarine Day [also 4.11]

317 Day (Indiana)

Vanguard I Day

Violet Day

Wood Anemone Day (French Republic)

World Maritime Day

World Shale Energy Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Irish Coffee Day

Irish Stout Day

National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

National Irish Beer Day

National Irish Food Day

3rd Sunday in March

American Chocolate Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Buzzard Sunday (a.k.a. National Buzzard Day) [Sunday after 15th]

Root Canal Awareness Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Silly Sunday [3rd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 17 (3rd Week)

American Chocolate Week [3rd Full Week]

Clutter Awareness Week [3rd Full Week]

Consider Christianity Week [begins 2nd Sunday before Easter]

International Goof Off Week [3rd Full Week]

Jobs for Teens Week [3rd Full Week]

National Agriculture Week [3rd Full Week]

National Animal Poison Prevention Week [3rd Full Week]

National Anonymous Giving Week [3rd Full Week]

National Bubble Week [1st Week of Spring]

National Button Week [3rd Full Week]

National Clean Out Your Closet Week [3rd Full Week]

National Fix a Leak Week [3rd Full Week]

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week [3rd Full Week]

National Introverts Week [3rd Full Week]

National Poison Prevention Week [3rd Full Week]

National Surveyors Week [begins 3rd Sunday]

Passion Week (thru 3.23) [Week before Holy Week; Christianity]

Passiontide (thru 3.30) [Passion Week + Holy Week]

Schools Library Media Center Week [3rd Full Week]

World Folktales & Fables Week [3rd Full Week]

Independence & Related Days

North Albania (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Republic of Abrus (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Venice Republic (Declared; 1848)

Festivals Beginning March 17, 2024

Austin Fringe Festival (Austin, Texas) [thru 3.24]

Kegs & Eggs Bar Brunch Block Party (Atlanta, Georgia)

NIOP Convention (Palm Springs, California) [thru 3.19]

St. Patrick’s Day Festival (Dublin, Ireland)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Birmingham, UK)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (New Orleans, Louisiana)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Feast Days

Agricola (Christian; Saint)

Alexius of Rome (Eastern Church)

All Snakes’ Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Damballah’s Day (a.k.a. Damballay Weddo; primordial snake of life Iwa; Vodou)

Dave the Dog (Muppetism)

Feast of the Blessed Leprechaun (Church of the SubGenius)

Gertrude of Nivelles (Christian; Saint)

Hans Namuth (Artology)

Jean Baptiste Oudry (Artology)

John Sarkander (Christian; Saint)

Joseph of Arimathea (Western Church)

Kate Greenaway (Artology)

Liberalia (Ancient Roman festival of Liber Pater)

The Martyrs of Serapeum (Christian; Martyrs)

Mikhail Vrubel (Artology)

Noah Entered the Ark Day (Middle Ages Christianity)

Patrick of Ireland (Christian; Saint) [Ireland] *

Paul of Cypress (Christian; Saint)

Shabbat HaChodesh (שַׁבָּת הַחֹדֶשׁ) [25 Adar]

St. Patrick’s Day Excuse (Pastafarian)

Tacitus (Positivist; Saint)

Trefuilnid Treochair (Feast of Triple Bearer of the Triple Key; Ireland)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

Forgiveness Sunday (Orthodox Christian) [Last Sunday before Lent]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Very Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [16 of 60]

Premieres

The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone (Novel; 1958)

American Hot Wax (Film; 1978)

Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero (WB Animated Film; 1998)

Beezus and Ramona, by Beverly Cleary (Novel; 1955)

Bound for Glory, by Woody Guthrie (Autobiography; 1943)

Bowery Bimbos (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Break Like the Wind, by Spinal Tap (Album; 1992)

Breathless (Film; 1960)

The Champion of Justice (Might Mouse Cartoon; 1944)

Circle of Friends (Film; 1995)

Dial “P” for Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1965)

Erin Brockovich (Film; 2000)

Final Destination (Film; 2010)

Fletch Lives (Film; 1989)

Goofy and Wilbur (Disney Cartoon; 1939)

Gym Jam (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1950)

Iron Fist (TV Series; 2017)

iZombie (TV Series; 2015)

The Little Princess (Film; 1939)

The Magician’s Elephant (Animated Film; 2023)

Maiden Voyage, by Herbie Hancock (Album; 1965)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series; 2017)

Minx (TV Series; 2022)

Naughty Number Nine (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, by Frederic Chopin (Piano Concerto; 1830)

Plane Crazy (Disney Cartoon; 1929)

Purple Haze, by Jimi Hendrix (UK Song; 1967)

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (Film; 2023)

Son of a Son of a Sailor, by Jimmy Buffet (Album; 1978)

The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers, by Will Durant (Book; 1926)

Thank You for Smoking (Film; 2006)

This Year’s Model, by Elvis Costello (Album; 1978)

Traffic Troubles (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky, by Patrick Hamilton (Novel; 1935)

V for Vendetta (Film; 2006)

William Gibson (Writerism)

William Tell, by Friedrich Schiller (Play; 1804)

Yakety Yak, recorded by The Coasters (Song; 1958)

Today’s Name Days

Gertraud, Gertrud, Patrick (Austria)

Domagoj, Gertruda, Hrvatin, Patricija, Patrik (Croatia)

Vlastimil (Czech Republic)

Gertrud (Denmark)

Gerda, Gertrud, Kärdi, Kärt, Kerli, Kert, Kertu, Ruta, Ruuta, Truude, Truuta (Estonia)

Kerttu, Kerttuli (Finland)

Patrice, Patrick (France)

Gertraud, Gertrud, Patrick (Germany)

Alekos, Alexios, Alexis, Gertrude (Greece)

Gertrúd, Patrik (Hungary)

Patrizio, Teodoro, Wanda, Vanda (Italy)

Gerda, Ģertrūde, Karīna (Latvia)

Gendvilas, Gertrūda, Patrikas, Varūna, Vytė (Lithuania)

Gjertrud, Trude (Norway)

Gertruda, Harasym, Jan, Patrycjusz, Patryk, Regina, Rena, Zbigniew, Zbygniew, Zbyszko (Poland)

Alexie (Romania)

Ľubica (Slovakia)

Patricio (Spain)

Gertrud (Sweden)

Oleska (Ukraine)

Paden, Pat, Patrice, Patricia, Patrick, Patsy, Patti, Patty, Trish, Trisha (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 77 of 2024; 289 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 11 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 8 (Geng-Chen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 7 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 7 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 17 Green; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 4 March 2024

Moon: 59%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 21 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Socrates]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 88 of 89)

Week: 3rd Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 28 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Fearn (Alder) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 3 of 13]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.19

Holidays

Advocacy Day (Ukraine)

Almanack Day

Bantha Appreciation Day (Star Wars)

Build a Snowman Day

A Christmas Carol Day

Defense Lawyer Day (Ukraine)

Digital Twin Day

E-Mail Santa Claus Just in Case He Didn't Get Your Letter Day [ mailroom ] 

Gender Critical Coming Out Day

Goa Liberation Day (India)

Holly Day

International Millet Day

I've Got My Big Guy Fat Pants On Day

Liberation Day (Goa)

Look for an Evergreen Day

Mitch Marner Day (Canada)

National Day Holiday (Qatar)

National Emo Day

National Harry Day

National Heroes & Heroines Day (Anguilla)

National Jollification Day (Anguilla)

National ReGifting Day

Olive Day (French Republic)

Robinson Crusoe Rescue Day

Thorn Cutting Ceremony (Glastonbury, Somerset, UK)

Yuletide Lad #8 arrives (Skyrgamur or Skyr-Gobbler; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Pizza Day

Cream Liqueur Day

Currant Buns Day (UK)

National Hard Candy Day

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

Independence & Related Days

Børge (a.k.a. Republic of Libri; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Lakotah (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

3rd Thursday in December

Anklopfnachte (Germany; Thursday before Xmas)

National ReGifting Day [Thursday before Xmas]

Theater Thursday [3rd Thursday of Each Month]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Turkey Thursday [3rd Thursday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 19 (3rd Full Week of December)

None Known

Festivals Beginning December 19, 2024

Fiesta of Santo Tomas begins (Guatemala) [thru 12.25]

Night of the Proms (Hanover, Germany)

Feast Days

Adam (Christian; Saint)

Anastasius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Asgard Day (Pagan)

The Bee (Muppetism)

Bernard Valeara (Christian; Saint)

Brandon Sanderson (Writerism)

Cavendish (Positivist; Saint)

Dalek Remembrance Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Goddess of Sankrant (Hindu)

Fikret Otyam (Artology)

Jean Genet (Writerism)

Juventas Festival (Ancient Rome)

Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)

Lorenzo di Medici Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Nathan Oliveira (Artology)

Nemesion (Christian; Saint)

Opalia (Celebrating Ops, the old Roman Mother Earth) [Saturnalia, Day #3]

O Radix Jesse (3rd O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O Root of Jesse; 3 of 7]

Pongol (Hindu God Sankrant honored at Hindu Solstice; Everyday Wicca)

Riddle-Making Trials (Shamanism)

Robot Awareness Day (Pastafarian)

Saint Nicholas Day (Eastern Christian) [Ukraine]

Samthann (Celtic Book of Days)

Samthann of Meath (Christian; Saint)

Sean O’Brien (Writerism)

Urban V, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Yule Pie Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [49 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 353 [71 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 58 of 60)

Premieres

All’s Fair at the Fair (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1947)

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1980)

Babes in Toyland (TV Movie; 1986)

Bars of Steal or The Hard Cell (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 136; 1961)

Being There (Film; 1979)

The Big Shrink, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S1, Eps. 23 & 24 1964)

Birmingham, Alabama (City Founded; 1871)

Blue Suede Shoes, recorded by Carl Perkins (Song; 1955)

Boris Badenov and His Friends? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 135; 1961)

Captain Blood (Film; 1935)

The Case of the Cockeyed Canary (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1952)

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (Novella; 1843)

A Clockwork Orange (Film; 1971)

Deal or No Deal (TV game Show; 2005)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

Fiddlin’ Around (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1962)

From All of Us to All of You (Animated Disney TV Christmas Special; 1958)

Funeral Rave, by Little Big (Album; 2015)

Geronimo & Son (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1966)

Judgment at Nuremberg (Film; 1961)

Kramer vs. Kramer (Film; 1979)

Laughing Boy:A Navajo Love Story, by Oliver La Farge (Novel; 1929)

The Little Drummer Boy (Xmas Song; 1958)

Little Shop of Horrors (Film; 1986)

The Man with the Golden Gun (UK Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Mary Poppins Returns (Film; 2018)

The Merry Dwarves (Ub Iwerks Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1929)

Miceniks (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1952)

Mona Lisa Smile (Film; 2003)

Monsters, Inc. (Animated Pixar Film; 2012)

More Kittens (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1936)

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Film; 2014)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

Nix on Hypnotricks (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1941)

Ollie the Owl (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1963)

People Are Bunny (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Pink Suds (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

Platoon (Film; 1986)

Poor Richard’s Almanac, by Benjamin Franklin (Almanac; 1732)

Porky in the North Woods (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Punch Trunk (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Raging Bull (Film; 1980)

Ring-A-Ding-Ding!, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Album; 1960)

Seems Like Old Times (Film; 1980)

Song of the Sea (Animated Film; 2014)

Swiss Cheese Family Robinson (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1947)

A Symposium on Popular Songs (Disney Cartoon; 1962)

The Tale of Desperaux (Animated Film; 2008)

Teacher’s Pests (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1932)

Titanic (Film; 1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies (US Film; 1997) [James Bond #18]

Topaz (Film; 1969)

The Tree Medic (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1955)

Williamsburg Bridge (Bridge Opened; 1903)

Yes Man (Film; 2008)

Zero Dark Thirty (Film; 2012)

Today’s Name Days

Benjamin, Susanne (Austria)

Anastazije, Eva, Tea, Urban, Vladimir (Croatia)

Ester (Czech Republic)

Nemesius (Denmark)

Maarius, Mairo, Mario (Estonia)

Iikka, Iiro, Iisakki, Isko (Finland)

Urbain (France)

Benjamin, Susanna (Germany)

Aglaia, Aris (Greece)

Viola (Hungary)

Dario (Italy)

Jordisa, Lelde, Minjona, Sarmis (Latvia)

Darijus, Gerdvilas, Rimantė (Lithuania)

Isak, Iselin (Norway)

Abraham, Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Nemezjusz, Tymoteusz, Urban (Poland)

Aglaia, Bonifatie, Grichentie, Trifon (Romania)

Judita (Slovakia)

Darío, Eva (Spain)

Isak (Sweden)

Boniface, Mecheslav, Mecheslava (Ukraine)

Daria, Darian, Darien, Dario, Darion, Darius, Haysten (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 354 of 2024; 12 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of Week 51 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 26 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 19 (Ding-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 18 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 17 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 24 Black; Threesday [24 of 30]

Julian: 6 December 2024

Moon: 80%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 18 Bichat (13th Month) [Geoffroy / Guyton Morveau]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 13 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 88 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[kabillieu]

I continue to be pressed about the promotional / book production side of releasing a book. There’s weird production stuff happening right now with my press that I don’t want to go into, but it’s stressful and making me sad. I’m still trying to schedule more readings for the summer, and that’s going okay but it’s also so, so, so difficult to put myself out there--cold-calling and emailing venues--and even though I know better, lately I have been using social media for evil, comparing the events my other poet friends with new books are participating in (hint: all better and fancier and more visible) with mine. I have been so, so good at not comparing myself to other writers. It’s been honestly one of my super powers, but this first book stuff is foregrounding a lot of my insecurities of not belonging, not being talented enough, not knowing the “right” people (which is bullshit; I know lots of extremely talented and successful poets, which is partly why I’m having trouble separating my experience from my perception of their experiences). Anyway, I’m still working on a New Orleans reading, and then hopefully a Birmingham reading, and then hopefully, hopefully, maybe a Pensacola reading. Also, I’m trying to set up a Columbus, Ohio reading too.

But what I have done so far is worthy of taking a moment to note: I’ve scheduled a book release party in Omaha (on my birthday!); a reading at my hometown library; a reading at an independent bookstore in Athens, GA; and, in April, a reading in Joplin, Missouri. Because I cold-emailed lit journals I’ve been published in, I was invited to read at an offsite event at AWP next month. These are all things that exist because I’ve been working to make them exist! I still have a lot more work to do on them all, but the hard part--setting the date and time and booking the venue--is done!

As far as kind things that people have done for me, I’ve been invited to read at a reading series here in April, and I’m going to be a featured reader at Omaha’s literary festival in August. I’m going to read at my press’s offsite AWP event, and I might also be reading at another offsite event too. I get to do some, frankly, amazing things in the coming months, some of it by the kind invitation of others, but most of it by my own hand. And it’s difficult now--I am having lots and lots of terrible imposture syndrome--but I will be so proud of and grateful to myself when I get to share my book with other people this spring and summer because I had the courage to believe that I am worthy of being read.