#India UK Dialogue

[news4nose]

Held yesterday in Delhi, the 2 plus 2 dialogue, serves as a means to discuss and evaluate all dimensions of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

[indianexpalert]

INS Tushil makes first port call to London on maiden deployment

INS Tushil made its first port call to London as a part of its maiden operational deployment, the Indian High Commission in the UK shared. In a post on X, the Indian High Commission said, “@HCI_London welcomes INS Tushil ! London is the first port of call for Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil on her maiden operational deployment.” @HCI_London welcomes INS…

[la-cinephile]

Why you should watch Nautilus

If you live in UK, Ireland or Australia, please watch Nautilus on Prime Video which was released last Friday.

It's a tv series serving as a prequel for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and even if it's not perfect, with low quality CGI, "simple" dialogues and a fast pace that doesn't serve the story, it's a real journey across all over the world, from India to exotic island and to the depths of the ocean, with good characters, girlpower (Loti my beloved!), some nice twists and a dark tone in some scenes even though it's family-friendly most of the time.

You may want to stop after episode 6, one the best episode btw, but if you watch the series and got attached to the story and characters, you will understand why I say you will wonder if you should continue but trust me, you have to, you won't be disappointed.

Just give a chance to this series, please

[terresdebrume]

Prompted by a fic I was reading: would Charles be likely to have learned Punjabi at home ? (As in, enough to actually be able to sustain a conversation in it, even a simple one, to say nothing of actual proficiency in the language)

My instinct is to say no for a couple of reasons

(Note: This is not to discourage people who want to write bilingual Charles! I just like thinking about people's relationship to languages and also it's relevant to my prep for my down on my knees series)

Rowland Sr. is a violent man who hit his son on the regular. Charles' dialogue implies that he did not hit his wife, but with a man like that the threat of it is never gone

Mrs. Rowland, per Charles, was "just quiet". This, plus the glimpse of her we have in the mirror and in Charles' trauma flashbacks implies a woman who likely survived in her house through self erasure and deference to her husband

Rowland Sr is explicitly likened to Devlin Sr, which suggests a controlling man who constantly found fault in Charles for varied and likely nonsensical reasons

All this leads me to think that for Charles to speak/understand Punjabi in canon would require his mother to be allowed to use Punjabi with him to a degree where he could have built actual fluency which to me seems... Unlikely to say the least.

First of all, like I said, Rowland Sr is a controlling asshole who wants to know everything going on in his house, which makes it unlikely that he would be fine with his wife and son having a "secret language" of their own, which means the first step to get bilingual Charles in canon would be to have bilingual Rowland Sr. Not impossible, but given the way people thought about language in the 60s/70s when he would have met his wife, unlikely imo.

Even IF Rowland Sr was somehow bilingual in Punjabi (which you could have if you wanted) I think it's important to remember that the way bilingualism is perceived right now on Tumblr is not necessarily universal. Assuming Charles spoke Punjabi at home, on top of all the assumptions above, also assumes:

His parents didn't subscribe to the wisdom of the time, which is still widespread, that hearing more than one language at home would impede the acquisition of speech for children

His parents felt that Punjabi would be important and/or useful and/or not an obstacle that he would have to overcome when trying to fit into British society at large. I don't know what would have been the consensus in the UK in the early 70s when Charles was born, but I can tell you that people of Charles' generation in France generally don't speak the immigrant parent's language because the attitude of the time was that to do so would be detrimental to the child (that said, the UK does integration differently so I could be missing something there)

There are other factors that can influence practice and understanding of a language: I imagine Charles' relationship with his mother would play a huge role there, as well as people's reactions to his usage of Punjabi outside the house (would he have people to practice with beyond his mother? If so, would he have wanted to?) and tbh you can probably make sense of a lot of permutations

But between the above and the fact that Charles' costume design makes no reference to his heritage that I could spot beyond the cricket bat* I think if Charles does learn Punjabi it's more likely to be a choice he makes as a teenager/after he dies than something he was taught at home

*He does have visible antiracist politics but those are not the same thing as a particular connection to India and Punjab, which I think would be a bit of a requisite for him to actively learn the language later on

[onepagelovestories]

I made a discovery/theory that I thought I might share in case it's of use or interest to anyone else!

How big is Valisthea?

TL;DR - It's just Scotland, Cymru (Wales), Ireland, and England but flipped upside-down and photo bashed a bit.

These are just purely my observations, so I'm throwing them into the void!

So, for fan fiction purposes (and just general peace of mind), I really wanted to figure out exactly how big the twins were, considering how insanely quick everyone moves around. This is obviously true for video games in general but I felt it a lot more in FFXVI than other comparable games imo.

There's not a ton to go off of, just some throwaway dialogue lines here and there that give you the general sense that you can move from one location to the next in a day or two primarily by foot (chocobos are a whole other side tangent, as is the Enterprise or whatever the hell Dominants are capable of).

Some of those specific references include;

The trip from Rosalith to Pheonix Gate and back taking an expected 5 days total (with Clive, Tyler, and Wade arriving that night despite the detour through the marshes),

The boat ride from Port Isolde to Drake's Breath taking 3 days,

Someone from the hideaway referencing that they leave for Lostwing each day for work. (Couldn't find the exact example don't quote me on that one.)

Twinsides/Origin being "Hundreds of Leagues" away from The Hideaway

There's probably a few others, but most of the other examples I could find were open to interpretation, merely implying that travel took place in the same day but could be interpreted to have been spread out over longer were it not for 'video game logic and scale'.

That being said, I like things being a little more grounded for head canon purposes and wanted to know how much down time was reasonable in and between trips back and forth.

In general, I feel like the game should have been spread out over the full 5 years. But understanding game development limits, I get why that'd have been a nightmare! So the time skip makes sense practically, and I just choose to headcanon that events are a little more spread out. (Like them taking the full year in 873, from Clive and Jills rescue to destroying Drakes Head, rather than a couple of weeks like it seems in game.)

Shout out to this reddit post for doing an awesome estimate based on an average measure of the aforementioned "hundreds of leagues" quote. This was my starting point.

They concluded that Valisthea was likely closer in size to India or Australia, which I like a lot in terms of Valisthea being a full-scale continent. However, it does mess with the timeline a lot.

Also, I'm from a large country so my sense of what is a "reasonable" distance is pretty thrown off compared to a lot of other places. A 2-5 hour (200-400km) car ride to another city is nothing in my head until you realize that distance would take 1-4 weeks to walk or even ride (Horse metrics. Again chocobos are weird and probably a bit faster due to being all terrain and more robust than horses but are also birds so I don't know what endurance levels carrying heavy loads would be like).

Soooo, I began looking for European contemporaries since the game is very eurocentric (and all the criticisms that come with that).

Which led me to the realization that Valisthea is literally just the UK and Ireland, but flipped.

Now. Am I 100% certain this is what the devs did? Of course not. Is it so damn close that I'm 99.9% certain? Yes. Storm is Britain, and Cymru. The Northern Kingdom and the Iron Kingdom are Scotland but broken up. And Ash is Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Major cities or points of interest all have approximate real-world contemporaries and even follow geographical features on the map in that there are matching rivers, topography and even highways.

The biggest giveaway to me was Pheonix Gate just literally being London, as well as Norvant Valley matching exactly in shape with an upside down Bristol Channel (which would put Caer Norvent in Swansea). Even The Greatwood lines up relative to a major national park (forgive me UK peeps, it's hard to tell from a map alone if that's all one giant forest or several parks smooshed together).

So, if we're working off that assessment, with the quote from Tomes where he mentions that Valisthea is a small continent, then the time/distance ratio makes a lot more sense!

Of course, by our world standards – the UK alone does not a continent make.

But I'm honestly ok with that? I'd rather the land mass be small to match the timeline rather than warp the timeline to match the land mass.

So, here's a list of some of my estimated real-world contemporaries for all major landmarks on the Valisthean Map. Of course, they don't line up 1-1, and are not at all reflective of the locations themselves. It's all just for a relative sense of scale.

Rosaria;

Martha's Rest - Oxford

Eastpool - Reading

Pheonix Gate - London

Rosalith - Cambridge

Port Isolde - Peterborough (ignoring that it's not on the coast)

Deadlands

Cid's Hideaway - Stratford-Upon-Avon

Clive's Hideaway - Birmingham

Sanbreque;

Lostwing - Tauton

Caer Norvent - Swansea

Northreach - Exeter

Oriflamme - Kingsbridge

Kingsfall - Salisbury

Dhalmekian Republic;

Kostnice - Leicester

Drake's Fang - Sheffield

Dhalamil - Derby

Dravozd - Wolverhampton

Tabor - Shrewsbury

Boklad - Lampeter

Ran'Dallah- Tregaron

Waloed;

Shadow Coast - Belfast

Eistla - Kinnegad

Edge of Infinity - Westport

Ravenwit Walls - Wenagh

Stonhyrr - Cork

Other;

Twinsides - Fishguard

Kanvar - Chester

Drake's Breath - Ipswich

Dzemekys - Aberystwyth

Going off of those locations, I was able to get the rough time/distance of certain trips (using google maps metrics in pure walking hours not how long it took them because of *variables*)

Routes;

Rosalith to Pheonix Gate: 86km, 20hrs

Hideaway to Pheonix Gate: 172km, 39hrs (to Martha's Rest: 67km, 15hrs; +Eastpool: 41km, 9hrs; then to Pheonix Gate: 64km, 15hrs)

Hideaway to Oriflamme: 295km, 68hrs (Hideaway to Lostwing: 184km, 43hrs. What shortcut Cid?? +Northreach: 48km, 11hrs; +Oriflamme: 63km, 14hrs)

Lostwing to Caer Norvent: 199km, 46hrs (Benedika and Co were at that fort for days, not hours. Also, how hard did Cid knock Clive out if it took more than a week to get back to the Hideaway after the Garuda Fight?)

Shadow Coast to Stonhyrr: 755km, 171hrs. (Shadow Coast to Eistla: 169km, 38hrs; +Edge of Infinity and back: 181km, 41hrs x2; +Stonhyrr: 224km, 51hrs) meaning crew were gone in Waleod for WEEKS.)

So, all in all a bit longer than in seems in game but still well within range given that they probably shaved off arbitrary travel days for narrative flow.

That being said, I love the potential of more "down time" moments. And it really shows just how often/long everyone would be gone from the Hideaway at any given moment.

It puts into perspective Gav's side quest, "You keep sending me wherever you need to, I'll keep going. Safe in the knowledge that I'll have a home to come back to." And how they all remark that they never seen each other, or how much their trips away together were really meaningful.

(Also kinda excuses the fact it took Clive and Jill 5 freaking years to get together. They were too busy walking everywhere!)

Is it possible to just pop down to Martha's for a quick supply run? Yes. But unless you're on a chocobo, you're camping out at Three Reeds then staying the night at the Inn before heading back. It's more of a 4-7 day trip rather than an afternoon and back.

Anyhow, I hope this all makes sense!

Now, time to go write about Clive/Cid camping overnight in the Greatwood together on Clive's first real night of freedom. 😭😭😭

[organchordsandlightning]

Speckled Band Part 3

"Can I be of assistance?" "Your presence might be invaluable." "Then I shall certainly come." "It is very kind of you."

extremely soft over this dialogue. watson is his partner, and holmes is still like ‘look, you can wait in the hotel if you want’

"Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession.

as someone with a hobby knowledge of the history of toxicology, it really is fascinating to see this as written in 1892. at this point, we have an okay-ish knowledge of what household things are poisonous (at the very least, the UK at this time was much better about banning stuff like arsenic in candy than the US) but we’re still about ... like, thirty-forty years out from being able to reliably identify non-plant-based poisons (like arsenic, etc etc) in the human body after death. a lot of poisonings got away with it because, frankly, a lot of people were getting accidentally poisoned all the time anyway, and if you couldn’t identify arsenic or what-have-you in a corpse ... no case!

Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vise upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low laugh and put his lips to my ear.

"It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon."

“It is a nice household” mixed with watson’s “MY GOD!? A CHILD!?” is so funny

I do love that Watson is writing these stories down for publication, but he’s freely admitting to burglary here

How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall.

god I’m remembering how well-done this scene is in Granada, and you can really feel the tension here

I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing.

oh holmes is SCARED scared “you won’t inject my body with an undetectable non-plant-based poison you son of a bitch”

"It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.

such a good reveal

Some of the blows of my cane came home and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to weigh very heavily upon my conscience."

(a) snakish lmao (b) this brings up an interesting legal question of whether holmes is guilty of murder.  while I don’t think this falls under the legal definition of murder (no pre-intent) or manslaughter (frankly, it’s more self-defense than anything - you see a snake hissing at you, you gotta hit that bad boy with a cane, that it went back to its master and bit him is none of your business as far as you’re concerned) however, i did look up to see that the felony murder rule was still in place in the UK at that time (called constructive malice) -- essentially saying that the courts could attribute malice aforethought (’i’m gonna go kill that guy) to you if a death was caused during the commission of another felony (say .... burglary) EDITED WITH FURTHER LEGAL THOUGHTS -- HELEN INVITED THEM INSIDE THE HOUSE, I DON’T THINK IT COUNTS AS BURGLARY ANYMORE, SHERLOCK HOLMES IS MURDER-FREE

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.21

Holidays

Afro-Colombian Day (Colombia)

Agricultural Fair Day

Anti-Terrorism Day (India)

Battle of Iquique Anniversary Day (Chile)

Capitol Build Day (New York)

Circassian Day of Mourning

Daylilly Day (French Republic)

Day of Patriots and Military (Hungary)

Emergency Medical Services Day

EMS Health, Wellness & Resilience Day

End of the World Day

Feast of the Triple Scoop

521 Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Hug Your Interior Designer Day

Hummel Day (a.k.a. Sister Maria Hummel Day)

"I Need A Patch For That" Day

International Day of Statistical Literacy

Journée Nationale des Patriotes (National Patriots' Day; Quebec)

Keanu Reeves Day

Lilies and Roses Day (UK)

National American Red Cross Founder’s Day

National Mamey Day

National Memo Day

National Talk Like Yoda Day

Natura 2000 Day (EU)

Navy Day (Chile)

Passion Play Day (Germany)

Pogo Stick Day

Polar Explorer’s Day (Russia)

Purple Star of Jerusalem Day (a.k.a. Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon)

Rapture Party Day (2011 prediction by Harold Camping)

Recommerce Day

Red Cross Day

Saint Helena Day (Saint Helena)

Sanja Matsuri begins (Tokyo, Japan)

Send a Letter Day

Slap a Patch On It Day

United States Cyber Command Day

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (UN)

World Fish Migration Day

World Meditation Day (UK)

World Tree Kangaroo Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Tea Day [also 12.15]

International Tennessee Whiskey Day

National Mourvèdre Day

National Waitstaff Day (a.k.a. Waiters and Waitresses Day)

Strawberries and Cream Day

World Chardonnay Day

Independence & Related Days

Malabon (City Founded; Philippines)

Montenegro (from Serbia, 2006)

New Zealand (Proclaimed a British Colony; 1840)

Southwest Vineland (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Valentia Riqueza and Grandeza (a.k.a. ValeVRG; Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

3rd Tuesday in May

International Dinosaur Day [3rd Tuesday; also 6.1]

National Stop Nausea Day [3rd Tuesday]

Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day [3rd Tuesday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Festivals Beginning May 21, 2024

The Batch Festival (Bath, UK) [thru 5.26]

Sommeliers Choice Awards (Chicago, Illinois)

Feast Days

Adílio Daronch and Manuel Gómez González (Christian; Saint)

Agonalia (Ancient Rome) [also 1.9 & 12.11]

Albrecht Dürer (Artology)

Alexander Pope (Writerism)

Anastenaria (Fire-Walking Ritual; Ancient Greece)

Andrew Bobola (Christian; Martyr)

Arcangelo Tadini (Christian; Saint)

Chen Dayu (Artology)

Christopher Magallanes, and other Saints of the Cristero War (Christian; Saint)

Day of the Twins: Beginning of Gemini (Astrology/Pagan)

Édouard-Henri Avril (Artology)

Emperor Constantine I (Christian; Saint)

Eugène de Mazenod (Christian; Saint)

Felix of Cantalicio (Christian; Saint)

Festival for Vevodus (God of the Dead, Swamps & Volvanic Movements; Ancient Rome)

Festival of Demeter (Greek Barley Mother Goddess)

Festival of Vejovis (Roman God of Healing)

42 Day (Pastafarian)

Franz Jägerstätter (Christian; Saint)

Free Money Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Godrick of Finkley (Christian; Saint)

Green Four-Net (Muppetism)

Harold Robbins (Writerism)

Helena of Constantinople (a.k.a. "Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the-Apostles,” Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion)

Henri Rousseau (Artology)

Hospitius (Christian; Saint)

John Elliot (Episcopal Church)

Nestinarstvo (Fire-Walking Ritual; Ancient Bulgaria)

Nost-na-Lothion (Elven feast for the birth of flowers; Lord of the Rings)

Ponder Pointlessness Day (Pastafarian)

Rudolf Koller (Artology)

Saint Camping’s Day (Discordian)

St. Luke (Positivist; Saint)

Theophilus of Corte (Christian; Saint)

Hebrew Calendar Holidays [Begins at Sundown]

Pesach Sheni (2nd Passover) [13-14 Iyar]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 24 of 60)

Premieres

Agents of Fortune, by Blue Oyster Cult (Album; 1976)

Alison, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1977)

Annie (Film; 1982)

The Conquest of Everest, by John Hurt (Memoir; 1954)

Curtain Razor (WB LT Cartoon; 1949)

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (Film; 1982)

The Deep Blue Good-By, by John D. MacDonald (Novel; 1964)

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Silent Film; 1908)

The Egg Hunt (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1940)

The Foxy Pup (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1937)

Gimme All Your Lovin’, by ZZ Top (Music Video; 1983)

Godzilla vs. Kong (Film; 2021)

Gypsy (Broadway Musical; 1959)

Hassle in a Castle (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1966)

Hot Shots! Part Deux (Film; 1993)

Injun Trouble (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

I Sing the Body Electric! & Other Stories, by Ray Bradbury (Short Stories; 1969)

Lunch Poems, by Frank O'Hara (Poetry; 1963)

Mad Max 2 (Film; 1982)

Mask of Orpheus, by Harrison Birtwistle (Opera; 1986)

Maybellene, recorded by Chuck Berry (Song; 1955)

McCartney II, by Paul McCartney (Album; 1980)

Mouse for Sale (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1955)

Naked Came the Stranger (Adult Film; 1975)

Notting Hill (Film; 1999)

Ohio, by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Song; 1970)

The Optimist's Daughter, by Eudora Welty (Novella; 1972)

Pagliacci, by Ruggero Leoncavallo (Opera; 1892)

Past Perfumance (WB MM Cartoon; 1955)

Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be, sung by Doris Day (Song; 1956)

The Real World (TV Series; 1992)

The Return of the Pink Panther (Film; 1975)

The Rhinemann Exchange, by Robert Ludlum (Novel; 1974)

Riptide, by Vance Joy (Song; 2013)

The Road Warrior (Film; 1982)

The Secret of the Hittites, by C.W. Ceram (History Book; 1956)

Shrek Forever After (Animated Film; 2010)

Snow Excuse (WB MM Cartoon; 1966)

Sour, by Olivia Rodrigo (Album; 2021)

Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (UK Film; 1980)

Terminator Salvation (Film; 2009)

Touch of Evil (Film; 1958)

Twin Peaks: The Return (TV Series; 2017)

The Twisker Pitcher (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1937)

Under the Boardwalk, recorded by The Drifters (Song; 1964)

What’s Going On, by Marvin Gaye (Album; 1971)

Today’s Name Days

Christoph, Constantin, Josef, Julio (Austria)

Elena, Konstantin, Kosta, Kostadin, Kostadinka, Lenko, Stoyan (Bulgaria)

Dubravka, Eugen, Kristofor (Croatia)

Monika (Czech Republic)

Helene (Denmark)

Kindel, Konstantin, Kostel, Tiino (Estonia)

Konsta, Konstantin, Kosti (Finland)

Constantin (France)

Hermann, Konst, Wiltrud (Germany)

Constantine, Constantina, Elena, Elene, Eleni, Helen, Konstantina, Konstantinos, Lena, Nantia (Greece)

Konstantin (Hungary)

Angelo, Giulia, Vittorio (Italy)

Ernestine, Ingmārs, Vinija (Latvia)

Vaidivutis, Valentas, Vydmina (Lithuania)

Eli, Ellen, Helene (Norway)

Donat, Donata, Jan, Kryspin, Przecława, Pudens, Tymoteusz, Walenty, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz (Poland)

Constantin, Elena (România)

Zina (Slovakia)

Cristóbal, Virginia (Spain)

Conny, Konstantin (Sweden)

Constance, Constantine, Helen (Ukraine)

Adelric, Adiel, Audric, Keaton, Kendrick (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 142 of 2024; 224 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 21 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ji-Si), Day 14 (Yi-You)

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

Hebrew: 13 Iyar 5784

Islamic: 13 Dhu al-Qada 1445

J Cal: 22 Magenta; Oneday [22 of 30]

Julian: 8 May 2024

Moon: 96%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 1 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Luke]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 64 of 92)

Week: 3rd Full Week of May

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 1 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Gemini (The Twins) begins [Zodiac Sign 3; thru 6.21]

Saint Paul (Catholicism) [Month 6 of 13; Positivist]

[canmom]

a journal type post

i visited some of my grandparents today. I'll give their names, Jenny and Rick, since i doubt that's enough to be PII and it's hard to talk otherwise.

i haven't been able to see them in a long time, thanks to the pandemic. Rick is... likely pretty close to dying, and Jenny is also definitely struggling at this point.

of my four grandads (lots of divorcing and remarrying on both sides of the family) Rick was always the one that i had the hardest time with. he would be brusque and overbearing at the best of times, and cross lines at the worst, and the older i got i felt like he really stifled my granny, in their very traditional middle class marriage. but he's mellowed out a lot (both of them have really), and i found it much easier to spend time with him today, despite a ton of other stuff weighing on me.

we got to talking about books. it's funny, this is something I've never thought to connect with him on, even though he evidently reads a lot. he was very happy to tell me about his favourite authors, in a way that was so sweet and like. i honestly quickly lost a lot of that resentment i had felt towards him in the past. so i went home with my arms full of RF Delderfield and Barbara Erskine, and this prompted my granny to add on her favourites by Katherine Lynn Davis.

they're all historical novels of one sort or another, a long way outside my usual zone of literature. Delderfield writes about long duration social history revolving around the British people going through social change, his central character usually a young man returning from a war. at my age, my grandad had just left the RAF - i don't believe he fought in WWII, it might have been the period when National Service (conscription by another name...) was still in effect after the war and the UK geared itself up for the Cold War, but he stayed in for twelve years, apparently not enough to get a pension, leaving due to some kind of complications around a divorce that I didn't quite follow. he became a salesman - selling cardboard boxes I think? there's a lot I'm vague on. anyway, he's very fond of Delderfield, and it has something to do with Delderfield's prose, the particular feeling of Englishness it gives, but also the historical details - one of Delderfield's series charts the rise of motor transport in the UK, which I won't lie, I'm easily enough of a nerd to be curious about.

Erskine's books seem to follow a different template. just going by the blurbs, the general structure seems to be that a young woman in modern England is haunted by a connection to another woman a thousand years in the past, suffering under court politics or the witch trials or similar. so again, the theme of the past bearing on the present. Davis, i only have a couple of books so can't generalise, but this one's about three women from different parts of the world (Scotland, China and India) drawn together for a lot of high drama in the 1800s. the sequel seems to be about their descendants. it could be really cool or it could be awkwardly racist or it could be awkwardly racist but still interesting as an artefact of a time (...the late 80s), who knows. and this is all just... cursory examination of the blurbs.

all of these books are full-on doorstoppers. they're also... completely unknown to me, which is probably an indictment of how narrowly i tend to stick to my genre. not that there's a moral obligation to read widely, but it's good to be aware at least. anyway...

I kind of wear on my sleeve that my feelings about "Englishness" and "Britishness", the egregore, the entity that lays claim to me, are very negative. today I also watched an episode of the new BBC show about the founding of the SAS, with snappy action movie dialogue and expensive CGI and a pointedly anachronistic classic rock soundtrack, with the depressing feeling you get when you watch well executed propaganda. hard not to think about the release of this piece about the sacrifices of a roguish, brave, witty SAS coinciding with an ailing farce of a Conservative government and the death of the one (inexplicably) well-loved symbol of the British state, all that jazz. (coincidences - this had to have been in the works for some time - but still).

anyway. so... the idea of the spirit of the British people is liable to make me break out in a rash. don't tell me about that, tell me about the idea of "britishness" being replicated forcefully through history, imposed on successive generations, an eternal reproductive futurism motivating all manner of atrocity. so i feel like... if what people say about Delderfield is true, I might find it... challenging.

i am nevertheless curious about all three of these authors! not just a way to connect with my grandad in what could easily be his last year on this planet, though there... there is that. but also that social history angle... for all my bluster about how much I dislike this country, it's more that I dislike the idea of countries altogether, and having to belong to one. and on some level, a severe case of don't-lump-me-in-with-them-ism. knee-jerk anti-patriotism.

but reflexive loathing is no more revealing than comforting fantasies of national character. both of them assume a 'thing' into existence. finding loopholes to be like... well i like such and such British author but I have a defence of how they're acceptably critical of the country so it's ok, that's cheap.

what I do like is having at least some idea of how things got to be the way they are. I can't help being from here, so I could at least stand to understand 'here' a little better. around a decade ago, I walked back from Exeter's gender identity clinic with an older trans woman who could tell me when a bridge was made by looking at its materials. that's so neat that I still remember it! in the garden of the shared house in London where I rent a room was a stone disc with icons of the USSR on it. why was that there? the weight of the machine of history is overwhelming, Marx was right to call it a nightmare, but it is interesting. you can't just stop at 'this sucks'.

so if the ways of thinking that prevailed in the past were very different, they certainly aren't unrecognisable; it does no good to try to set myself above them and imagine I'm more enlightened. and like, that's just all my baggage anyway. i don't want to be unfair to any of these authors, and miss what my grandparents valued in them. (I'm too tired to look up Engels but I recall he had something interesting to say about a well written bourgeois novel.)

anyway, like i said, they're doorstoppers, and i still have like a third of Worth the Candle to read, so don't expect detailed comments for a little while. but it was eye opening in a way, it's too easy to remain blinkered in your little corner and box off the rest as something you'd have no interest in. i know where I'm at with sff and comics, but on some level i find the 'general fiction' shelves intimidating, with no idea where to start or the codes being deployed, and that's limiting. anyway I'll let you know what i think. eventually.

[aboutanancientenquiry]

The Classical tradition in India

The classical tradition in India, with Phiroze Vasunia

12 Ιουν 2013

n the sixth interview recorded during this year's Classical Association meeting, CC's Anastasia Bakogianni talks to Professor Phiroze Vasunia about his recently published book The Classics and Colonial India (OUP, May 2013). 

 He tells us about the impact of the Graeco-Roman classics in the age of empire (1750s-1945) and about the collision of cultures in India during this period. The very concept of the 'classical' was problematic in a culture with its own long-standing local traditions which included Sanskrit, Persian and Arab threads. These competed with the imported Graeco-Roman classics privileged by the British educational system (which encouraged the colonisers to view themselves as ancient Romans). Neoclassical architecture, now largely destroyed, also radically transformed the landscape of the country. Indians such as the writer Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-31) and Mahatma Gandhi, however, opened up their own dialogue with ancient Greek culture and its literature. Inspired by British Romantic Philhellenism, Derozio's poetry forged a passionate connection with both ancient and modern Greece, while Gandi's admiration of Socrates informed his own political thinking. This is not, therefore, a simple story of empire, but one of a dialogue of traditions. 

Phiroze also tells us about his work as the general editor of the Ancients and Moderns series which is published in the UK by I.B. Tauris and in the USA by OUP. The series explores how classical antiquity continues to inform modern thinking, and examines the encounter between ancients and moderns on topics such as gender, slavery and politics. Seven books have appeared to date, and more are forthcoming.

Source: the youtube channel Classics Confidential

[eviltiddyprodnz]

xo kitty : episode 6

the straight out of wattapad scene about has begun but at least it going viral on twitter prepared me for it

also not that bad! they look cute

a man cooks for you once and you have a sex dream about him

but to be fair he was there for her dinner and dae and her weren't even talking lol

at least she sent him a note and a necklace (which he doesn't know about bc damn you Yuri)

is Alex steaming his face in the morning 💀

my girl kitty jumping on a man when she hasn't kissed is so real

the dialogue delivery isn't the worst but 'you're too bloody hot' made me bust out laughing 😭

also do American people actually say bloody as a swear word ever? I've only heard it here in India and the UK

how do actors do this

IT WAS HIS DREAM !??? i take everything back. slay kitty 😭😭😭

she helped him as he was having a lactose intolerance incident and got him another date and now he wants to kiss her💀

Alex bringing kitty back to earth. #real

Study a bit sister, you're failing your Korean Snape's classes 😭

How is any of this for your mom?

Q keeping it real too.

Korean actually sounds so calming.

But i still don't know why Yuri hid the necklace. 😭 Like do you want to be Dae's bestie too? You'll have to fight Minho for that. And if you like him... go ahead i guess but still terrible.

Minho threw a rager to sit on a chair and have drinks with his friend. He's just like me fr

This Kitty scene reminds me of the Nadia scene in elite.

straightened her hair, got in a black dress and is ready to kiss somebody !!! exactly Kitty!!!

Minho is so unserious 😭 adorable

Dae has frozen. Dae exe has stopped working

The way Dae doesn't even know. His sad face is so adorable that I actually feel bad 💀 you're the one who dumped her !

Kitty is the hottest girl now?! slay

everybody's got a flask. babe this guy looks kinda sus though. not my inner mom coming out

disgusting ! Yuri getting dragged by this man. I know Kitty will shut him up but i hope Yuri hears it before taking her fuck Kitty agenda further.

exactly sister! get him

damn Kitty being able to match everyone but herself 😭

either my ears are gone or the sound mixing in this show is lazy because why are Yuri and Dae's voices standing out in silence at a party ??

slay Dae

Dae likes Yuri now 😭😭😭 go to hell

can't even ship you with Kitty now

Okay as a friend

Kitty going through it again 😭😭😭 why is she having the toughest time ???

Peter actually was kinda always there for Lara Jean. my girl has just been toughing it out here 😭

Now she's drunk calling Alex

She texted Professor Lee. Please drown me. Right now. And the creepy guy hitting on her is here.

Oh Professor Lee has read the text, Alex is going to rightfully kill her.

Yuri coming in clutch for Kitty

Dae putting 2 and 2 together but I'm worried that with the Professor Lee text everyone and their mama is about to get in trouble.

Save Kitty!!!

Prof Lee just rude as hell lmao, i hope he got humbled by the fact that no one heard him. Booooo!!!

Everybody wants to rule the world and these 2 people just forget they're here to bust there students. literally what was up with this debate group. who are Alex' parents ? because Yuri's mom is giving Lee serious love eyes

Kitty adoring Yuri, slay

Miscommunication afoot bad 😭😭😭 stop it !!! Kitty thinks Dae loves Yuri, Dae whispering in Kitty's ears and Minho getting idk silent 🧐

he's making out with the Miller girl?! 😭

Dae will actually never ever deserve her to be honest. You haven't told her anything, broken up with her and she's confused and drunk now and you've left her alone again???? Oh wait he's confronting Yuri... on stage 💀

Is this a dream? Who's is it? Or is it real? we will never know till the next episode 🤩

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] INS Tushil made its first port call to London as a part of its maiden operational deployment, the Indian High Commission in the UK shared. In a post on X, the Indian High Commission said, “@HCI_London welcomes INS Tushil! London is the first port of call for Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil on her maiden operational deployment.” @HCI_London welcomes INS Tushil ! London is the first port of call for Indian Navy’s latest multi role stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil on her maiden operational deployment.@indiannavy @IN_WesternFleet @VDoraiswami @sujitjoyghosh @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/R8QhHuilny — India in the UK (@HCI_London) December 21, 2024 INS Tushil was commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of the Project 1135.6, of which six are already in service – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltisky shipyard, St Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad, according to Ministry of Defence’s earlier press release. INS Tushil, the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships the contract for which was signed in Oct 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy and the Government of India, as per the release. The ship’s construction was closely monitored by an Indian team of specialists from the Warship Overseeing Team stationed at Kaliningrad, under the aegis of the Indian Embassy in Moscow. Earlier in a post on X, the Spokesperson for the Indian Navy shared that INS Tushil set sail for India from Kaliningrad in Russia on December 17. It was noted that during the ship’s passage, which will also be its maiden operational deployment, it would carry out joint patrolling and maritime exercises with navies of friendly countries en route, including at piracy hot spot areas in the region. #INSTushil set sail for India from Kaliningrad on #17Dec. The ship was recently commissioned on 09 Dec 24 in #Russia in the presence of Hon’ble #RakshaMantri. The multi-role stealth guided missile frigate is a potent addition to the #IndianNavy‘s arsenal. The ship’s passage to… https://t.co/00qwx5XYRX pic.twitter.com/jATgJGkpaz — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 19, 2024 The first call to London comes days after India and the UK held the second India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue in New Delhi on December 3. In a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it was noted that both sides discussed the entire gamut of the India-UK comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It emphasized the importance of sustained high-level engagement to advance the dynamic partnership between the two countries. The dialogue provided an opportunity to exchange views on recent global and regional developments. Both sides reiterated their shared vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Earlier in the Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh had noted, “The India-United Kingdom bilateral partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2021 with a ten-year Roadmap to guide the progress of the relationship across all sectors including Trade and Investments, Defence and Security, Technology, Science, Innovation and people-to-people relations”, thus the port call becomes a significant step in tasking the maritime defence ties forward between the two countries.   [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] INS Tushil made its first port call to London as a part of its maiden operational deployment, the Indian High Commission in the UK shared. In a post on X, the Indian High Commission said, “@HCI_London welcomes INS Tushil! London is the first port of call for Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil on her maiden operational deployment.” @HCI_London welcomes INS Tushil ! London is the first port of call for Indian Navy’s latest multi role stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil on her maiden operational deployment.@indiannavy @IN_WesternFleet @VDoraiswami @sujitjoyghosh @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/R8QhHuilny — India in the UK (@HCI_London) December 21, 2024 INS Tushil was commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of the Project 1135.6, of which six are already in service – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltisky shipyard, St Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad, according to Ministry of Defence’s earlier press release. INS Tushil, the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships the contract for which was signed in Oct 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy and the Government of India, as per the release. The ship’s construction was closely monitored by an Indian team of specialists from the Warship Overseeing Team stationed at Kaliningrad, under the aegis of the Indian Embassy in Moscow. Earlier in a post on X, the Spokesperson for the Indian Navy shared that INS Tushil set sail for India from Kaliningrad in Russia on December 17. It was noted that during the ship’s passage, which will also be its maiden operational deployment, it would carry out joint patrolling and maritime exercises with navies of friendly countries en route, including at piracy hot spot areas in the region. #INSTushil set sail for India from Kaliningrad on #17Dec. The ship was recently commissioned on 09 Dec 24 in #Russia in the presence of Hon’ble #RakshaMantri. The multi-role stealth guided missile frigate is a potent addition to the #IndianNavy‘s arsenal. The ship’s passage to… https://t.co/00qwx5XYRX pic.twitter.com/jATgJGkpaz — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 19, 2024 The first call to London comes days after India and the UK held the second India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue in New Delhi on December 3. In a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it was noted that both sides discussed the entire gamut of the India-UK comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It emphasized the importance of sustained high-level engagement to advance the dynamic partnership between the two countries. The dialogue provided an opportunity to exchange views on recent global and regional developments. Both sides reiterated their shared vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Earlier in the Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh had noted, “The India-United Kingdom bilateral partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2021 with a ten-year Roadmap to guide the progress of the relationship across all sectors including Trade and Investments, Defence and Security, Technology, Science, Innovation and people-to-people relations”, thus the port call becomes a significant step in tasking the maritime defence ties forward between the two countries.   [ad_2] Source link

[beatverse1]

The Evolution of Dubstep in India: The Journey of NDS

Dubstep, a genre that originated in the late 1990s in the UK, has seen a fascinating journey globally, particularly in India, where artists like NDS have transformed it into a mainstream sensation. This transformation isn't just about adopting a Western music style; it's about infusing local elements that resonate with the Indian audience, thus creating a unique sound that stands out both locally and internationally.

NDS: A Pioneer of Dubstep in India

NDS, a name now synonymous with Indian Dubstep, began his journey in the early 2000s. His initial exposure to the genre came from the underground scenes of the UK, which he adeptly blended with Indian classical and folk elements, creating a fusion that was both novel and exciting. His approach was not just about music production but also about creating a narrative that Indian youth could connect with, blending traditional sounds with the aggressive, bass-heavy beats of dubstep.

The Influence of Bollywood and Traditional Music

One of the key factors in NDS’s success has been his ability to leverage the pervasive influence of Bollywood. By remixing popular Bollywood tracks with dubstep elements, he made the genre more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. This strategy not only elevated his profile but also introduced dubstep to mainstream music listeners in India who might not have explored this genre otherwise.

Additionally, the influence of traditional Indian music in NDS's tracks has been a crucial differentiator. Incorporating instruments like the sitar and tabla, he has crafted a sound that is distinctly Indian yet universally appealing. This fusion has not only enriched the texture of his music but has also helped in preserving the essence of Indian musical heritage, making it relevant in the contemporary digital age.

Growth Tactics and Collaborations

NDS’s journey isn't just a testament to his musical prowess but also to his strategic acumen. Understanding the power of digital media, he leveraged platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud for distributing his music, which helped him reach a global audience without the need for traditional record labels. Collaborations with other artists have also played a significant role in his growth, allowing him to blend different styles and reach diverse listener groups.

Impact on Other Artists and the Music Industry

The success of NDS has paved the way for other artists in India to explore and experiment with dubstep and other electronic genres. It's not just about the music but about the cultural dialogue that these genres enable, blending global trends with local flavors. Artists like Dhee and Loy are perfect examples of this new wave of musicians who are carving their niches by integrating traditional Indian elements with global music styles.

Looking Forward

As the Indian music landscape continues to evolve, the role of influential directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali becomes crucial. His work in integrating music deeply with cinematic experiences has not only elevated film music but has also set a high benchmark for quality and innovation.

In conclusion, the journey of NDS is not just about the growth of a genre but also about how music can be a powerful medium of cultural expression. It encapsulates the potential of Indian artists like Priya Saraiya to influence and reshape global music trends, presenting a promising future for the Indian music industry on the world stage. As artists continue to experiment and innovate, the integration of diverse musical elements suggests a dynamic evolution of the Indian soundscape, poised for global recognition.

[telugufundahyd]

‘Laapataa Ladies’ Fails to Make Oscars 2024 Shortlist-Telugu Funda

India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, Laapataa Ladies, has been eliminated from the Oscars race. Directed by Kiran Rao, the Hindi-language film did not make it to the shortlist of 15 films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Wednesday.

UK’s ‘Santosh’ with Indian Actors Secures Spot

While Laapataa Ladies missed out, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s “Santosh”, featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, has been shortlisted. Representing the UK, Santosh joins other strong contenders such as:

Emilia Pérez (France)

I’m Still Here (Brazil)

Universal Language (Canada)

The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)

Other films in the competition include Iceland’s Touch, Ireland’s Kneecap, and Senegal’s Dahomey, among others.

What is ‘Laapataa Ladies’ About?

The film, known as “Lost Ladies” in English, takes place in a rural Indian setting during the early 2000s. It tells the story of two brides, Phool (played by Nitanshi Goel) and Jaya (Pratibha Ranta), who are mistakenly swapped during a train ride on their wedding day. The groom, portrayed by Sparsh Shrivastav, embarks on a chaotic search for his wife.

The screenplay and dialogues were written by Sneha Desai, based on a story by Biplab Goswami. The movie features additional dialogues by Divyanidhi Sharma. It is a feminist drama told with humor and subtle commentary on gender roles.

The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and received positive reviews after its theatrical release on March 1. It was produced by Kindling Productions, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jio Studios.

India’s History with the Oscars

India has had limited success in the Best International Feature Film category. The last Indian film to secure a nomination was Lagaan (2002). Other finalists include Mother India and Salaam Bombay!

Although Laapataa Ladies didn’t make the cut, Naatu Naatu from RRR and The Elephant Whisperers brought India Oscars glory last year in other categories.

Oscar Timeline

The final nominations will be announced on January 17, and the Academy Awards will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Follow Telugu Funda on trending Social Media Platforms for more Cinema, OTT, Political, And Sports updates

[lizseyi]

Source Fashion 2025 Poised To Continue The Sustainability Conversation At Olympia London

2025 may be a New Year, but some things about the fashion sphere certainly won’t change in that year – such as the importance of the sector continuing to optimise its sustainability practices. 

So, the return of the responsible fashion show Source Fashion, scheduled for Olympia London from 18th to 20th February, will be a timely one. 

The event is expected to bring together hundreds of makers and manufacturers from such major sourcing regions as the UK, Turkey, India, Taiwan, China, Ethiopia, France, and Portugal. In one location in the English capital, international makers and manufacturers will have the opportunity to engage with the UK fashion buying community. 

What can attendees expect from the leading European responsible fashion event? 

Raw materials, fabrics, trims, packaging, and contract manufacturing services are all expected to be on display, and playing major parts in the conversation, at Source Fashion 2025. These elements, combined, allow for new product ranges to be brought to life. 

A significant change for the event’s next edition will be an overhauled floor plan that categorises exhibitors by product type. 

Also set to be introduced is a content space, Source Debates, focusing on tackling subjects of critical importance to sustainable fashion. It is expected to challenge the status quo and explore workable solutions by encouraging dialogue among industry experts, brands, and attendees. 

Not everything about the February iteration of Source Fashion will be about change, however. The existing Catwalk Stage will be present and correct, showcasing live catwalks three times a day. Furthermore, guests at the event can look forward to case studies, panels, and interviews with major figures in fashion retail. 

“Source Fashion is home to inspiration and endless possibilities” 

Event director Suzanne Ellingham stated: “Our show nourishes meaningful connections. We are passionate about bringing the brightest minds in the industry together by enabling global manufacturers and suppliers to meet with buyers who want the security of knowing every conversation is one that could lead to the creation of a new range.” 

Describing the event as “home to inspiration and endless possibilities”, she added that the organisers would be “announcing a host of new content and continuing to delve into the big questions around fashion, sourcing, de-growth, and the language of sustainability.” 

With the July 2024 show having seen such household-name and influential brands and retailers in attendance as ASOS, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Lyle & Scott, Reiss, Toast, Sainsbury’s, and Paul Smith, few industry observers would bet against the February 2025 edition being a similar success story. 

Transform and optimise your fashion brand’s growth journey with Skywire London 

Whatever your own brand’s engagement with sustainability matters has been so far, and whatever positioning you might look to adopt in the future, you will almost certainly recognise the importance of having the right strategic, creative, and marketing professionals by your side. 

This is precisely what a partnership with Skywire London can make possible for your brand, as you look to deliver the consistent digital excellence that will drive awareness, sales, and growth. 

For a chat to us about what it could mean to make us your fashion, luxury, or lifestyle marketing agency for 2025 and beyond, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. 

[seetting-lin-blog]

In recent years, the US has identified China as a "strategic competitor", hyped up the so-called "China threat theory", stepped up efforts to build a trilateral or multilateral security cooperation system in the Asia-Pacific region, including the US-Japan-Australia cooperation and the US-Japan-India-Australia "quadrilateral Security Dialogue", sought to build an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO", and even introduced "Allies" from outside the region to establish a trilateral security partnership between the US, the UK and Australia. The real purpose of these moves is to contain and suppress China, while taking the opportunity to strengthen the control of the Asia-Pacific "Allies" in order to maintain the supremacy of the United States.