#Serbian Zombie

[shinmiyovvi]

I am so normal about Marcel... So, so ✨N o r m a l ✨

[1percentcharge]

the thing about most marvel movies is they’re not high art ofc but they’re not even “dumb fun” either they’re literally the worst of both worlds. You need a ton of background information and they’re allergic to being under two hours and when you want something serious you get wise cracks and when you want something fun you get animal abuse apparently????? You might not be getting the 2 hour black and white film about a Serbian pigeon but you’re not getting the 84 minute flick about homoerotic groupies chasing a ghoul & zombie pop group either

[fckedinlove]

favorite scary movie? favorite gore-fest movie? any n3cro film recommendations? honestly starved for movies, books are a dime a dozen but realistic or romantic n3cro movies are hard to find.

good question !!! time to write many paragraphs. first off, the best necro book (or book in general because it’s so fucking beautifully written) is by far exquisite corpse by poppy z brite. however, you did ask about movies, so let me get to it.

my favorite scary movie… that’s a hard question. i’ll write a list for you. hereditary, martyrs (2008) (though i view that one as way more of a drama), rosemary’s baby, barbarian, apostle (2018), tusk, saw ii, the shining, terrifier 3, the silence of the lambs (though this is more of a crime thriller), the babadook, the sixth sense, the texas chainsaw massacre (1974), and last but not least, carrie (1976).

favorite movies for gore, that’s a shorter list. hereditary is good but the violent moments are few, far between, and emotionally charged. nothing sexually pleasurable about a mom grieving her barely teenage daughter. other than that, i like the gore in terrifier 3 (nonsexually… for the most part) quite a bit. even i cringed a couple times. i absolutely capital-D-despise saying this, but i liked the gore (nonsexually with the exception of one scene—not involving the children, of course) in a serbian film. i need to wash my hands after writing that out. i hate a serbian film with a passion for reasons i won’t get into. i’ll make a list for the rest. evil dead rise (and the evil dead movies in general), the terrifier series (i know i already mentioned it, whatever), the saw series but mostly I-III, and many more that aren’t coming to mind right now.

as for favorite necro movies? excision (2012) is the first that comes to mind—probably because i rewatched it today. it features surreal dream sequences of autopsies, pouring blood, and… lots of breasts. i don’t know. pauline is very relatable for a lot of people but while i can’t find myself relating too much to her, i really love her character. veeerrryyy heavy surgery themes in this one.

repo! the genetic opera isn’t necrophilia or cannibalism centric. however, it does inspire some, uh, passion for viewers who tend to lean into their ‘dark side’, so to speak.

i haven’t watched nekromantik but as somebody who used to have shock horror as my biggest interest, i need to. i’ve heard mixed reviews but this one is HEAVILY necro centric. 80s german shock horror with a couple real animal kills (which is why i’ve been putting off watching it).

warm bodies is a zombie rom-com, and it sounds ridiculous, but i love that movie. it’s a very soft, sweet, necro-lite type thing. it is very comforting and easy to watch and yes, it’s technically zombies so they’re ‘undead’ but it’s still worth a watch or two.

there are a lot of movies that i’ve heard good things about but haven’t gotten around to seeing, but i do agree with you in that there are no real necro movies that are worth the time of day (so it seems, at least).

anyway, i hope this was at least somewhat helpful. feel free to send more asks; i love answering them.

[fearsmagazine]

THE VOURDALAK - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Oscilloscope Laboratories

SYNOPSIS: In a remote countryside, the Marquis d'Urfé, a noble emissary of the King of France, is ambushed and forsaken. Seeking shelter, he stumbles upon an isolated manor with an eerie atmosphere. The family, hesitant to offer hospitality, displays peculiar behavior as they anxiously await the imminent return of their patriarch, Gorcha. However, what initially appears as mere oddity swiftly escalates into a full-blown nightmare when Gorcha returns, bearing a haunting transformation that raises questions about his true nature.

Based on “La Famille du Vourdalak" by Aleksei K. Tolstoy, THE VOURDALAK, predates Bram Stoker’s “Dracula" by over half a century.

REVIEW: In Mario Bava's 1963 film "Black Sabbath," starring screen legend Boris Karloff, the "I Wurdalak" segment draws inspiration from the same story that forms the premise of THE VOURDALAK. Surprisingly, the story originated in Russian and wasn't translated into French until approximately seven decades later. It's noteworthy to mention that the word "vourdalak," derived from Slavic and Balkan folklore, may have initially referred to werewolves before becoming associated with vampires.

Filmmaker Adrien Beau brings Tolstoy's story to life, incorporating many of its elements with some contemporary flair. While it diverges from the original prose, Beau compresses time and incorporates several of Tolstoy's themes, creating a rich tapestry of folklore, superstition, patriarchy, and elements of 1900 French polite society and Serbian culture. Reminiscent of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short stories, the tale follows a noble emissary who seeks help and is given an ominous warning as he is sent out into the forest and told not to stray off the road. Outside his comfort zone, the nobleman confronts his beliefs and becomes a victim of his own desire. Beau remains faithful to Tolstoy's tale until the climax, where he introduces contemporary vampire themes through the Marquis d'Urfé's challenge. The dialogue and interactions authentically feel period.

In this film, the production values may be simplistic, but the costumes, particularly the Marquis d'Urfé's hair and makeup, effectively establish the period of the story. The actors' movements and the structure of the dialogue further contribute to the period atmosphere. Despite being shot in color, the framing and editing techniques evoke the classic monster movies of the 1930s and 1940s.

Adrien Beau's puppet design stands out, reminiscent of Max Schreck with a touch of zombie. The combination of the performance and Beau's voicing of the character creates a chilling effect..

The cinematography is both beautiful and breathtaking, creating a distinct atmosphere, especially during the daylight sequence and even more effective at night.

Martin Le Nouvel and Maïa Xifaras' score blends period-sounding movements with an effective genre score, enhancing the atmosphere, emotions, and performances of the characters.

The captivating ensemble cast elevates this film to a must-watch. Kacey Mottet Klein portrays the Marquis, a character resembling a 19th-century Ash. He has some panache, but his bumbling nature and occasional off-putting actions result in him being a less likable character. Ultimately, he brings a sense of integrity to the role that makes it memorable. Ariane Labed's performance as Sdenka exudes charm and aloofness, as she adds an exotic allure to the character. It is understandable why the Marquis falls under her spell. Grégoire Colin and Claire Duburcq effectively portray a couple governed by societal expectations and rules of civility. Their interactions with the Gorcha highlight their acting brilliance. Despite realizing that they are making poor choices, they are unable to deviate due to the patriarch's influence and the necessity to respect his wishes. The exceptional performances of the cast alone make this film worthy of multiple viewings.

Adrien Beau’sTHE VOURDALAK, his feature film debut, has a raw cinematic feel that seems inspired by the essence of the classic black-&-white monster movies and the sensuality of the Warhol Dracula and Frankenstein films, without all the sex and gore of those films. The cinematic experience is a blend of a talented filmmaker and an excellent cast that make THE VOURDALAK a delightfully bizarre, gripping and shockingly refreshing film. THE VOURDALAK has all the fright stuff to render it an instant cult classic.

CAST: Kacey Mottet Klein, Ariane Labed, Gregoire Colin, Vassili Schneider, Claire Duburcq & Adrien Beau. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Creator of the Vourdalak Puppet - Adrien Beau; Screenplay - Hadrien Bouvier; Producers - Judith Lou Lévy, Lola Pacchioni & Marco Pacchioni; Cinematography - David Chizallet; Score - Martin Le Nouvel & Maïa Xifaras; Editor - Alan Jobart; Set Designer - Thibault Pinto; Costume Designer - Anne Blanchard; Prosthetic Makeup Artist - Franck Limon-Duparcmeur; Visual Effects Artist - Fredrik Monteil. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/twv0lLTfze4?si=136SpjpWiCAwCTKq RELEASE DATE: In theaters June 28th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[royalstranded]

DEAR READER, THE GREATEST OF LUXURIES IS YOUR SECRETS. DEAR READER, WHEN YOU AIM AT THE DEVIL, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS.

BASIC INFORMATION

FULL NAME: [ JOSIF ANĐELKO KARAĐORĐEVIĆ ] NICKNAME: [ none. ] AGE: [ 57 ] GENDER: [ MALE ] PRONOUNS: [ HE/HIM ] ETHNICITY: [ WHITE, SERBIAN ] PREVIOUS OCCUPATION: [ NOBLE, ROYAL ] ROLE: [ LEADER, RAIDER ] RELIGION: [ SERBIAN ORTHODOX ] LANGUAGE, IN ORDER OF PROFICIENCY: [ ENGLISH, SERBIAN, CROATIAN, BOSNIAN, RUSSIAN, VARIOUS OTHER LANGUAGES ] ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: [ BIROMANTIC ] SEXUAL ORIENTATION: [ 'STRAIGHT', BISEXUAL ] SEXUAL TEMPERAMENT: [ DOM-SWITCH ] SEXUAL POSITION: [ TOP ]

RELATIONSHIPS

SIGNIFICANT OTHER: [ TBA. WIFE. STATUS: UNKNOWN. ] CHILDREN: [ TBA. SON. STATUS: DEAD. TBA. DAUGHTER. STATUS: DEAD. TBA. SON. STATUS: UNKNOWN ] PARENTS: [ TBA. ] SIBLINGS: [ TBA. ] FRIENDS: [ TBA. ]

PHYSICAL TRAITS

FACE CLAIM: [ TIMOTHY OLYPHANT ] EYE COLOUR: [ HAZEL BROWN ] HAIR COLOUR: [ GREY, WHITE ] HEIGHT: [ 1.84 METRES ] BODY BUILD: [ ATHLETIC, LEAN BUFF ] FACIAL HAIR: [ BEARD CENTRED AROUND THE MOUTH, EXTENDING TO THE SIDE OF HIS FACE. ] TATTOOS + PIERCINGS: [ TBA. ] NOTABLE PHYSICAL TRAITS: [ TBA. ]

PHOBIAS AND DISORDERS

PHOBIAS/FEARS: [ tba. ] MENTAL DISORDERS: [ tba.]

PERSONALITY

INTELLIGENCE: [ TBA. ] LIKES: [ TBA. ] DISLIKES: [ TBA. ] POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES: [ STEADFAST, CLEAR-HEADED, DETERMINED, FARSIGHTED, RESOURCEFUL, SUAVE ] NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES: [ ENTITLED, ASSERTIVE, CRITICAL ]

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS: [ TBA. ] INSPO: [ TBA. ]

KINKS

KINKS: [ BREEDING. COLLARS. LEASHES. VERBAL FEMINISATION. BOOT KISSING/LICKING. RESTRAINS/BONDAGE. THONGS. CHOKING. PUBLIC. HUMILIATION. DEGRADATION. SOMNOPHILIA. WATERSPORTS. FACE FUCKING. STOMACH BULGING. GAPING. OBJECTIFICATION. MARKING. COCK WARMING. TBA. ] ANTI-KINKS: [ VORE. SCAT. INFANTILISM. ]

BIOGRAPHY

was in the embassy when the outbreak happened.

lost two of his children that were with him at the time. the other child was last known to still be in serbia. wife ended up missing.

has a sword he took from the embassy and a bow.

bodyguard died.

encountered the group when they were raiding a place near where he was holed up in. saved elijah from being overwhelmed by zombies. joined the group.

more tba.

[fleshblight]

6, 7, and 26

6. a horror movie you liked but wouldnt recommend to most people (give a reason if youd like)

Unpopular opinion: I think A Serbian Film (2010) is actually a really good horror film if you can stomach it and if you can get into the allegory of sociopolitical exploitation (lots of people disagree and think it’s purely vile and that’s okay!)

7. a horror movie you want to recommend to people

One of my favorite recommendations is a small budget Canadian zombie movie called Pontypool (2008) it’s really fun and has a very unique take on zombie infection, plus it’s not very gory or graphic so pretty much anybody can enjoy it

26. a horror movie you didnt expect to like but you did

Evil Dead (2013)! Generally I’m wary of sequels and reboots but this one turned out to be fun and original (with lots of fantastic practical effects) while still serving as a love letter to Raimi and the original trilogy

[rootsmachine]

every time i see santa clarita diet giftset im OVERWHELMED by my need to finish my epic season 4 fanfiction that's about protecting zombies & infiltrating an ancient serbian order of zombie killers & also discovering lesbianism

[bearfoottruck]

FANFIC UPDATE 5-3-2024:

I don't have much other than an update for Gonna Kiss You On the Boulevard (Fanfiction, AO3). However, speaking of My Hero Academia fics, I thought I'd mention all the ones I've written thus far.

MULTI-CHAPTER FICS:

My Hero Cannonball (Fanfiction, AO3): When the Japanese government threatens to pull funding for UA, Deku gets an idea during a foreign film festival at Todoroki's house: enter the Cannonball Run - America's craziest, most dangerous coast-to-coast road race - not only as a form of protest, but to win enough prize money to keep UA afloat. Rated T for automotive and superhero violence, some language and suggestive content. Takes place between Seasons 2 and 3.

My Special Affair (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki is an NYPD detective working for the Supernatural Crimes Unit as its only member. His job is to hunt vampires, werewolves, zombies and other supernatural nasties that threaten the Big Apple. One day, he gets a report of an especially aggressive vampire known only as the "Binge Drinker", but has no clue who it is. Then, one night, he is attacked by a vampire, only for a young woman to save his life. However, could there be more to her? Rated M for strong language, graphic violence and explicit sexual content. Also contains male-on-female violence. Fem!Izuku Fem!Deku

Todoroki and His Women (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki retires from Endeavor's agency to start his own. However, he gets an unexpected surprise when all of his applicants turn out to be women. Together, they'll laugh and cry as they do their best to clean up the streets of Los Angeles. Rated T for violence, language, situations of intense peril, general sexism and alcohol references. Fem!Izuku Fem!Deku.

Todoroki's Laughing Problem (Fanfiction, AO3): During the UA Christmas Party, Eri's lack of common holiday knowledge causes Todoroki to burst out laughing, and now he can't contain himself, much to the chagrin of his fellow students. Rated T for Kacchan swearing, some violence and some suggestive content. Takes place during Season 5, with references to World Heroes' Mission.

Nitro and Acid (Fanfiction, AO3): For years, Kacchan has blasted his way through the streets of Chicago, not particularly caring about anyone or anything except kicking villains' asses and earning a sweet paycheck while doing it. Then, one day, he meets Ashido while grocery shopping, and she becomes infatuated with him. Ostensibly, he wants nothing to do with her, but deep down inside, he's gone crazy for her. Can he put aside his foul attitude and learn to love? Rated M for strong language, violence, sexual content and a brief mention of "rape".

Russian Winter, Broken Hearts (Fanfiction, but will be on AO3 eventually): Sidequel to Gonna Kiss You On the Boulevard Chapter 22, "Super Bomb". After Deku, Todoroki and Tsu's mission to recover the Poseidon under Selkie's command, Russia delivers Japan an ultimatum: either return the bomb or risk war. In the meantime, UA gets a visit from students hailing from a Serbian hero school. Little does anyone know, they'll be in for a fight of international proportions. Rated T for war violence, language and suggestive content. Contains resources to help Ukraine. Fem!Todoroki

Hero Enforcement Regiment (Fanfiction, AO3): Izuko Midoriya serves as "Deko", the Symbol of Peace, but one day, she finds rumors of heroes abusing their powers for personal gain. She doesn't want to believe it, but then one night, another hero attempts to rape her. She fights him off, but is absolutely shattered by the experience, so much so that she founds her own hero agency to combat corrupt heroes. Rated T for violence, language, attempted rape and some suggestive content. Loosely inspired by The Boys. Fem!Izuku Fem!Deku

The Four Horsemen (Fanfiction, AO3): Crossover with Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. Adrien, Marinette, and a few other students visit UA High. However, two issues arise: 1. One of the students is secretly a traitor, and 2. Two of the students are cheating on each other with students from UA. Rated T for violence, brief strong language and suggestive content. Fem!Izuku Fem!Deku

ONE-SHOTS:

An Unexpected Check-In (Fanfiction, AO3): After Tsu's breakdown in front of Class 1-A, Deku checks on her the day after to make sure she's okay. Takes place during Season 3.

Thank You For Your Cheerfulness (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki tells Ashido the thing he admires about her the most.

Giving Deku a Hand (Fanfiction, AO3): Fem!Todoroki explores Deku's anatomy. Rated M for sexual content.

Todoroki Gets It On (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki and Fem!Deku make sweet love. Rated M for sexual content.

Deku Saves Father's Day (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki is having a horrible time on Father's Day, but Deku helps him out. Rated T for brief strong language.

Todoroki Is On Fanfiction Friday Fire (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki has been uploading a lot of fanfiction lately, and Ashido takes positive notice.

You Don't Have to Be Angry Anymore (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki is having a horrible time, and Fem!Deku does her best to cheer him up. Rated T for brief strong language.

Half-Cold, Half-Hot, All-Loving (Fanfiction exclusive): A short poem about TodoDeku.

Caring In Pink (Fanfiction, AO3): Ashido checks up on Kacchan. Rated T for Kacchan being Kacchan.

If You Need Passion, It's Close At Hand (Fanfiction, AO3): Fem!Todoroki is having a lonely time, but Deku soothes her. Rated M for sexual content.

TodoDeku Hug (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki and Fem!Deku give each other a hug.

BakuMina Hug (Fanfiction, AO3): Kacchan and Ashido give each other a hug.

KamiJiro Hug: (Fanfiction, AO3): Kaminari and Jiro give each other a hug.

It's-a Me, Midoriya (Fanfiction, AO3): Deku and Class 1-a celebrate Mario Day. Rated T for Kacchan's mouth. Fem!Kacchan Fem!Todoroki

Trying New Fandoms (Fanfiction, AO3): Todoroki writes a fanfic for a fandom he never wrote for before, much to Ashido's joy.

Todoroki's Fanfic Mistake (Fanfiction, AO3): Ashido gets upset because of a fic that Todoroki wrote.

A Special Morning After (Fanfiction exclusive): The morning after Todoroki and Fem!Deku make sweet love, they have pancakes. Rated T for suggestive content.

A Heroes' Lunch (Fanfiction, AO3): Crossover between Sonic the Hedgehog and MHA. The Sonic and MHA casts celebrate National Chicken Wing Day together.

A Letter From a New Friend (Fanfiction, AO3): Sequel to The Four Horsemen. Todoroki gets a letter from Adrien.

Welcome and Comfort (AO3 exclusive): Fem!Deku helps a new student who's feeling lonely.

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this Week #139 (Year 3/Week 35):

2 more back-to-back re-watches of Ron Fricke’s sublime non-narrative Head trip Samsara (“Impermanence”). Spiritual poetry, gorgeous visuals, breathtaking scope. A perfect film to watch while mushrooming. 10/10. (Photo Above).

🍿

First watch (no idea why I waited all these years) of William Friedkin’s Sorcerer, his ill-fated adaptation of Clouzot's 'The wages of fear'. Roy Scheider is a desperado transporting nitroglycerin in the Dominican jungle, together with 3 other unfortunate misfits.

🍿

A enchanting, classic 1974 French drama, Vincent, François, Paul and the Others, my second by Claude Sautet (after ‘The heart at winter’). A group of middle class 40-something friends, lovers, husbands and wives face a series of midlife crises. Among them Yves Montand, Michel Piccoli, Gérard Depardieu and Stéphane Audran. The camaraderie reminded me of the friendship in ‘Goodfellas’ (without the crimes, violence, and immorality). 7/10.

🍿

The big clock, my first Corporate Noir by John Farrow (father to Mia, husband to Maureen O'Sullivan). Ray Millard acts and sounds exactly like Cary Grant-Lite in this less-known thriller.

A curious visual: There's a very stylish shot at an empty executive boardroom with a giant conference table, and the only items on it are oversized personal ashtrays next to each chair.

🍿

Val Lawton X 2:

🍿 The best movie of the week, the documentary Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows. Produced and narrated by Martin Scorsese. A terrific biography and assessment of this melancholic producer who had the potential to become one of the biggest auteurs, but who is now barely-remembered for a series of 1940's low-budget, B-movies from RKO studio. I previously only saw his 'I walked with a Zombie', but I'm going to watch as many of the others as I can.

🍿 "...My Goodness, ain't nobody likes chicken Gumbo?..."

Lewton's first project, after he was installed as head of RKO low-budget horror department, was Cat People. "A disturbed woman", a Serbian fashion illustrator [Not too many of those] turns into a ferocious panther, after she's shown at her very first scene, littering repeatedly by throwing her discarded drawings in the streets.

🍿

Our friend, my second film by Gabriela Cowperthwaite (After ‘Blackfish’). A sad, non-linear tearjerker, based on a real story. Dakota Johnson is dying of cancer, with her husband, two daughters, and their best friend, who selflessly stays by their side. The first film when I liked the role Casey Affleck plays. 7/10.

/ female /

🍿

The new gonzo documentary Telemarketers reminded me of a chapter from my own life that I'm not proud of. For about 3 years in the mid-90's I sold bogus investments, gold futures, and fake ostrich options (!) over the phones in exactly the same way as the conmen in this sleazy, seedy, funny, cynical story. Except that over in Jersey they sold $35 donations and got paid $10 an hour, while we in Costa Mesa, CA got a $3,500 commission for every time we fleeced $40,000 from someone, which happened very often. So much money, and so many regrets later!

🍿

4 more I can watch over and over again:

🍿 My 10th-15th rewatch of Edgar Wright’s brilliant Hot Fuzz.

1. If you know nothing about it beforehand, and watch it for the first time while stoned, it’s impossible to know what it’s really about until the end; the story changes style, intention, musical cue and genre from scene to scene.

2. Is the violent shoot-them-up climax, cartoonishly exaggerated, (where still, nobody dies) the most cliché-filled action scene ever?

3. The subtle musical score underlining every scene is sublime; I am going to listen/watch it again - without the pictures, just the sound!

4. Actually, the whole editing, visuals, sound editing, borrowing from dozens of prior movies, is extraordinary.

5. Every part of the dialogue - every single line - is highly quotable!

10/10.

And as always, How to do visual comedy, from ‘Every frame a picture’.

🍿 I just saw the trailer for The big Lebowski for the first time; It really ties the movie together pretty well. So I "had to" watch the movie itself again. A masterpiece on every level. Even the IMDb synopsis encapsulates it correctly: "Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it."

I also like Wikipedia's chapter on its 'Use as social and political analysis'. With a magnificent score (which includes Dylan's 'The man in me', Gypsy Kings cover of 'Hotel California', Yma Sumac's Ataypura) and with Asia Carrera as Sherry, the porn actress.

The last sentence in it is 'Say, friend, you got any more of that good sarsaparilla?' Always 10/10.

🍿 Once again, Ali Wong’s first stand-up Baby Cobra. Funny, filthy, hardcore vulgar, very sexy; "Best pregnant comic".

🍿 Top banana, S1E2 episode from ‘Arrested Development’. From Vanity Fair’s ‘List of 25 perfect TV episodes’.

🍿

The source, another banal documentary about a spectacular human being, ultramarathoner Courtney Dauwalter, who just cemented her status as the greatest ultrarunner of all time by the unprecedented triple crown wins of the ‘Western States 100’, the ‘Hardrock 100’, and UTMB in the same summer. Emotionally inspirational.

🍿

The midnight gospel, an adult animated series, my first by Pendleton Ward. I saw the first episode yesterday, and I already can’t remember a single goddam thing from it.

🍿

From Dane Sitagi’s The ballerina project: Basia Rhoden dances in the city of Chicago.

🍿

Throw-back to the "Art project”:  

Ballerina Adora.

🍿  

(My complete movie list is here)

[dailyb-iv]

Blog Post 2

The World of Islam and the West

Delicate by Sananda Maitreya, Des'ree

The being of life is very delicate. Existence is fragile. Relations are delicate. Things come undone easily. They break easily, but they also end up working out delicately.

Missing by Everything But The Girl

We get used to people and places. Such things change. They pass. "And I miss you. Like the deserts miss the rain." Sometimes we look for the most unlikely but necessary thing.

Zombie by The Cranberries

The innocent pay the price. The ones who don't have a voice or a choice. "When the violence causes silence, / We must be mistaken." Instead of speaking up, we often quit down. It's all happening "In your head," but a "Child is slowly taken."

Desert Rose by Sting, Cheb Mami

"The desert rose hele-ye-le. Whose shadow bears the secret promise." We know love because we know loss. We fear loss because we know love. We often confuse shadows with fears. Yet, with light there are always shadows. In his Septology The Other Name, he describes his character's fascination with capturing shadows. Asle can never get the shadows quite right, and in pictures where he painted lightness, he notices the darkness as it's necessary to contrast the light.

Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

Dreams can be wicked. As hope keeps us alive till the last breath, believing in the unlikely probability of favorable change shows us what a "wicked game" we play as "the world was on fire" and the strangeness of what "desire will make foolish people do."

Sympathy by Rare Bird

Two people living on the same street don't live the same life. Two people living in opposite parts of the world don't live the same lives. Not logistically we don't. Yet, the human experience is universal. We feel emotions, face struggles, give up, move on, let go. Even the most unlikely companions, from worlds apart and with contradictory stories could find a common ground in their suffering. "Sympathy is what we need my friend. / 'Cause there's not enough love to go round." I am not the only one struggling, the reader isn't the only one struggling. If there's anything we all have in common is the persistence of struggle.

The human default is egocentric. The existence of pure altruism is up for debate. "Now, half the world/ Hates the other half," as we can't accept our differences and look beyond long held biases. We can reference on the past to avoid it or to fuel fires.

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

"Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time," and ever since we haven't given her a break. We part of a vast universe, our minds being able to take us to worlds beyond our eyes, but we fight over the little space we do take up even as it's the only one we have.

When a Blind Man Cries by Deep Purple

When you can't see the world it's hard to be a part of it. Gestalt's principle states that the human brain groups similar objects together. Based on a brief glance, we separate ourselves based on what we see is different on the surface. There are physical and psychological differences between all of us, but that doesn't make us incompatible.

From Gaza, With Love by Saint Levant

Artists who have an influence can use it in times of need to spread a message of love and unity. Saint Levant is a Palestinian, Serbian, French, Algerian artist born in Jerusalem. His raps incorporate all four languages, and he entwines rhythms common to the individual cultures with western rap. With his music, he sends messages regarding immigrant life, living away from home, and breaking cultural barriers by creating harmonious lyrics and rhythms.

Iris (Tra Le Tue Poesie) by Biagio Antonacci

Iris might be a love, but such things can be applied more broadly. Life is what you perceive of it. Society, cultures, and experiences all play a role in shaping the way one sees life and its nuances. An Iris can be a flower, a name, a song, a symbol, or a memory of a person, space, or time. Yet, "Quanta vita c'è." There's much life when there are people to share it with. The process of falling in love involves a lot of dopamine. We like feeling happy, and it changes our view on life. It's like putting on the rose-tinted glasses. As far from reality as that is, it's also a part of it. Opening our minds and choosing how we perceive things can have a large impact. It's not about ignorance, but hope. Horrible things happen, but we continue by finding peace. Anger and frustration have their place, but solutions come with communication. "Quanta vita c'è in questa vita insieme a te," life is richer when it's shared.

[brookston]

Holidays 7.7

Holidays

Aerial Forest Protection Service Day (Russia)

All You Need Is Love Day

Andean Condor Day

ASB Young People’s Day (UK)

Battle of Chesma Day (Russia)

Bonza Bottler Day

Bungie Day

Cherry Dy (French Republic)

Comic Book Day

Day of Water Transport Workers (Belarus, Russia)

Double Seven Day (China)

Family Day (Lesotho)

Father-Daughter Take A Walk Together Day

Fishermen’s Day (Marshall Islands)

George Town Heritage Day (Penang, Malaysia)

Global Forgiveness Day

International Oola Day

International Peace & Love Day

International Ponytail Day

International Soil Conversation Day

Kharchi Puja (Tripura, India)

Kinderfest (Children’s Day; Switzerland)

LOL Surprise! Day

Medical Worker Day (Kyrgyzstan)

National Black Women in Sports Day

National Day of Rock ’n’ Roll

National Dora Day

National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day

National Greshun Day

National Hellcat Day

National Koi Day

National Zombie Day

Running of the Bulls begins (Fiesta de San Fermin; Pamplona, Spain) [thru 7.14]

Saba Saba Day (Farmer’s Day; Tanzania)

Serbian Peoples Uprising Day (Yugoslavia)

Seven Deadly Sins Day

707 Day

Seven Seven (UK)

Tanabata (Star Festival; Japan)

Tell the Truth Day

Tribute 7/7 (Texas)

TR-707 Day

Undina Asteroid Day

Unity Factory Day (Yemen)

Vardavar (Armenia)

White-Flowered Bower (a.k.a. Wild Virgin’s Bower)

World Byproduct Day

World Kiswahili Language Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat A Vegetable You've Never Tried Before Day

National Dive Bar Day [Also 2nd Friday in April]

National Krimpet Day

National Macaroni Day

National Strawberry Sundae Day

World Chocolate Day

World Day of Cacao

World Mango Day

Independence & Related Days

Adonia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

National Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Solomon Islands (from UK, 1978)

New Year’s Days

Islamic New Year [Hijri New Year]

1st Sunday in July

NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week begins (Australia) [1st Sunday]

National Build a Scarecrow Day [1st Sunday]

National Dombyra Day (Kazakhstan) [1st Sunday]

Navy Day (Ukraine) [1st Sunday]

World Biryani Day [1st Sunday]

World Meditation Day [1st Sunday of Every Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 7 (2nd Week of July)

Be Nice to New Jersey Week (thru 7.13) [1st Full Week]

Creative Maladjustment Week (thru 7.14)

National Farriers Week (thru 7.13) [1st Full Week]

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week [Australia] (thru 7.14) [Starts 1st Sunday]

Nude Recreation Day (thru 7.13) [Week after 7.4]

Operation Safe Driver Week (thru 7.13)

Sparkling Wine Week begins [Begins 1st Sunday]

Therapeutic Recreation Week (thru 7.13) [2nd Full Week] (2024 Date]

Festivals Beginning July 7, 2024

Gibson County Fair (Princeton, Indiana) [thru 7.13]

Golden Apricot International Film Festival (Yerevan, Armenia) [thru 7.14]

International Computer Music Conference (Seoul, South Korea) [thru 7.13]

Union Fair & Maine Wild Blueberry Festival (Union, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Wild and Free Festival (Novella, Croatia) [thru 7.11]

Feast Days

Æthelburh of Faremoutiers (Christian; Saint)

Aphrodisia (Bathing festival of Aphrodite & Peitho, goddess of persuasion; Ancient Greece)

Benedict XI, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Cannelloni Day (Pastafarian)

Caprotina (Ancient Roman Female Slave & Servant Festival)

Consualia (Ancient Roman Harvest Festival)

Count the Holes in Your Colander Day (Pastafarian)

Cyril and Methodius (Christian; Saints)

David Eddings (Writerism)

Dog-Lion Beast (Muppetism)

Doris McCarthy (Artology)

Edelburga of Kent (Christian; Saint)

Ethelburga, Ercongota and Sethrida (Christian; Virgins)

Feast of the Milky Way (Chih Nu; China)

Félicien Rops (Artology)

Felix of Nantes (Christian; Saint)

Fernande Sadler (Artology)

Feriae Ancillarum (Old Roman Maid's Day Out)

Fledh Ghoibhnenn (Feast of Goibhniu, Celtic Brewer of the “Beer of Immortality”)

Frances Xavier Cabrini (Canonized; Christian; Saint; 1946)

St. Francis of Assisi (Positivist; Saint)

Geliy Korzhev (Artology)

Hedda, Bishop of the West Saxons (Christian; Saint)

Herbal Infused Honey Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Illidius (Christian; Saint)

Jeff VanderMeer (Writerism)

Job of Maniava (Christian; Saint)

Job of Manyava (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

Kathy Reichs (Writerism)

Maelruain (Celtic Book of Days)

Marc Chagall (Artology)

Margaret Walker (Writerism)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 2 (Shamanism)

No’man (Muppetism)

Nonae Caprotinae (Nones of the Wild Fig, honoring Juno Caprotina, a.k.a. Festival of the Handmaidens; Ancient Rome)

Nones of July (Ancient Rome)

Palladius (Christian; Saint)

Pantaenus, Father of the Church (Christian; Saint)

Parlia (Festival for the Pales for Larger Animals; God of the Herds; Ancient Rome) [also 4.21]

Robert A. Heinlein (Writerism)

Rumilia (Ancient Rome)

Tanabata (Lovers of the Milky Way; Star Festival; Pagan)

V.E. Schwab (Writerism)

Willibald (Catholic Church)

X-Day (Approximate; Church of the SubGenius)

Islamic Lunar Holidays

Islamic New Year [Hijri New Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Amun Jadid (Philippines)

Arabic New Year

Awal Mouharam (Algeria, Djibouti)

Awal Muharram (Malaysia)

El Hijra (Egypt)

Hegira (Lebanon)

Hegire (Tunisia)

Hejira (Kuwait)

Hijiri (Maldives)

Islamic New Year 1445 (Bahrain, Brunei, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen)

Muharam (Comoros, Niger)

Muharram (Comoros)

1er Moharrem (Morocco)

Premier Moharram (Mauritania)

Raʿs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah

Sasi Sura (Javanese New Year; Suriname)

She Came to Stay, by Simone de Beauvoir (Novel; 1943)

Tahun Baru (Indonesia)

Tamharrat (Gambia)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 31 of 60)

Premieres

The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi (Novel; 1881)

The Age of Reason, by Jean-Paul Sartre (Novel; 1945)

All You Need Is Love Day, by The Beatles (Song; 1967)

Back Room Stomp, recorded by Rex Thwart and his 52nd Street Stompers (Song; 1937)

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, recorded by Dicky Wells and his Orchestra, with Djano Reinhardt (Song; 1937)

Bugle Call Rag, recorded by Dicky Wells and his Orchestra, with Djano Reinhardt (Song; 1937)

But I’m a Cheerleader (Film; 2000)

Chilly and the Looney Gooney (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1969)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, by Hunter S. Thompson (Novel; 1972)

First Knight (Film; 1995)

Give Peace a Chance, by John Lennon (Song; 1969)

God Save the King, by Ben Jonson and Dr. Bull (UK National Anthem; 1607)

The Grand Illusion, by Styx (Album; 1977)

The Greatest Show on Earth, a.k.a. The Weather Show (Science Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1979)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 (UK Film; 2011) [#8]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (UK Film; 2009) [#6]

Here Comes the Sun recorded, by The Beatles (Song; 1969)

His Mouse Friday (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

The Ice Break, by Michael Tippett (Opera; 1976)

Images and Words, by Dream Theater (Album; 1992)

Le Great Dane Robbery (The Inspector Cartoon; 1968)

Lethal Weapon 2 (Film; 1989)

Live and Let Die, by Paul McCartney & Wings (Song; 1973)

Mickey Steps Out (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Monsters at Work (Animated YV Series; 2021)

More Songs About Buildings and Food, by Talking Heads (Album; 1978)

Mouse in Manhattan (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1945)

My Prayer, by The Platters (Song; 1956)

Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs (Novel; 1959)

No One Writes to the Colonel, by Gabriel García Márquez (Novella; 1961)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Film; 2006)

Religion and Science, by Bertrand Russell (Essays; 1935)

Ryan’s Hope (Soap Opera; 1975)

Scary Movie (Film; 2000)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (Film; 2017)

Stunt, by Barenaked Ladies (Album; 1998)

Stupor Duck (WB LT Cartoon; 1956)

Summer Magic (Film; 1963)

Three Tenors, by Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti (Live Album; 1990)

Weekend at Bernie’s (Film; 1989)

Woody Woodpecker (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1941) [1st WW Cartoon]

You Oughta Know, by Alanis Morissette (Song; 1995)

Today’s Name Days

Edda, Firmin, Willibald (Austria)

Nedelcho, Nedelya, Nedyalka, Nedyalko (Bulgaria)

Goran, Klaudije, Odon, Vilibald, Vilko (Croatia)

Bohuslava (Czech Republic)

Villebaldus (Denmark)

Koidu, Koidula (Estonia)

Klaus, Launo (Finland)

Raoul (France)

Edda, Firmin, Willibald (Germany)

Dominica, Cyriaca, Iria, Kiriaki, Kuriakis, Kyriake, Kyriaki, Ria (Greece)

Apollónia (Hungary)

Apollonio, Claudio, Edda (Italy)

Alda, Aline, Elita, Maruta (Latvia)

Estera, Sangailas, Vilgailė (Lithuania)

Håvard, Hulda (Norway)

Antoni, Benedykt, Cyryl, Estera, Kira, Metody, Piotr, Pompejusz, Sędzisława, Wilibald (Poland)

Chiriachi (Romania)

Oliver (Slovakia)

Fermín (Spain)

Klas (Sweden)

Ralph, Randall, Randolph, Randi, Randy, Raoul, Raul, Rogelio, Roger (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 189 of 2024; 177 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 27 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 2 (Ren-Shen)

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

Hebrew: 1 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 30 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 9 Red; Oneday [8 of 30]

Julian: 24 June 2024

Moon: 3%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 20 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Francis of Assisi]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 18 of 94)

Week: 2nd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 17 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Tammūz (a.k.a. Tammuz or Tamuz) [תַּמּוּז] (Hebrew Calendar) [Month 4 of 12]

Tinne (Holly) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 7 of 13]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.7

Holidays

Aerial Forest Protection Service Day (Russia)

All You Need Is Love Day

Andean Condor Day

ASB Young People’s Day (UK)

Battle of Chesma Day (Russia)

Bonza Bottler Day

Bungie Day

Cherry Dy (French Republic)

Comic Book Day

Day of Water Transport Workers (Belarus, Russia)

Double Seven Day (China)

Family Day (Lesotho)

Father-Daughter Take A Walk Together Day

Fishermen’s Day (Marshall Islands)

George Town Heritage Day (Penang, Malaysia)

Global Forgiveness Day

International Oola Day

International Peace & Love Day

International Ponytail Day

International Soil Conversation Day

Kharchi Puja (Tripura, India)

Kinderfest (Children’s Day; Switzerland)

LOL Surprise! Day

Medical Worker Day (Kyrgyzstan)

National Black Women in Sports Day

National Day of Rock ’n’ Roll

National Dora Day

National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day

National Greshun Day

National Hellcat Day

National Koi Day

National Zombie Day

Running of the Bulls begins (Fiesta de San Fermin; Pamplona, Spain) [thru 7.14]

Saba Saba Day (Farmer’s Day; Tanzania)

Serbian Peoples Uprising Day (Yugoslavia)

Seven Deadly Sins Day

707 Day

Seven Seven (UK)

Tanabata (Star Festival; Japan)

Tell the Truth Day

Tribute 7/7 (Texas)

TR-707 Day

Undina Asteroid Day

Unity Factory Day (Yemen)

Vardavar (Armenia)

White-Flowered Bower (a.k.a. Wild Virgin’s Bower)

World Byproduct Day

World Kiswahili Language Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat A Vegetable You've Never Tried Before Day

National Dive Bar Day [Also 2nd Friday in April]

National Krimpet Day

National Macaroni Day

National Strawberry Sundae Day

World Chocolate Day

World Day of Cacao

World Mango Day

Independence & Related Days

Adonia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

National Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Solomon Islands (from UK, 1978)

New Year’s Days

Islamic New Year [Hijri New Year]

1st Sunday in July

NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week begins (Australia) [1st Sunday]

National Build a Scarecrow Day [1st Sunday]

National Dombyra Day (Kazakhstan) [1st Sunday]

Navy Day (Ukraine) [1st Sunday]

World Biryani Day [1st Sunday]

World Meditation Day [1st Sunday of Every Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 7 (2nd Week of July)

Be Nice to New Jersey Week (thru 7.13) [1st Full Week]

Creative Maladjustment Week (thru 7.14)

National Farriers Week (thru 7.13) [1st Full Week]

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week [Australia] (thru 7.14) [Starts 1st Sunday]

Nude Recreation Day (thru 7.13) [Week after 7.4]

Operation Safe Driver Week (thru 7.13)

Sparkling Wine Week begins [Begins 1st Sunday]

Therapeutic Recreation Week (thru 7.13) [2nd Full Week] (2024 Date]

Festivals Beginning July 7, 2024

Gibson County Fair (Princeton, Indiana) [thru 7.13]

Golden Apricot International Film Festival (Yerevan, Armenia) [thru 7.14]

International Computer Music Conference (Seoul, South Korea) [thru 7.13]

Union Fair & Maine Wild Blueberry Festival (Union, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Wild and Free Festival (Novella, Croatia) [thru 7.11]

Feast Days

Æthelburh of Faremoutiers (Christian; Saint)

Aphrodisia (Bathing festival of Aphrodite & Peitho, goddess of persuasion; Ancient Greece)

Benedict XI, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Cannelloni Day (Pastafarian)

Caprotina (Ancient Roman Female Slave & Servant Festival)

Consualia (Ancient Roman Harvest Festival)

Count the Holes in Your Colander Day (Pastafarian)

Cyril and Methodius (Christian; Saints)

David Eddings (Writerism)

Dog-Lion Beast (Muppetism)

Doris McCarthy (Artology)

Edelburga of Kent (Christian; Saint)

Ethelburga, Ercongota and Sethrida (Christian; Virgins)

Feast of the Milky Way (Chih Nu; China)

Félicien Rops (Artology)

Felix of Nantes (Christian; Saint)

Fernande Sadler (Artology)

Feriae Ancillarum (Old Roman Maid's Day Out)

Fledh Ghoibhnenn (Feast of Goibhniu, Celtic Brewer of the “Beer of Immortality”)

Frances Xavier Cabrini (Canonized; Christian; Saint; 1946)

St. Francis of Assisi (Positivist; Saint)

Geliy Korzhev (Artology)

Hedda, Bishop of the West Saxons (Christian; Saint)

Herbal Infused Honey Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Illidius (Christian; Saint)

Jeff VanderMeer (Writerism)

Job of Maniava (Christian; Saint)

Job of Manyava (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

Kathy Reichs (Writerism)

Maelruain (Celtic Book of Days)

Marc Chagall (Artology)

Margaret Walker (Writerism)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 2 (Shamanism)

No’man (Muppetism)

Nonae Caprotinae (Nones of the Wild Fig, honoring Juno Caprotina, a.k.a. Festival of the Handmaidens; Ancient Rome)

Nones of July (Ancient Rome)

Palladius (Christian; Saint)

Pantaenus, Father of the Church (Christian; Saint)

Parlia (Festival for the Pales for Larger Animals; God of the Herds; Ancient Rome) [also 4.21]

Robert A. Heinlein (Writerism)

Rumilia (Ancient Rome)

Tanabata (Lovers of the Milky Way; Star Festival; Pagan)

V.E. Schwab (Writerism)

Willibald (Catholic Church)

X-Day (Approximate; Church of the SubGenius)

Islamic Lunar Holidays

Islamic New Year [Hijri New Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Amun Jadid (Philippines)

Arabic New Year

Awal Mouharam (Algeria, Djibouti)

Awal Muharram (Malaysia)

El Hijra (Egypt)

Hegira (Lebanon)

Hegire (Tunisia)

Hejira (Kuwait)

Hijiri (Maldives)

Islamic New Year 1445 (Bahrain, Brunei, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen)

Muharam (Comoros, Niger)

Muharram (Comoros)

1er Moharrem (Morocco)

Premier Moharram (Mauritania)

Raʿs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah

Sasi Sura (Javanese New Year; Suriname)

She Came to Stay, by Simone de Beauvoir (Novel; 1943)

Tahun Baru (Indonesia)

Tamharrat (Gambia)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 31 of 60)

Premieres

The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi (Novel; 1881)

The Age of Reason, by Jean-Paul Sartre (Novel; 1945)

All You Need Is Love Day, by The Beatles (Song; 1967)

Back Room Stomp, recorded by Rex Thwart and his 52nd Street Stompers (Song; 1937)

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, recorded by Dicky Wells and his Orchestra, with Djano Reinhardt (Song; 1937)

Bugle Call Rag, recorded by Dicky Wells and his Orchestra, with Djano Reinhardt (Song; 1937)

But I’m a Cheerleader (Film; 2000)

Chilly and the Looney Gooney (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1969)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, by Hunter S. Thompson (Novel; 1972)

First Knight (Film; 1995)

Give Peace a Chance, by John Lennon (Song; 1969)

God Save the King, by Ben Jonson and Dr. Bull (UK National Anthem; 1607)

The Grand Illusion, by Styx (Album; 1977)

The Greatest Show on Earth, a.k.a. The Weather Show (Science Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1979)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 (UK Film; 2011) [#8]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (UK Film; 2009) [#6]

Here Comes the Sun recorded, by The Beatles (Song; 1969)

His Mouse Friday (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

The Ice Break, by Michael Tippett (Opera; 1976)

Images and Words, by Dream Theater (Album; 1992)

Le Great Dane Robbery (The Inspector Cartoon; 1968)

Lethal Weapon 2 (Film; 1989)

Live and Let Die, by Paul McCartney & Wings (Song; 1973)

Mickey Steps Out (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Monsters at Work (Animated YV Series; 2021)

More Songs About Buildings and Food, by Talking Heads (Album; 1978)

Mouse in Manhattan (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1945)

My Prayer, by The Platters (Song; 1956)

Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs (Novel; 1959)

No One Writes to the Colonel, by Gabriel García Márquez (Novella; 1961)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Film; 2006)

Religion and Science, by Bertrand Russell (Essays; 1935)

Ryan’s Hope (Soap Opera; 1975)

Scary Movie (Film; 2000)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (Film; 2017)

Stunt, by Barenaked Ladies (Album; 1998)

Stupor Duck (WB LT Cartoon; 1956)

Summer Magic (Film; 1963)

Three Tenors, by Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti (Live Album; 1990)

Weekend at Bernie’s (Film; 1989)

Woody Woodpecker (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1941) [1st WW Cartoon]

You Oughta Know, by Alanis Morissette (Song; 1995)

Today’s Name Days

Edda, Firmin, Willibald (Austria)

Nedelcho, Nedelya, Nedyalka, Nedyalko (Bulgaria)

Goran, Klaudije, Odon, Vilibald, Vilko (Croatia)

Bohuslava (Czech Republic)

Villebaldus (Denmark)

Koidu, Koidula (Estonia)

Klaus, Launo (Finland)

Raoul (France)

Edda, Firmin, Willibald (Germany)

Dominica, Cyriaca, Iria, Kiriaki, Kuriakis, Kyriake, Kyriaki, Ria (Greece)

Apollónia (Hungary)

Apollonio, Claudio, Edda (Italy)

Alda, Aline, Elita, Maruta (Latvia)

Estera, Sangailas, Vilgailė (Lithuania)

Håvard, Hulda (Norway)

Antoni, Benedykt, Cyryl, Estera, Kira, Metody, Piotr, Pompejusz, Sędzisława, Wilibald (Poland)

Chiriachi (Romania)

Oliver (Slovakia)

Fermín (Spain)

Klas (Sweden)

Ralph, Randall, Randolph, Randi, Randy, Raoul, Raul, Rogelio, Roger (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 189 of 2024; 177 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 27 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 2 (Ren-Shen)

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

Hebrew: 1 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 30 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 9 Red; Oneday [8 of 30]

Julian: 24 June 2024

Moon: 3%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 20 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Francis of Assisi]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 18 of 94)

Week: 2nd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 17 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Tammūz (a.k.a. Tammuz or Tamuz) [תַּמּוּז] (Hebrew Calendar) [Month 4 of 12]

Tinne (Holly) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 7 of 13]

[rosemarys-maybe]

restrained myself from bitching in the video comments but came here to complain: saw a girl on ig make a video of "horror movies that will literally make you throw up". and tell me why the fly and braindead were listed between salo and a serbian film??? like bro there is no way silly zombie movie with a lawnmower is making people feel the same way as salo would

[mariacallous]

“I’m not a fan of AI,” Nebojša Vujinović Vujo says. The admission surprises me: He has built a bustling business by snapping up abandoned news outlets and other websites and stuffing them full of algorithmically generated articles. Although he accepts that his model rankles writers and readers alike, he says he’s simply embracing an unstoppable new tool—large language models—in the same way people rationally swapped horse-drawn buggies for gas-powered vehicles. “I hate cars. They’re making my planet bad,” he says. “But I’m not riding a horse anymore, right? I’m driving a car.”

I connected with Vujo after digging into the strange afterlife of indie women’s blog The Hairpin, which shut down in 2018. Last month, its website reawakened. In place of the voicey, funny blog posts it was known for, the site began churning out AI-generated, search-engine-optimized pablum about dream interpretations and painfully generic relationship advice like “effective communication is vital.” When I emailed an address listed on the zombie site’s About Us page, Vujo responded, claiming that it was just one of more than 2,000 sites he operates, in an AI-content-fueled fiefdom built by acquiring once-popular domains fallen on hard times. He’s the CEO of the digital marketing firm Shantel, which monetizes its AI-populated sites through programmatic ads, sponsored content, and selling the placement of “backlinks” to website owners trying to boost their credibility with search engines. He often targets distressed media sites because they have built-in audiences and a history of ranking highly in search results.

The foundation of that business is a long-established practice known as domain squatting—buying up web domains that once belonged to established brands and profiting off their reputations with Google and other search engines. Lily Ray, senior director of SEO at the marketing agency Amsive, calls it “the underbelly of the SEO industry.” But Vujo is part of a wave of entrepreneurs giving this old trade a new twist by using generative AI.

It’s dusk where I live in Chicago when I talk via Zoom with Nebojša Vujinović Vujo. (Although that’s the name he gives me, he has sometimes gone by just Nebojša Vujinović, including on the registration information for some of his domains.) It’s midnight in Belgrade, Serbia, where he lives with his girlfriend and their toddler, but he’s wide awake and chatty. Vujo attributes his erratic sleep schedule to years of late nights working as a DJ and still makes music—he likes to mix pop with Balkan folk and is working on a new song called “Fat Lady.” But right now he’s eager to talk, human-to-human, about his AI-fueled hustle.

He gets why writers are unhappy that their work has been erased and replaced by clickbait. (The Hairpin’s founding editor, Edith Zimmerman, calls his version of the site “grim.”) But he defends his choices, pointing out that his life has been tougher than that of the average American blogger. Although ethnically Serbian, Vujo was born in what is now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina, and his family fled during the breakup of Yugoslavia. “I had two wars I escaped. I changed nine elementary schools because we were moving. We were migrants,” he says. “It was terrible to grow up in this part of the world.” He says his economic options have been limited, and this was simply a path available to him.

Vujo also insists that he does have editorial standards; although the majority of the blog posts he publishes are created with ChatGPT, he employs a staff of about a dozen human editors to check its work to avoid anything outright offensive. “Maybe it would be better for you that I’m a bad guy,” he tells me. “Better for your story. But I’m just an ordinary guy.”

Easy, Fast, and Insane

Vujo’s first big domain squatting victory came in 2017 when Italian chef Antonio Carluccio died, and it appears someone forgot to renew one of the websites associated with him. Vujo still talks about his good luck in scooping up the domain and turning it into a cooking-themed content mill. “It’s mine now,” he tells me cheerfully. “He almost invented carbonara—he’s a big celebrity!” Vujo has since also picked up Pope2you.net, formerly an official Vatican website meant to connect Pope Benedict XVI with younger believers, and TrumpPlaza.com, named after residential towers in Jersey City, New Jersey, codeveloped by former President Trump.

Vujo says his most significant—and consistently profitable—purchase is women’s media outlet The Frisky, which he acquired not long after he scored the Carluccio site. “It cost a lot—all the money that I had—but that was my opportunity,” he says. “It was life-changing.” (BuzzFeed News reported on the purchase in 2019.) Vujo says the site generated over $500,000 in the first year he bought the domain. In addition to healthy income from ads and clients willing to pay for backlinks, the brand was a magnet for companies willing to pay for sponsored posts. Because the outlet had long embraced risque topics, Vujo says sex toy companies are eager to do business with him.

Vujo initially hired human writers to create his SEO-optimized articles for The Frisky and his other site, sourcing from gig-economy platforms like Fiverr. In 2023, he saw that the advent of generative AI allowed him to shift his business into a higher, more people-efficient gear. Vujo estimates that his editorial staff is now around a tenth of what it once was. “We create the same amount of content, but my expenses are less,” he says, calling it “easy and fast and insane.”

To many in the media, that business model can feel offensive—especially when the AI-generated articles are posted at a domain where you used to write. For Vujo it’s not personal, though. “I’m just one guy who, yes, in business I am using AI to create shitty content on the internet to earn money or a fortune,” he says. He’s not a mustache-twirling supervillain, chortling as he spews journalism-killing AI slime. He’s an affable young dad who wants his kid to have a nicer childhood than he did.

That doesn’t make the collateral damage of the AI clickbait business any less unsettling. In April 2021, Jimmy Lai—a strident critic of the Chinese government—was sentenced to 14 months in prison in Hong Kong for participating in protests. A few months later police raided the headquarters of his pro-democracy tabloid newspaper Apple Daily, arresting several top editors. “Shutting down Apple Daily was an attack on the free press; closing and then confiscating the newspaper was an attack on the free market and property rights,” says Mark Simon, a former executive at the newspaper, via email.

Vujo snapped up the Apple Daily domain in 2023. The site no longer offers anything resembling news or that might be perceived as a threat to the Chinese government. It’s now a catchall SEO-bait website proffering headlines such as “45+ Happy Birthday Wishes for Teacher” and “40+ Romantic Happy Birthday Wishes for Lover- Happy Birthday Jaan.”

The aggressive banality of this new Apple Daily is no accident. Vujo, scavenger of dead journalism sites, has an editorial vision of his own and sees himself as apolitical. “War in Yugoslavia destroyed my childhood,” he says. “Because of all that, plus a hundred more reasons, I hate politics and all stupid things that separate people. We will not publish anything against anyone on Apple Daily, especially. I love and respect China too.”

Can Be Considered Spam

The way Apple Daily was so thoroughly emptied of the qualities that defined it makes the weak spot in this scheme immediately apparent. A plum domain’s initial benefit—a strong reputation with Google and a built-in audience—dwindles quickly as Vujo populates it with content primarily designed to snare search engines rather than interest people. AI content is successful not because it is replacing the work of human writers but because it coasts on the value created by their past labor.

“A lot of companies that have tried this did really well recently with AI content. They’d get crazy amounts of traffic, but then a few months later everything dropped down and died,” says SEO expert Barry Schwartz. “Google’s getting better at figuring out a lot of these techniques.”

Google’s role in directing traffic to AI-generated content is currently under intense scrutiny. 404 Media recently reported how automated knockoffs of its articles can be highly ranked in Google News. When asked about operations like Vujo’s, company spokesperson Jennifer Kutz maintains that Google has policies to combat them. “The tactics described as used with these sites are largely in violation of Search’s spam policies, and we have systems in place that specifically address this vector of abuse,” she says. “Our systems understand changes in ownership for a domain, and we take that into account when ranking pages. Automatically generated content produced primarily for ranking purposes can be considered spam.”

Whether it was because Google registered that the domain changed ownership or humans on the internet did, The Frisky’s readership has declined under Vujo’s stewardship. According to web-traffic analytics firm Semrush, the site could reach over a million pageviews per month in 2016. Now, it has been under 20,000 pageviews for the past two months. One of the top search terms currently drawing clicks is the seemingly mispelled phrase “a cup tities.” Vujo says The Frisky creates revenue of between $30,000 and $50,000 a year. Perhaps it will stabilize at that level, but to score another soaring success, he has to keep hunting for other distressed media properties with lapsed domains. “It’s like a drug,” Vujo says of the adrenaline rush of scouting potential squatting sites. “You never know what’s waiting.”

As he hunts, Vujo may find a more competitive field as the AI boom continues. While many people in the world of SEO loathe domain squatting and AI-generated content, others are embracing it. An emerging cottage industry of hustlers who make money coaching other people on how to squat and prosper with AI content appears to be expanding fast, says Lily Ray of Amsive. “It’s going to get exponentially worse.”

As AI text, image, and video generation improve and get much cheaper, can anything stop the internet from becoming carpeted with this content? Ray is hopeful that Google will eventually find a way to stifle the growth. “It’s going to take them a minute, but they’re working on it.” If Google can choke off the traffic that feeds operations like Vujo’s, what media outlets remain would face less competition in search results and other feeds from AI-generated rivals. Making a living, or a business, out of journalism would still be tough, but the fight might be fairer.

When I email back-and-forth with Vujo after our talk, he doubles down on insisting that his business model represents the internet’s inevitable future, like it or not. “I understand your position, AI is the biggest problem for content writers and journalists” he writes. “But just imagine how big a problem for the radio host was TV. Give up or UPGRADE, right?” It’s a punchy line but not a particularly convincing one. What feels like the evolution of the internet to a guy like Vujo looks to others like a loss, deterioration disguised as progress.

[saturniandaughter89]

I am The Last Christian in the Universe, I guesss

A VIEW ON THE BIBLE AND MOTHERHOOD IN SERBIA

5 min read

In Shitbia we say - children before us

Translated to - nurture children to become our caregivers when we get old. Invest in them as assets, achievements, possesions, a link in the chain, mindless and faceless zombies of society.

The bleeeek sheeps are dumb idiots worthy of constant emotional, mental and physical abuse, no matter how hard they try to fit in.

The biggest insult for them is me as a successful, self sufficient, genderless in mind, woman in bed, independent, and strong Satanist that is not a prey , but a predator.

You want to mess with my mind? As you do to me, I'll do to you. You want me to say thank you to something I didn't asked for? No problem, take my money in return.

WHY THE LABEL SATANIST?

Yeah, why Satanist? I was born and raised in a family of priests in the Serbian Ortodox Christian Church. My child is baptized, I go to church from time to time, to Liturgy, and talk to our local priest. I confessed a couple of times too. I know the New Testament very well,and some of the Old Testament.

The subtle art of not giving a fuck book.. Damn, that IS healing.

THESE ARE MY CONCLUSIONS ABOUT JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY

Number 1 Jews are NOT God's selected people. So all in the Old Testament is meant for brainwashing the jews and other nations after the expansion of the Christianity and Judaism.

Number 2. The only Christian is the Jesus Christ himself. We are all animals with no higher moral besides our own minds.

Number 3 That book is great for some things as fighting with narcissism (pride) but turning the other cheek when insulted and forgiving your enemy JUST NO

Number 4 Great for guilt shaming. The best one there is. What is wrong in earning as much money as you can? Money = independence, a kardinal sin in Shitbia haha

Number 5 Adultery is wrong through, unfair, but open marriage is great!

Number 6 Pride! Love yourselves? Yes! Not the authorities of any kind If it doesn't benefit you. Freedom, pride, revenge, independence, compassion when you feel like it. I volunteer at 7 Cups since 2016. I love it.

Number whatever Helping people is the core teaching of Jesus, in the end. It is said that only those who feed, clothe, help and nurture other people will stand on the right side of the God. So churches are good only for psychodrama and relaxing. When you don't talk much to people when you dont feel like it ☺️

[virginstoner666]

finally a good iceberg of fucked up movies list

(I am not the original creator of this meme! If you repost/save please remember the original credit belongs to this reddit poster nice-guy-phil

Also  my personal favorite place to find niche horror is a site called effedupmovies.com for those curious ;)