#Smyth 1890

[random-brushstrokes]

John Singer Sargent - Clementina Anstruther-Thomson (1889)

Clementina "Kit" Caroline Anstruther-Thomson (1857–1921) was a Scottish author and art theorist. She was known for writing and lecturing on experimental aesthetics during the Victorian era. Her collaboration with Vernon Lee in the 1890s inspired Lee's growing interests in the psychological aspect of aesthetics later in her career. Vernon Lee lived most of the time in Italy, where she was much given to visiting churches, museums and galleries; doing this in the 1890s with her lover, the painter Clementina Anstruther-Thomson, she decided to undertake a study of what happens to the human body when the mind is occupied with the vista of an aesthetic object: a building, a decorative jar, a painting. Anstruther-Thomson kept a diary in which she recorded her reactions, how looking at art made her feel. She noted her respiration and heart rate, balance, muscular tension, the manner and speed with which her right and left lungs filled with air. For example, looking at the Gothic-Renaissance façade of Santa Maria Novella in Florence one day, she observed that her balance changed and her breathing deepened. The composer Ethel Smyth, who had also had a relationship with Lee, made snide comments about what Lee and Anstruther-Thompson were doing, ‘experimenting’ in art galleries.

Vernon Lee was already familiar with Anstruther-Thomson prior to meeting her. Contemporary writers have described Anstruther-Thomson as having the physique that resembles the ideals from ancient Greek sculpture, and Lee frequently described her obsession with Anstruther-Thomson's body in her writings. When Lee observed art with Anstruther-Thomson, her aesthetic experience was based on "lesbian desire" of Anstruther-Thomson's body that embodied Greek ideals. (source)

[veryvictorian]

Gay Victorian Book List

Hey there! I'm making this collaborative list of novels set in Victorian Age that have some sort of gay, m/m representation. Edwardian Age is fine as well. Please, do leave your recommendations in the comments below, I'd be happy to add them!

I'll mark with an asterisk (*) the books I have read myself.

Written in 19th century

The Sins of the Cities of the Plain, by Jack Saul (1881)*

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde (1890)*

The Green Carnation, by Robert Smythe Hichens (1894)

A Marriage Below Zero, by Alan Dale (1889)

Fridolins heimliche Ehe (Fridolin's Mystical Marriage), by Adolf Wilbrandt (1875)

Written in 20th century

Maurice, by E.M. Forster (1914)*

Imre: A Memorandum, by Edward Prime-Stevenson (1906)

Desire and Pursuit of the Whole, by Frederick Rolfe (1904)

The Prussian Officer, by D. H. Lawrence (1914)

The Garden God: A Tale of Two Boys, by Forrest Reid (1905)

The Immoralist, by André Gide (1902)

Tonio Kröger, by Thomas Mann (1903)

Death in Venice, by Thomas Mann (1912)*

Contemporary

The New Life, by Tom Crewe (2023)

The Invention of Love, by Tom Stoppard (1997)*

An Unseen Attraction, by K.J. Charles (2017). Trilogy.

The Prince of Mirrors, by Alan Robert Clark (2018)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.10

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)

Army Day (Albania)

Battle of Britain Anniversary Day

Battle of Poltava Day (Russia)

Beatles Day (Liverpool, Hamburg)

Capybara Appreciation Day

Chronic Disease Awareness Day

Clerihew Day

Cumin Day (French Republic)

Don't Step On A Bee Day (UK)

Flag Day (Mongolia)

Global Energy Independence Day

Gospel Day (Kiribati)

His Masters Voice Day

International Glut1 Awareness Day

International Safewords Day

Lá Cuimhneacháin Náisiúnta (National Day of Commemoration; Ireland)

Lady Godiva Day

London Bridge Falling Down Day

Merchant’s Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Minion Day

Naadam Day (Mongolia)

National All American Pet Photo Day

National Caleb Day

National Contour Day

National Fish Farmers Day (India)

National Kitten Day

National Lineworker Appreciation Day (Canada)

National Stella Day

National Transplant Financial Coordinator Day

Natto Day (Japan)

Nikola Tesla Day

Oils and Concentrates Day

Police Radio Day

Protogeneia Asteroid Day

Rhodes Day (Rhodesia)

710 Day

Silence Day (Meher Baba)

Srebrenica Memorial Day

Stay Away From Bees Day

Teddy Bear's Picnic Day

Telstar Day

Uniwaine (Senior Citizens’ Day; Kiribati)

U.S. Energy Independence Day

World Airway Disorders Day

World Miniature Golf Day

World Shuvit Cancer Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer Distributors Day

National Piña Colada Day

National Pizza Day (Brazil)

Pick Blueberries Day

Independence & Related Days

Bahamas (from UK, 1973)

Federal Republic of New Potato Land (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Wyoming Statehood Day (#44; 1890)

2nd Wednesday in July

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (Montserrat) [2nd Wednesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 10 (2nd Week of July)

Sweetheart Days Festival (Minnesota) [2nd Wednesday; thru Friday]

Festivals Beginning July 10, 2024

American Cheese Society Annual Conference (Buffalo, New York) [thru 7.13]

European Balloon Festival (Igualada, Spain) [thru 7.14]

EXIT (Novi Sad, Serbia) [thru 7.14]

Love International Festival (Tins, Croatia) [thru 7.16]

Mad Cool Festival (Madrid, Spain) [thru 7.13]

Ossipee Valley Fair (South Hiram, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Riddu Riđđu (Manndalen, Norway) [thru 7.13]

Sandcastle Contest (Belmar, New Jersey)

Tangomarkkinat (Seinäjoki, Finland) [thru 7.14]

Vegan Summerfest (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) [thru 7.14]

Winona County Fair (St. Charles, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (Okemah, Oklahoma) [thru 7.14]

Feast Days

Alice Munro (Writerism)

Amalberga of Maubeuge (Christian; Saint & Widow)

Amalburga (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Antony and Theodosius Pechersky (Christian; Saints)

St. Bathilda (Positivist; Saint)

Camille Pissarro (Artology)

Canute IV of Denmark (Christian; Saint)

David Teniers III (Artology)

Day of Holda (Goddess of the Underworld; Anglo-Saxon, Norse)

Feast Day of Knut the Reaper, Hela, Holda and Skadi (Norse)

Feast of Translation of Saint Maclovius, Bishop of Saint-Malo (Christian; Confessor)

Feast of The Seven Brothers (Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis; Christian; Martyrs)

Felicitas of Rome (Christian; Martyr)

The First Sermon of Lord Buddha (Buddhism; Bhutan)

Giorgio de Chirico (Artology)

Hela’s Day (Pagan)

Joe Shuster (Artology)

Kanute IV, King of Denmark (Christian; Martyr)

Knut the Reaper's Day (Norse; Scotland)

Marcel Proust (Writerism)

Mel Blanc Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 5 (Shamanism)

New Robe for Athena Day (Ancient Greece)

Otto Freundlich (Artology)

Pina Colada Day (Pastafarian)

Reach Out and Touch a Green Leaf Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Reg Smythe (Artology)

Ronnie Cutrone (Artology)

Rufina and Secunda (Christian; Martyrs & Virgins)

Rusty (Muppetism)

Septic Bralu Diena (Ancient Latvia)

Seth Godin (Writerism)

Seven Brothers (Christian; Martyrs)

Sixto Rodriguez (Humanism,)

Tita or Tatata Ita (Muppetism)

U Festinu (a.k.a. Feast of St. Rosalia; Palermo, Italy) [thru 7.15]

Viaticum of Llefoed Wynebglawr (Celtic Book of Days)

Victoria, Anatolia, and Audax (Christian; Saints)

Wickerwork Giants Parade & Festival (Douai, France)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [13 of 24]

Prime Number Day: 191 [43 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [39 of 57]

Premieres

Ball Four, by Jim Bouton (Sports Memoir; 1970)

The Brave Little Toaster (Animated Film; 1987)

Cocky Cock Roach (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Cool World (Animated Film; 1992)

The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1951)

Do Way Diddy Diddy, by Manfred Mann (Song; 1964)

Escape from New York (Film; 1981)

The Fox and the Hound (Animated Disney Film; 1981)

Greyhound (Film; 2020)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Heat Wave, by Martha and the Vandellas (Song; 1963)

Homesteader Droopy (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1954)

The Hot Spell, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Lethal Weapon 4 (Film; 1998)

I Got You Babe, by Sonny and Cher (Song; 1965)

I Love You Beth Cooper (Film; 2009)

In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust (Novel; 1927)

In the Midnight Hour, by Wilson Pickett (Song; 1965)

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Film; 1985)

Minions (Animated Film; 2015)

Moon (Film; 2009)

Mother Necessity (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1976)

New Maps of Hell, by Bad Religion (Album; 2007)

Ode to Billie Joe, by Bobbie Gentry (Song; 1967)

The Oily American (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

The Old Guard (Film; 2020)

Once Upon a Mouse (Disney Cartoon Documentary; 1981)

The Outpost (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Palm Springs (Film; 2020)

Parachutes, by Coldplay (Album; 2000)

Pi (Film; 1998)

Pink Valiant (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

She Wolf, by Shakira (Album; 2009)

Small Soldiers (Animated Film; 1998)

Smoke Signal (Animated Film; 2018)

Son of Schmilsson, by Harry Nilsson (Album; 1972)

Summertime, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Song; 1936)

Tempted, by Squeeze (Song; 1981)

Trouble with Lichen, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1960)

Unnatural Death, by Dorothy L. Sayers (Novel; 1927) [Peter Wimsey #3]

Up N’ Atom (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1947)

The Wayward Pups (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1937)

We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, by Queen (UK Song; 1977)

Your Hit Parade (TV Series; 1950)

Today’s Name Days

Engelbert, Knud, Raphael (Austria)

Feliks, Srećko, Viktorija (Croatia)

Amálie, Libuše (Czech Republic)

Knud (Denmark)

Saima, Saime, Saimi (Estonia)

Saima, Saimi (Finland)

Ulrich (France)

Knud, Engelbert, Raphael, Sascha (Germany)

Amália (Greece)

Amália (Hungary)

Armando, Marziale, Pietro, Rufina (Italy)

Lielvardis, Lija, Olīvija, Uve (Latvia)

Amalija, Eirimė, Gilvainas (Lithuania)

Anita, Anja (Norway)

Aleksander, Amelia, Aniela, Filip, January, Radziwoj, Rufina, Samson, Sylwan, Sylwana, Witalis (Poland)

Amália (Slovakia)

Cristóbal (Spain)

André, Andrea, Anund (Sweden)

Anthony (Ukraine)

Emanuel, Emmanuel, Gage, Immanuel, Manuel, Manuela (USA)

Emanuel, Immanuel, Maos, Manuela, Ulla, Ulrich, Ulrika, Ulrike (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 192 of 2024; 174 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 28 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 5 (Yi-Hai)

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

Hebrew: 4 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 3 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 12 Red; Foursday [12 of 30]

Julian: 27 June 2024

Moon: 21%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 23 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Bathilda]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 21 of 94)

Week: 2nd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 20 of 31)

[starrypawz]

For the kiss prompts: Gerry Nemo 26 (out of relief)?

AO3 Prompt list

Finally

Gerry stands in front of their front door and gives a soft sigh.

(Funny how the concept of their front door to their flat that they share with them is still a novelty to him even if its been a couple of years)

It takes him a few moments to dig his keys out of his backpack (Even if the keys are in the same place he always puts them in there) but in short order he’s inside and once he closes the door behind him the outside world and all it’s troubles both mundane and eldritch are shut out.

(Or at least he likes to think that)

He dumps his backpack onto the hallway floor with a thump, and then his trenchcoat follows with a heavier thump and with that comes an instant sense of release as he rolls his shoulders to relieve some of the tension. And then comes the process of untying his boots, something he’s well versed in by this point but he swears that when you actually want to get out of them in a hurry bootlaces have a way of conspiring against you as if they know, but he’s soon victorious assist them and he wiggles his sock covered toes against the carpet as he leaves his boots abandoned with the backpack and the coat.

(He’ll deal with them later, or at least he tells himself that)

“Hey,” Nemo looks up at him over their mug of tea as he enters the living room. (And there’s one waiting for him)

The sight of Nemo sitting on the sofa with a mug of tea is mundane by this point, but it still fills him with a sense of joy that he thought both didn’t exist and that if it did exist he would never even get close to a glimpse of it in his lifetime that brings a sweet, syrupy warmth to his heart and then flows it’s way through every vein, artery and capillary until it’s at times all too much but also never enough.

“Hey,” He echoes from the doorway before he crosses the small room.

“You ok?” Nemo asks as he sags into the sofa with a groan as suddenly all the small aches in his shoulders and calves rise up to meet him, although they should hopefully pass soon.

“Yeah…” Gerry sighs as he picks up the mug of the tea and lets the warmth seep through into his hands, “Just… a long fucking day.,” He takes a sip of the tea and savours the sweet warmth, “Oh that’s good… Gertrude had me digging through a bunch of old parish records… not that it did much good,”

Nemo chuckles and leans into his shoulder, “I did get your texts”

“Ah yes my anguished missives, sent on a hope and a prayer from the one spot in that place that’s not a total void where phone signal goes to die,”

Nemo chuckles.

“But yeah as turns out the residents of Lambeth in 1890 were very unoriginal… there’s… ten Harry Smythes and none of them were the right one… just…” He snorts, “You know know give me a cursed book that might literally eat me any day,”

They both fall into a comfortable silence as they drink their tea. And then once both empty mugs are on the table, Nemo shifts into his lap.

And then Gerry pulls Nemo into a kiss, his hands on their freckled cheeks as his lips meet theirs. The kiss is soft and slow, Nemo's lips tea warmed and sugary and he sighs against their lips as relief runs through his entire being.

Home, this is home

Nemo gently brushes his hair out of his face when the kiss breaks.

“You should’ve come with me,” Gerry chuckles, “Could’ve been bored together,”

“Hmm…” Nemo’s smile turns impish, “Could’ve provided a distraction? Done some unspeakable things to you… or you to me depending on how you felt-”

Gerry almost chokes.

“Minx,” He snorts as he reaches out to flick one of Nemo’s black curls.

Nemo pulls him in for a kiss this time, and catches his lip, and if his face wasn’t already warm it was now,“Aww, you still blush so easily,” Nemo chuckles as they poke his cheek.

Gerry swallows, and then manages a slightly higher pitched than he intended “So do you,”

Nemo sticks their tongue out and oh his heart skips and he reaches out to cup their cheek.

He manages to gain some composure

“I do mean it though… you’d be a help to…”

Nemo’s expression shifts.

“I know but… I don’t think she likes me very much,” and there’s a shift in Nemo’s expression he hazards means “And the feeling is mutual,”

“I… I don’t think she really likes… anyone very much,” Gerry sighs, “She doesn’t… treat anyone badly? I guess but-” Gerry sighs, “Ugh,”

“Yeah ugh,” Nemo snorts.

He cups their cheek, “I just… forget about that..” He smiles, “I… I’ve been thinking about you all day”

“I’ve also been thinking about you all day,” Nemo echoes, “Oh and pizza,”

“Pizza?” “Yeah…” Nemo hands him a flyer from the table, “That really nice takeaway has a special,”

“Oh!”

“One came through for that… other one as well,”

“Oh no not that one… that was a mistake,”

“Pizza then?”

“Yeah,” Gerry kisses Nemo again softly, “Pizza,”

[heathenwithchronicpain]

I would like to know two(2) things: 1. How did Frobisher Smythe build all of the tunnels.? The house was built in 1890, but the treasure wasn’t stolen until 1922. Did he build the house with the intent of putting something there later?? And 2. How is the house still standing with all of the tunnels and the massive chasm under it?

[vickiabelson]

Foreigner guitarist Bruce Watson was having a better hair day, finished his crisp white shirt with a black jacket (I’d intended to do in kind with mine, but I was rushing and couldn’t get my cuffs through my sleeves), and surrounded himself with cool guitars and warm lights. Rockstar! I dig the cut of his jib. Almost as much as I appreciate how accessible, down-to-earth, humble, and lovely he is. Not a likely combination, but oh, so charming. And entertaining! What a great storyteller! 

Bruce took us through his extraordinary ancestry. The Watsons have been Valley Boys since the 1600s. Not! But they have been in America since then, in LA since the 1890s or so… likewise, his mother’s people, from Cork. Great story there - how and why they got here. 

We got the skinny on where the passion started - The Monkees - Hey Micky - and Creedance- the dream - to be a rockstar - his first band, Eragon, that no one, including me, could say correctly, covering The Eagles and Zeppelin - hysterical day jobs, great stories there, his first big gig touring with Toto’s Bobby Kimball, then Patty Smyth with Rod Stewart, then Rod hisself. Bruce, although not a “reader,” was getting lots of session work for film, TV, and commercials, one of which was producing a spot with B.B. King- what a poignant, moving story. Recording with a very young Christina Aguilera, her break out, What a Girl Wants, and just out of the box, Sara Bareilles’ Love Song, through Bennett Salvay meeting composer W.G.  Snuffy Walden, and giving them just what they needed for their Friday Night Lights, getting the call to fill in for an ill Mick Jones - a temp gig - Bruce was busy, enjoying session work, his home and his family, with no intention of touring - then getting extended… again and again… finally joining Mick and becoming a permanent member of Foreigner. The Rockstar young Bruce dreamt of being realized in full force and boy does he wear it well. A killer player, he’s got the hair, the moves, and the clothes, and I got him to tell us where he shops. I wanna hit the stores with him. It’s all about how he puts it together. 

Bruce Watson is all that… and a jumbo bag of Cheetos. Talent, looks, genuine sweetness, and fun. Rockers, please take note… you can reach the pinnacle, look amazing doing it, and still be a mensch. Be like Bruce!

Bruce Watson Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Wednesday, 11/20/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

[brookston]

Holidays 7.10

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)

Army Day (Albania)

Battle of Britain Anniversary Day

Battle of Poltava Day (Russia)

Beatles Day (Liverpool, Hamburg)

Capybara Appreciation Day

Chronic Disease Awareness Day

Clerihew Day

Cumin Day (French Republic)

Don't Step On A Bee Day (UK)

Flag Day (Mongolia)

Global Energy Independence Day

Gospel Day (Kiribati)

His Masters Voice Day

International Glut1 Awareness Day

International Safewords Day

Lá Cuimhneacháin Náisiúnta (National Day of Commemoration; Ireland)

Lady Godiva Day

London Bridge Falling Down Day

Merchant’s Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Minion Day

Naadam Day (Mongolia)

National All American Pet Photo Day

National Caleb Day

National Contour Day

National Fish Farmers Day (India)

National Kitten Day

National Lineworker Appreciation Day (Canada)

National Stella Day

National Transplant Financial Coordinator Day

Natto Day (Japan)

Nikola Tesla Day

Oils and Concentrates Day

Police Radio Day

Protogeneia Asteroid Day

Rhodes Day (Rhodesia)

710 Day

Silence Day (Meher Baba)

Srebrenica Memorial Day

Stay Away From Bees Day

Teddy Bear's Picnic Day

Telstar Day

Uniwaine (Senior Citizens’ Day; Kiribati)

U.S. Energy Independence Day

World Airway Disorders Day

World Miniature Golf Day

World Shuvit Cancer Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer Distributors Day

National Piña Colada Day

National Pizza Day (Brazil)

Pick Blueberries Day

Independence & Related Days

Bahamas (from UK, 1973)

Federal Republic of New Potato Land (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Wyoming Statehood Day (#44; 1890)

2nd Wednesday in July

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (Montserrat) [2nd Wednesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 10 (2nd Week of July)

Sweetheart Days Festival (Minnesota) [2nd Wednesday; thru Friday]

Festivals Beginning July 10, 2024

American Cheese Society Annual Conference (Buffalo, New York) [thru 7.13]

European Balloon Festival (Igualada, Spain) [thru 7.14]

EXIT (Novi Sad, Serbia) [thru 7.14]

Love International Festival (Tins, Croatia) [thru 7.16]

Mad Cool Festival (Madrid, Spain) [thru 7.13]

Ossipee Valley Fair (South Hiram, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Riddu Riđđu (Manndalen, Norway) [thru 7.13]

Sandcastle Contest (Belmar, New Jersey)

Tangomarkkinat (Seinäjoki, Finland) [thru 7.14]

Vegan Summerfest (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) [thru 7.14]

Winona County Fair (St. Charles, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (Okemah, Oklahoma) [thru 7.14]

Feast Days

Alice Munro (Writerism)

Amalberga of Maubeuge (Christian; Saint & Widow)

Amalburga (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Antony and Theodosius Pechersky (Christian; Saints)

St. Bathilda (Positivist; Saint)

Camille Pissarro (Artology)

Canute IV of Denmark (Christian; Saint)

David Teniers III (Artology)

Day of Holda (Goddess of the Underworld; Anglo-Saxon, Norse)

Feast Day of Knut the Reaper, Hela, Holda and Skadi (Norse)

Feast of Translation of Saint Maclovius, Bishop of Saint-Malo (Christian; Confessor)

Feast of The Seven Brothers (Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis; Christian; Martyrs)

Felicitas of Rome (Christian; Martyr)

The First Sermon of Lord Buddha (Buddhism; Bhutan)

Giorgio de Chirico (Artology)

Hela’s Day (Pagan)

Joe Shuster (Artology)

Kanute IV, King of Denmark (Christian; Martyr)

Knut the Reaper's Day (Norse; Scotland)

Marcel Proust (Writerism)

Mel Blanc Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 5 (Shamanism)

New Robe for Athena Day (Ancient Greece)

Otto Freundlich (Artology)

Pina Colada Day (Pastafarian)

Reach Out and Touch a Green Leaf Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Reg Smythe (Artology)

Ronnie Cutrone (Artology)

Rufina and Secunda (Christian; Martyrs & Virgins)

Rusty (Muppetism)

Septic Bralu Diena (Ancient Latvia)

Seth Godin (Writerism)

Seven Brothers (Christian; Martyrs)

Sixto Rodriguez (Humanism,)

Tita or Tatata Ita (Muppetism)

U Festinu (a.k.a. Feast of St. Rosalia; Palermo, Italy) [thru 7.15]

Viaticum of Llefoed Wynebglawr (Celtic Book of Days)

Victoria, Anatolia, and Audax (Christian; Saints)

Wickerwork Giants Parade & Festival (Douai, France)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [13 of 24]

Prime Number Day: 191 [43 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [39 of 57]

Premieres

Ball Four, by Jim Bouton (Sports Memoir; 1970)

The Brave Little Toaster (Animated Film; 1987)

Cocky Cock Roach (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Cool World (Animated Film; 1992)

The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1951)

Do Way Diddy Diddy, by Manfred Mann (Song; 1964)

Escape from New York (Film; 1981)

The Fox and the Hound (Animated Disney Film; 1981)

Greyhound (Film; 2020)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Heat Wave, by Martha and the Vandellas (Song; 1963)

Homesteader Droopy (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1954)

The Hot Spell, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Lethal Weapon 4 (Film; 1998)

I Got You Babe, by Sonny and Cher (Song; 1965)

I Love You Beth Cooper (Film; 2009)

In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust (Novel; 1927)

In the Midnight Hour, by Wilson Pickett (Song; 1965)

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Film; 1985)

Minions (Animated Film; 2015)

Moon (Film; 2009)

Mother Necessity (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1976)

New Maps of Hell, by Bad Religion (Album; 2007)

Ode to Billie Joe, by Bobbie Gentry (Song; 1967)

The Oily American (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

The Old Guard (Film; 2020)

Once Upon a Mouse (Disney Cartoon Documentary; 1981)

The Outpost (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Palm Springs (Film; 2020)

Parachutes, by Coldplay (Album; 2000)

Pi (Film; 1998)

Pink Valiant (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

She Wolf, by Shakira (Album; 2009)

Small Soldiers (Animated Film; 1998)

Smoke Signal (Animated Film; 2018)

Son of Schmilsson, by Harry Nilsson (Album; 1972)

Summertime, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Song; 1936)

Tempted, by Squeeze (Song; 1981)

Trouble with Lichen, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1960)

Unnatural Death, by Dorothy L. Sayers (Novel; 1927) [Peter Wimsey #3]

Up N’ Atom (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1947)

The Wayward Pups (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1937)

We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, by Queen (UK Song; 1977)

Your Hit Parade (TV Series; 1950)

Today’s Name Days

Engelbert, Knud, Raphael (Austria)

Feliks, Srećko, Viktorija (Croatia)

Amálie, Libuše (Czech Republic)

Knud (Denmark)

Saima, Saime, Saimi (Estonia)

Saima, Saimi (Finland)

Ulrich (France)

Knud, Engelbert, Raphael, Sascha (Germany)

Amália (Greece)

Amália (Hungary)

Armando, Marziale, Pietro, Rufina (Italy)

Lielvardis, Lija, Olīvija, Uve (Latvia)

Amalija, Eirimė, Gilvainas (Lithuania)

Anita, Anja (Norway)

Aleksander, Amelia, Aniela, Filip, January, Radziwoj, Rufina, Samson, Sylwan, Sylwana, Witalis (Poland)

Amália (Slovakia)

Cristóbal (Spain)

André, Andrea, Anund (Sweden)

Anthony (Ukraine)

Emanuel, Emmanuel, Gage, Immanuel, Manuel, Manuela (USA)

Emanuel, Immanuel, Maos, Manuela, Ulla, Ulrich, Ulrika, Ulrike (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 192 of 2024; 174 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 28 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 5 (Yi-Hai)

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

Hebrew: 4 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 3 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 12 Red; Foursday [12 of 30]

Julian: 27 June 2024

Moon: 21%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 23 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Bathilda]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 21 of 94)

Week: 2nd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 20 of 31)

[wahwealth]

Merle Oberon | Richard Brent | Temptation (1946) | Film Noir Thriller | ...

Temptation is a 1946 US film noir thriller film.  The movie was directed by Irving Pichel and starred Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin, and Paul Lukas. The film was based on the novel by Robert Smythe Hichens,  Bella Donna. The story is set in the 1890s, a London "Lady"  attracts a loving but naive Egyptologist, she marries him and they go to Egypt. Once in Egypt, she becomes bored and has an affair with Mahmoud Baroudi. She falls in love with Baroudi, and they hatch a plot to kill her husband. Cast Merle Oberon as Ruby George Brent as Nigel Armine Charles Korvin as Mahoud Baroudi Paul Lukas as Sir Meyer Isaacson Lenore Ulric as Marie Arnold Moss as Ahmed Effendi Robert Capa as Hamza Aubrey Mather as Dr. Harding Ludwig Stössel as Dr. Mueller André Charlot as Prof. Dupont Suzanne Cloutier as Yvonne Dupont Gloria Lloyd as Jean McCormick Never miss a video. Join the channel so that Mr. P can notify you when new videos are uploaded: https://www.youtube.com/@nrpsmovieclassics

[twentiethcenturysims]

[beautifulcentury]

Lionel Percy Smythe - The Garden, Chateau Honvault [1898] by Gandalf's Gallery

Lionel Percy Smythe (London, September 4, 1839 - Wimereux, July 10, 1918) was a British artist. He spent his early years in France, where his younger sister and brother were born.

[Bonham’s, London - Oil on canvas, 52 x 73.5 cm]

[duine-aiteach]

Irish LGBT+ Content

These lists include LGBT pieces set in Ireland, LGBT pieces with Irish main characters, LGBT pieces as Gaeilge, and LGBT pieces created by Irish people, often they overlap but not always. Feel free to suggest things I ought to add or offer corrections for mistakes I've made.

Please note that the inclusion on this list does not mean I recommend the piece in question - I am familiar with only a few.

Where possible links lead to RTÉ player, TG4 player, YouTube or official sites. Not all links lead to pieces that are available to watch at the time of posting.

Television:

Eipic (2016) [gay, as G]

Derry Girls [lesbian]

Ros na Rún [soap, as G]

Fair City [soap, trans m briefly]

6Degrees [mlm, NI]

Film:

The Crying Game (1992)

Cowboys and Angels (2003)

The Blackwater Lightship (2004) [based off book below]

Breakfast on Pluto (2005) [trans f]

Viva (2015) [mlm, Irish writer/director only, in Spanish]

Handsome Devil (2017) [gay, mlm]

Papi Chulo (2019) [gay, Irish writer/director only]

Rialto (2019) [mlm]

Dating Amber (2020) [gay, lesbian]

Shorts:

Chicken (2002)

Lúbtha (2019) [mlm]

The First Saturday of May (2019) [trans]

Scene from the Men's Toilets at a Ceilidh (2019)

OUT (2020)

Candid (2020)

Punch Line (trans f)

Boxed In (trans m)

Cailín Álainn [trans f, as G]

Where Do All The Old Gays Go? [trans]

Homebird [trans]

Books:

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu (1872) [wlw, Irish writer only]

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890) [mlm, outside Ireland]

As Music and Splendour by Kate O'Brien (1958) [wlw, outside Ireland]

"Sister Imelda" by Edna O'Brien (1981) [wlw, short story]

A Noise from the Woodshed by Mary Dorcey (1989) [lesbian, anthology]

The Kiss by Linda Cullen (1990)

When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon (1993) [gay]

Hood by Emma Donoghue (1995) [wlw]

Biography of Desire by Mary Dorcey (1997) [wlw]

Breakfast On Pluto by Patrick McCabe (1998) [trans f, bi]

Crazy Love by Tom Lennon (1999) [gay]

The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Tóibín (1999) [gay]

The International by Glenn Patterson (1999) [bi]

At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neill (2001) [mlm]

A Son Called Gabriel by Damian McNicholl (2004) [NI, gay]

The Master by Colm Tóibín (2004) [mlm, Irish writer only]

Stir-Fry by Emma Donoghue (2006) [wlw]

Landing by Emma Donoghue (2007) [wlw]

Map of Ireland by Stephanie Grant (2008) [wlw, Irish-American]

Falling Colours: The Misadventures of a Vision Painter by R.J. Samuel (2012) [wlw]

The Rarest Rose by I. Beacham (2013) [wlw, Irish character, non-Irish writer]

To Summon Nightmares by J.K. Pendragon (2014) [trans, mlm]

Carolyn for Christmas by Lucy Carey (2015) [lesbian]

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle (2015) [bi, lesbian]

The Green Road by Anne Enright (2015) [gay]

Wormwood Gate by Katherine Farmar (2015) [wlw]

A Good Hiding by Shirley-Anne McMillan (2016) [NI, gay]

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry (2016) [mlm, outside Ireland]

Eelgrass by Tori Curtis (2016) [wlw, Irish myth inspired only?, non-Irish writer]

All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle (2017)

Forget Me Not by Kris Bryant (2017) [wlw]

The Art of Three by Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese (2017) [bi, polyam, Irish character, non-Irish writers]

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [gay]

The Spellbook of Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle (2017) [wlw]

The Unknowns by Shirley-Anne McMillan (2017) [NI, bi m, bi f]

My Brother's Name Is Jessica by John Boyne (2019) [trans f]

Every Sparrow Falling by Shirley-Anne McMillan (2019) [NI, mlm]

Perfectly Preventable Deaths (2019) and Precious Catastrophe (2021) by Deirdre Sullivan [wlw]

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth (2020) [wlw]

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (2020) [lesbian]

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue (2020) [wlw]

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan (2021) [bi f, wlw]

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (2021) [bi f, wlw]

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (2021)

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar (2023) [wlw]

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, as Gaeilge by @heartstopper-i-ngaeilge (2024)[mlm, wlw, as G only, graphic novel]

Nonfiction:

Please be aware especially for this section that the pieces listed may be upsetting or cover difficult topics.

Print:

The Strange Story of Dr James Barry by Isobel Rae (1958) [biography: Barry, trans m]

The Perfect Gentleman by June Rose (1977) [biography: Barry, trans m]

Love In a Dark Time: Gay Lives from Wilde to Almodóvar by Colm Tóibín (2002) [essay collection]

The Secret Life of Dr James Barry by Rachel Holmes (2002/2020) [biography: Barry, trans m]

Queer & Celtic edited by Wesley J Koster (2013) [anthology]

Running Amach in Ireland: True Stories by LGBTQ Women edited by Maureen Looney (2016) [essay anthology]

Dr James Barry: A Woman Ahead of Her Time by Michael du Preez and Jeremy Dronfield (2016) [biography: Barry, trans m]

Green Carnations/Glas na Gile edited by John Ennis & Moxie Lofton (2021) [poetry anthology]

Screen:

A Different Country (2017) [pre-1993 documentary]

Outitude (2018) [lesbian documentary]

Tabú: Tras (2020) [trans m, trans f, as G]

Seal le Dáithí - Niamh Ní Féineadh (2023) [as G, trans f]

Scéalta Grá na hÉireann: Eleanor Butler & Sarah Ponsonby (2023) [as G, wlw]

Misneach: Ceist Bhróid (2023) [as G, gay]

Croíthe Radacacha (2023) [as G, wlw]

Aiteach Ní Aisteach [as G, queer]

[readingbooksinisrael]

October 2022 Wrap-Up

Rereads

Ender’s Game/Orson Scott Card (sci fi)-Ender is a genius. Like all geniuses, he is sent to Battle School to prepare for the event that the alien race, the Buggers, will come back. Ender isn’t just any genius, though. He’s a genius even among the geniuses and the higher-ups have a special plan for him.

The Road to Yesterday/L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables #11) (realistic short story collection)-A series of vignettes into the lives of the Glen St. Mary citizens, from the 1890s till the 1940s.

5 stars

Not My Problem/Ciara Smyth (young adult realistic fiction)-Aideen cannot control her mother’s drinking, her father’s popping in-and-out of their lives or her failing grades. She’s even running out of excuses to get out of PE. But when she finds Maebh Kowalska, overachiever, crying because of stress, and she agrees to break her ankle so she can stop at least some of the stressful things, everything begins to gather force.

4.5 stars

We Are Okay/Nina LaCour (new adult realistic fiction)-Marin’s grandfather died two weeks before she left for college. Now it is winter break and she is going to be alone for a month. Before that, though, her best friend, whom she hasn’t spoken to since her grandfather died, is coming to visit.

3.5 stars

Inside the O’Brian’s/Lisa Genova (adult realistic fiction)-Joe O’Brian is a police officer from Boston’s proud Irish community. When he begins falling and dropping things he ignores it, but when he cannot stay still in a line-up he makes a doctor’s appointment. The diagnosis is Huntington’s disease, a deadly disease which each of his four children have a 50% chance of inheriting.

Selected Stories/H.G. Wells, ed. Kingsley Amis (sci fi and horror short story collection)-A collection of short stories by H.G. Wells, ranging from some of his earliest to some of his latest.

A United Chalet School/Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (Chalet School #15) (mg realistic adventure fiction)-With midnight theatre, mid-trip rainstorms and Josephine Bettany, the Chalet School is as exciting as ever.

3 stars

Lazy Thoughts of a Lazy Girl/Jenny Wren (satire essays)-Inspired by Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. A Victorian woman’s collection of satiric essays about her life and high society.

Left Neglected/Lisa Genova (adult realistic fiction)-Sarah has the perfect life. Three kids, a loving husband and a high-paced job. She struggles to keep up and simultaneously enjoys the race. When she crashes her car she is left without the job (for now), her mother coming back and an inability to realize that the left side of her body exists.

Toys as Culture/Brian Sutton-Smith (psychology non-fiction)-Toys make up a large part of children’s lives. How do they form our culture and how are they informed by it?

2 stars

Jean and Johnny/Beverly Cleary (young adult romance)-Jean is so excited when an older boy asks her to dance. She just wishes that she had on the right shoes, no glasses and wasn’t quite so short.

[valengory1234]

Robert Frobisher Smythe was a british Egyptologist from the 1880-1890s. The probability that he was racist is like 100%. He probably ate the mummies after robbing their graves

[houseofanubis-headcanon]

Why Nickelodeon’s Inconsistencies Could Be Cool

Robert Frobisher-Smythe was canonically born in 1880, according to Season 3. The house was built in 1890 which, according to Touchstone of Ra, Frobisher and the Alchemist were involved in, considering the laying of the foundation stones, meaning that Frobisher would’ve been 10 years old. Obviously that is not possible and most probably just a “this is a children’s show, who cares about detail” plot hole, but what if we could make it more. Here’s my theory :

RFS was cursed by some ancient Egyptian spirit to rapidly age and that’s why he invented the elixir to stop from aging/dying prematurely. Despite being cursed in S3 to act villainous, in his life before we were told that he was a good person with non-evil intentions. And although I love a gray character, it would make more sense if his intentions behind the elixir were out of fear rather than glory. As we have seen in countless other stories, the person desperate for eternal life is usually the villain, in this story those villains being Victor Jr. & the Secret Society, Rufus, and Victor Sr. I also assume that Frobisher invented the elixir recipe in collaboration with the Alchemist considering he’s an alchemist and because Sophia somehow got her hands on the recipe. 

My next question related to this theory/plot hole is - Why was Frobisher cursed?

[opera-ghosts]

Edyth Walker (March 27, 1867 – February 19, 1950) was an American opera singer who had an active international career from the 1890s through the 1910s. She began her career performing roles from the mezzo-soprano repertory, but later successfully added several soprano parts to her repertoire as well. While she did perform in Italian and French language operas, she had a clear affinity for works in the German language. She particularly excelled in the operas of Richard Wagner. After retiring from the stage, she was active as a voice teacher in both France and the United States. Walker made her professional debut as a concert singer at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig in 1892. She made her professional opera debut on 11 November 1894 at the Berlin State Opera as Fidès in Giacomo Meyerbeer's Le prophète. The following year she became a member of the Vienna State Opera where she was a leading mezzo-soprano with the company for eight seasons.  She notably sang the role of Magdalena in the Vienna premiere of Wilhelm Kienzl's Der Evangelimann in 1896. She was also much admired in Vienna for her interpretation of the role of Amneris in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida.  While under contract in Vienna, Walker made guest appearances with other European theatres. She made her first appearance in the UK at the Royal Opera House in London, singing the role of Amneris on 16 May 1900. She sang several more roles at Covent Garden in 1900-1901, all of them from the Wagnerian repertoire, including Erda in Siegfried, Fricka in both Die Walküre and Das Rheingold, Ortrud in Lohengrin, and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung. In 1901 she portrayed the role of Elvira in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival At the close of the 1902-03 season, Walker left her position in Vienna abruptly after a dispute with Gustav Mahler. Having broken her contract with the influential Vienna opera house, she found it impossible to gain a permanent position with another German or Austrian theatre under such circumstances.  She therefore returned to the United States and signed a contract with the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House on November 30, 1903 as Amneris to the Aida of Johanna Gadski and the Radamès of Enrico Caruso. She sang at the Met for three seasons, notably appearing in the Met's first stagings of Gaetano Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia (as Maffio Orsini) and Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus (as Prince Orlofsky).  She portrayed mainly mezzo-soprano parts at the Met like Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Erda, Fricka, La Cieca in Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda, Leonora in La favorita, Nancy in Martha, Ortrud, Siebel in Charles Gounod's Faust, Urbain in Les Huguenots, and Waltraute. Her final and 108th performance with the Metropolitan Opera was in the title role of Karl Goldmark's Die Königin von Saba for an out of town engagement in San Francisco on April 16, 1906.  While on contract with the Met, Walker began adding soprano roles to her repertoire, beginning with Brünnhilde in Die Walküre which she first performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in December 1905. That was the only soprano role she sang on the Met Stage However, after leaving the Met in 1906 to return to Europe, she added more soprano roles to her stage credits. Walker had already been performing periodically as a guest artist with the Hamburg State Opera (HSO) since 1903, and upon her return to Europe she signed a contract with that company. She remained with the HSO through 1912 performing both mezzo and soprano roles. Among the soprano parts she performed there were Isolde in Tristan und Isolde, Kundry in Parsifal, and the title role in Salome. In 1908 Walker sang the roles of Ortrud and Kundry at the Bayreuth Festival. That same year she had a major triumph as Isolde at Covent Garden. She returned to the Royal Opera House in 1910 to portray the title role in the critically acclaimed UK premiere of Richard Strauss' Elektra under the baton of Sir Thomas Beecham, and to sing the part of Thirza in Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers.  That same year she sang at the wedding of William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen. Kaiser Wilhelm II was in attendance and, impressed with her performance, the emperor made a point of having Walker presented to him. From 1912-1917 she sang annually at the Munich Festivals with the Bavarian State Opera. She made appearances as a guest artist at the Cologne Opera, La Monnaie and the Prague State Opera, among others. Her final performances were singing various roles in Wagner's The Ring Cycle at Elberfeld in 1918.

[kariachi]

Oh, look, more episodes

Random: As somebody who hates theme songs with lyrics, I give this a ‘tolerable’. It’s short and they don’t try to make anythign with a fucking chorus

‘Beautiful Bluebear Bay’ is pretty fucking small. Or that’s a big-ass boat.

Gwen just has such an enthusiasm for life in this series. Every other episode is her damn-near starry-eyed because Science! and Things!

Okay, it’s a big-ass boat. Still seems a bit much. How popular is this place you’re heading to or leaving that you need room for 800 people on a ferry?

In case you didn’t already know, Gwendolyn Tennyson is a total nerd.

I like how the reboot has just sort’ve, moved Gwen into the engineering and tech nerd slot. Like she’s still in the other ones too, but they’ve expanded her repertoire.

Also that’s a nice steamer

How fucking old are you, Max? Please tell me that’s an edited photo. How long have they had “take a photo that looks like it’s from the 1890s” touristy shit?

Poor Ben, this is not his day. Also apparently we’ve discovered where Gwen gets some of her nerd from, thank you Max. Fucking Maxwell ‘History Geek’ Tennyson over here. Though what he describes in impressive for it’s time.

...who the fuck offers chili to settle a stomach? That’s the last thing you want for that

Ben’s Solution For Everything: Turn into an alien

...Wildvine vomits flowers. I wonder if it’s always begonias or if it varies?

Nice to see a villain acknowledge that they keep running into the hero. Also, Smythe, please tell me you’ve made some modifications to the clocktopus? So it doesn’t go down same as before?

Oh gods, Max’s face when Ben gets punted over the ferry. Just “Motherfucker, I’m gonna have to explain this to Carl now...”

It’s a fucking bay! Not the sea! Stop with the Queen of the Sea shit!

‘More than 40 years ago’  ... Again, how old are you Max?! You can’t be more than 10 in the photo, and that’s a stretch, in the original you were 60 but your wording makes it sound like you top out at 56 and are likely plenty younger (a more likely age from the look of him and the wording would be like, 52, 53?) Seriously Max stop fucking with my timelines they’re wobbly enough as it is!

And Smythe! How the fuck old are you?! If that’s you then you have to be at least 15 years older than Max, maybe 20!

And Diamonhead pukes crystals. At least this lady is happy, she’s getting all done up for free. And so understanding of the situation.

Smythe, he’s 10, chill

...he had a crow in his hat. It’s named Aristocrow. I can’t even. That added a half-point all on it’s own.

Steam-powered piranhas, this is an episode made for me

“The fish rebellion has begun“ gods above

Somebody needs to call Sandra and Natalie and inform them that Max is starting to go senile and maybe shouldn’t be left with the kids all summer anymore. Let’s tone it down to regular visits, hm?

Was the jetpack necessary? Really?

Leave it to Ben to figure out how to weaponize his own vomit

Damn, that cop was a ferry fan wasn’t he?

Smythe has a fangirl.

This is what you get Max. This is what you get.

9/10 just for the steampowered piranhas, “The fish rebellion has begun”, and Aristocrow