#The Enemy Below (1957)

[graphicpolicy]

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week! 14 comics to check out this week #comics #comicbooks

Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at! Find out what…

[papaya2000s]

The History of Korean Male Groups – From Yeonhee Professional Singers’ Quartet to BTS -> Pt. 3/? (Rewrite)

In my previous post, I noted the absence of a clearly defined "first" male musical ensemble in Korea prior to liberation, with both the Yeonhee Professional Quartet and the 'Youth Member' frequently recognized as early contributors. These two groups exhibit notable similarities and play pivotal roles in the historical narrative of male musical ensembles in Korea.

The documentation for the Yeonhee Professional Quartet is considerably more comprehensive than that for the 'Youth Member' during the 1920s and 1930s, with surviving information favouring the former. Consequently, the Yeonhee Professional Quartet is often acknowledged as the first male ensemble in Korea to operate under an official name, predating the 'Youth Member' group.

The Yeonhui Professional Quartet is distinguished as the inaugural male group in Korea to possess an official team name, consisting of students from Yonhui College, which is the predecessor of Yonsei University.

Before delving into the specifics of the Yeonhui Professional Quartet, I will provide background information on the College itself.

*Note - Yeonhee College has undergone various name changes and spellings, including Yonhui, Yeonhui, Yonhee, and Yonsei, with Yonsei being its current name.

Yonsei University (연세대학교)

In my earlier post, I provided a brief overview of the incorporation of Western cultural aspects, including architecture and music, into Asia, specifically analyzing their assimilation within the frameworks of China, Japan, and Korea. I will now shift my attention to the historical context and background of Yonsei University (연세대학교), if you want to know more about the whole history of Yonsei University I added the link to the wiki.

Yonhui College and what it looked like in 1918 which is still used today.

Background

Yonsei University (연세대학교; 延世大學校), a distinguished private institution located in Seoul, South Korea, is deeply rooted in Christian principles. Established in January 1957 through the amalgamation of Yonhi College (연희전문학교; 延禧專門學校) and Severance Union Medical College (세브란스 의과대학; 세브란스 醫科大學), its origins trace back to the 1920s.

Yonhui College, founded in 1915 as Chosun Christian College (조선기독교대학; 朝鮮基督教大學),was among the earliest modern educational establishments in Korea, while Severance Union Medical College evolved from Gwanghyewon (광혜원; 廣惠院), the nation's first modern medical institution, established in 1885. The university's name, "Yonsei," reflects its heritage, combining elements from both founding colleges.

Photo 1 - Underwood Hall of Yonsei College seen from below (1939). Photo 2 - Underwood Hall, which houses administrative offices (2017).

Yonhui College, which succeeded Gyeongsin School, played a pivotal role in the formation of Yonsei University alongside Severance Hospital. Initially established as Joseon Christian School on March 5, 1915, it was reconstituted as Yonhui College, a private institution, on April 7, 1917.

During the latter part of the Japanese colonial era, in April 1944, the institution was seized under the guise of enemy property, leading to the expulsion of Korean administrators and faculty by the Japanese Government-General of Korea, and it was subsequently renamed Gyeongseong Industrial Management College.

Following Korea's liberation on August 15, 1945, the institution was elevated to university status and officially renamed Yonsei University.

History:

Beginnings (1885–1916)

Yonsei University Medical School has its roots in the establishment of Gwanghyewon on April 10, 1885, recognized as Korea's first modern hospital to implement Western medical practices.

Founded by American Protestant missionary Horace Newton Allen, the institution was renamed Chejungwon (제중원; 濟衆院), meaning "House of Universal Helpfulness," on April 26. In response to various challenges, Canadian Oliver R. Avison took over management on July 16, 1893. Initially supported by the Korean government, the hospital faced financial difficulties during the First Sino-Japanese War and the Gabo reforms (갑오개혁) in 1894, resulting in its complete oversight by the church.

The Yonsei College flag flutters in the wind in 1939.

In 1899, Avison attended a missionary conference in New York City, where he highlighted medical efforts in Korea, attracting the interest of philanthropist Louis Severance, who made substantial contributions to new facility construction, leading to the hospital's renaming as Severance Hospital.

Although primarily a hospital, Chejungwon (later Severance Hospital) also focused on medical education, enrolling its first class of 16 medical students in 1886, a year after its inception. By 1899, it achieved independent status as a medical school, and in 1912, increased collaboration among various missionary groups resulted in its rebranding as Severance Union Medical College in 1913.

The broader history of Yonsei University begins with the founding of Chosun Christian College on March 5, 1915, by American Protestant missionary Horace Grant Underwood, who was sent by the church. Underwood served as the first president, with Avison as vice president, and the college was initially located at the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association), commencing courses in April with 60 students and 18 faculty members.

During WW I & II

On August 22, 1910, Japan annexed Korea via the Japan–Korea Treaty. In 1911, Governor-General Terauchi Masatake enacted the Ordinance on Chosun Education (조선교육령; 朝鮮敎育令), followed by regulations in 1915 that aimed to suppress private education, requiring all schools to obtain approval from the governor-general and conduct instruction in Japanese.

Chejungwon (Gwanghyewon) inside Yonsei University campus, restored to its current form in the 1980s (2009).

Severance Union College struggled to meet these regulations, leading to changes in policies, curriculum, faculty expansion, and clarification of its governance. It gained recognition as a professional medical school on May 14, 1917. In 1922, Governor-General Makoto Saito's Revised Ordinance on Chosun Education (개정조선교육령) imposed stricter faculty qualifications, prompting Severance to hire more faculty with degrees from accredited institutions. By 1923, Severance regained the authority to confer medical licenses to graduates without a state exam, a privilege lost since 1912. In March 1934, the Japanese Ministry of Education validated Severance by allowing its graduates to practice medicine across Japanese territories.

In 1934, Oh Geung Seon (오긍선; 吳兢善) became Severance's first Korean president, marking a significant milestone in the institution's history.

Ordinance in front of Underwood Hall (1939)

The 1915 and 1922 ordinances greatly impacted Chosun Christian College, which aspired to be recognized as a college but was classified as a "professional school" due to the 1915 Ordinance prohibiting Korean private colleges. It later became Yonhui College, evolving into a university with six departments, while facing curriculum restrictions that banned courses in Korean history, geography, and the Bible outside theology. The missionary council criticized Japan's strict regulations compared to its private schools.

After the March First Independence Movement in 1919, Japan's control over Korea eased, as shown by the 1922 Ordinance, which lifted strict oversight of educational content and allowed Yonhui to include Christian programs and the Bible in its curriculum, while still requiring Japanese literature. Korean history was rebranded as Eastern History, and the Korean language was incorporated when possible.

Post-1922, Yonhui discontinued its Department of Agriculture after its first cohort graduated, and efforts to reinstate it were largely unsuccessful, though a training centre for agricultural education was established.

Yonhee College campus (1939).

Yonhui had an open policy for admitting non-Christians, allowing Christian students to influence them. However, in the late 1930s, Japan intensified its assimilation efforts in Korea under Governor-General Jirō Minami, implementing policies like Sōshi-kaimei and enforcing Shinto practices while recruiting Koreans for the military.

The 1938 Ordinance on Chosun Education mandated Shinto adoption, reduced Korean language instruction, and emphasized Japanese studies. Yonhui resisted by introducing Korean language courses in late 1938, but by March 1940, it was forced to adopt Japanese studies.

English classes were restricted due to deteriorating U.S.-Japan relations, leading to a ban on English coursework. In 1938, President H.H. Underwood accepted Shinto practices to keep Yonhui open, while pressure from governors-general resulted in the loss of U.S. financial support, worsening the institution's financial situation.

Photo 1 - Lee Han Yeol Memorial The June Democratic Struggle began on June 9, with student organizations mobilizing for protests on June 10. Lee Han-yeol, a Yonsei University student, was critically injured by a tear gas grenade and became a symbol of the protests. He died on July 5, shortly after the government met public demands. His national funeral on July 9 drew over 1.6 million mourners, and he was buried at the May 18th National Cemetery. 1987: When the Day Comes (2017) Korean movie based on the true story, and focuses on the events that led up to the June Democratic Uprising in Korea caused by his death.

At first, sang Hymns, School songs, and Cheer songs

This is where it might become a bit confusing for some as it mentions other songs and Album Numbers that might not make sense to how its apart of the History Korean Male Groups, but it does is some way.

The official debut song of the Yeonhee College Choir was the Yeonhee College cheer song and school song recorded on the Columbia SP Album (Album number 40358) in September 1932. In other words, they were not a male vocal team singing popular songs from the beginning. So, at first, the team’s name was written on the album as Yonhee College's quartet.

Those who sang hymns and school songs on campus released ‘Watermill’ and ‘Farmer's Song’ in September 1932, following ‘Idiot Tour of Seoul’, an adaptation of a song by foreign composer Smith, and ‘Let's Play’, a black folk song (Columbia Records, Album Number 40359). The folk song SP (Colombia Records, Album Number 40361) containing, was released under the same team’s name. So, there is more than one Yeonhee Quartet.

Yeonhee Professional Orchestra (연희전문사중창단)

Yeonhee Professional Quartet, Vocal Quartet, Ensemble or Orchestra seem to be the same but might actually be different groups, which threw me off a bit, especially with all the photos of the groups that the University had. It’s confusing since there might have been several groups with the same name at the University, and I’m not sure which male group was the first to “debut”. So, I’ll just compile all the photos and related info together. Overall Yeonhee University might have been the first to debut a Korean male group.

An orchestra/ Quartet/ Ensemble composed of students attending Yonsei University during the Japanese Colonial Period. 

The 1960s marked a notable increase in the popularity of male quartets in Korea, with groups such as the Bluebells, Mellotone Quartet, Johnny Brothers, Bongbongsa Quartet, and Arirang Brothers emerging as prominent figures in the music scene. The Bluebells, often referred to as 'Korea's first male vocal group', played a pioneering role in this genre. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that the Yeonhee Professional Quartet, originating from Yeonhee College, had already made significant contributions to the musical landscape during the Japanese colonial era, thus laying the groundwork for future male vocal harmony ensembles in Korea.

Photo 1 - Yeonhee Professional Quartet (연희전문사중창단) (1932) Names of the people in the photo: English – Lee In-beom, Choi Seong-du, Hwang Jae-gyeong, Shin Yeong-gyun (Piano Hyun Je-myeong) Korean - 이인범, 최성두, 황재경, 신영균(피아노현재명)

Established in 1929, the Yonhui College Orchestra/Quartet conducted biannual concerts for approximately a decade, beginning in 1930, under the leadership of Hyun Je-myeong (현제명). This initiative not only showcased the talents of the ensemble but also contributed to the cultural fabric of the time, reflecting the evolving musical tastes amidst the backdrop of colonial rule. The Yeonhee Professional Quartet, recognized as the first male vocal ensemble in Korea, transitioned from performing hymns and school songs to embracing popular music, thereby broadening their appeal and influence.

Photo 2 - Yeonhui College Orchestra (연희전문사중창단) and its leader, Hyun Je-myeong (현제명) (second from the right)Date of photo taken and student’s names are unknown.

The Yeonhee Professional Quartet, comprised of tenor Lee In-beom, Choi Seong-du, bass Hwang Jae-kyung, second bass Shin Young-gyun, and pianist Hyun Je-myeong (현제명), made their debut in September 1932 with the release of Yeonhee College's "Cheering Song" (응원가) and "School Song" (교가). They subsequently produced a variety of folk songs and original compositions, including "I Am Silhyeo" or “I'm lost” (나는 실혀) and "Hahaha," (하.하.하) and gained exposure through performances on Gyeongseong Broadcasting Station (JODK) (경성방송국).

Photo 3 - Yeonhui Professional Orchestra (연희전문사중창단) (1933) Date of photo taken and student’s names are unknown.

This ‘group’ could be considered at the first Korean or Foreign-Korean co-ed group/ Orchestra, as you can see two females and two or three foreign people in the front row (I don’t think the people in the photo could be considered a “group” as it could be classed as an Orchestra, as mentioned under the photo) from Yeonhee University, but there is no information confirming that (this is my opinion).

Adding to the people that are in the picture it looks like that there are a few foreign men in the front row next to the two females on the right (shown in photo 1 above), I zoomed into the photo and you can see two or three foreigners in the photo (shown in photo 2 above), this would make sense as the University was founded by Horace Newton Allen, an American Protestant missionary and was appointed to Korea by the Presbyterian Church in the USA.

The activities of this orchestra facilitated the emergence of musicians such as Kim Seong-tae (김성태), Lee In-beom (이인범), Kim Saeng-ryeo (김생려), and Lim Dong-hyeok (임동혁).

On October 10, 1933, the Joseon Musicians Association hosted a music recital for Hyun Je-myeong and Hong Nan-pa at Ewha Haktang in Jeongdong, during which the Yonhui College Choir performed "Boat Song," composed by Hyun Je-myeong with lyrics by Lee Eun-sang (이은상), alongside "Watermill" and "Jeolumbari," both also written by Lee Eun-sang and composed by Hyun Je-myeong.

Lee Eun Sang (이은상) (Pen Name - Nosan) (1903 – 1982) was a Sijo Writer, historian and a poet and after liberation, he wrote ‘Nosan Sijo Anthology’ and ‘The Meaning of the Blue Sky’.

The lower grades of Ewha Hakdang, in the 1910s. Ewha Haktang (이화학당; 梨花學堂) in Jeongdong now Ewha Woman’s University, was founded/ established in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton a female American missionary.

“I'm lost” (나는 실혀) and "Hahaha," (하.하.하)

In April 1933, the Yeonhee Professional Quartet (연희전문사중창단) produced a sound recording for Columbia Records that included "Hahaha" (하.하.하), an adaptation of a work by the foreign composer Crown, as well as "I am Silheo" or "I’m Lost" (나는 실혀), composed by Sherborne (셜본이). Interestingly, the album attributes the arrangement to Ji Gong-bo, who is believed to be a foreign arranger who is specified on the album, a practice that is quite rare.

I couldn’t find anything on composers Crown and or Sherborne only that it’s a school in the UK, and couldn’t find anything on Ji Gong-bo as well?

‘I am lost’ (나는실혀)/ ‘Ha.Ha.Ha’ (하.하.하) – Vinyl Record Front.

This phonograph album marks the debut of the Yeonhui Professional Quartet, recognized as Korea's first male vocal ensemble, as they earnestly began performing popular songs across various genres. The album signifies their transition from academic life to a professional career as a vocal group. Notably, a photograph exists of the quartet alongside Professor Hyun Je-myeong (Photo 1 shown below), who accompanied them on piano during a broadcast on Gyeongseong Broadcasting Radio (JODK) (경성방송국) shortly after the album's release (as already mentioned above).

Following their initial release, the quartet produced several notable recordings, including "Yuwangmin's Song" (유랑민의 노래) and "Joseon's Song" (조선의 노래) in August 1933 (album number 40450), as well as "Mungteongguri Jangga-ga" (멍텅구리 장가가요) and "Goodbye" (굿빠이) in September 1934 (Colombia Records, album number 40536). In January 1935, they continued their output with "My Wife Sleeping" (낫잠자는 마누라) and "Sapsaegae" (삽살개). During this period, the ensemble was still referred to as the Yeonhui Professional Quartet.

In April 1935, the group rebranded as the ‘Yeonjeon Quartet’, and by December 1936, they released "Jeolleumbali" (절늠발이) composed by Hyun Je-myeong, which represents their final known album release. The phonograph records produced by the quartet are now regarded as rare artifacts, making them difficult to encounter in contemporary collections.

Included Songs:

The two song that were on the vinyl that were sung by the Yeonhee Professional Quartet.

Yeonhee Professional Quartet Members:

The only photo that has names attached to them is Photo 1: Lee In Beom (이인범), Choi Seong Du (최성두), Hwang Jae-gyeong (황재경), Shin Yeong-gyun (신영균) (Piano Hyun Je-myeong) (피아노현재명). I will briefly talk about him and the other members here but will go into detail about them separately in future posts.

Hyeon Je Myeong (현제명; 玄濟明)

Hyun Je Myeong (December 8 , 1902 – October 16, 1960) (His pen name is Hyeonseok and Japanese name is Kuroyama Saimei) was a pianist , violinist , tenor singer , song lyricist , song composer , and arranger during the Japanese colonial period in South Korea. He was included in the list of 708 pro-Japanese collaborators announced in 2002, the list of people scheduled to be included in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities published in 2008, and the list of 704 pro-Japanese collaborators announced by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Pro-Japanese Collaborators in 2009. In the second half of 2008 (No. 43) of the academic journal 'Korean History Citizen Lecture', a special feature commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea, titled 'People who founded the Republic of Korea', he was selected as one of the 32 people who laid the foundation for the founding of the country in the culture, religion, and media sectors.

Lee In Beom (이인범; 李仁範)

Lee In Beom (1914 – 1978) was a musician and was a director of the Korean Opera Company, Professor of Yonsei University College of Music. Was a member of the Yonhui Professional Quartet, he toured the country twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. He participated in the Gyeongseong Welfare Chamber Orchestra, a pro- Japanese music group that toured the country at the end of the Japanese colonial period to play music of the times and encourage support for the war. As a result, he was selected in the music category of the list of people to be included in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Figures published by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities in 2008.

Choi Seong Du (최성두; 崔聖斗)

No photos of just him like Lee In Beom, Hyun Je Myeong other than being in this group photo exist that I could find, I could only find information on him.

Choi Seong-du was a clarinet and piano player. Born in Seoncheon, North Pyongan Province.  Graduated from Sungjeon College and Yonhee College. He worked with Lee In-beom (이인범), Jang Myeong-ho (장명호), and Cha Hyeong-gi (차���기) under the guidance of Hyun Je-myeong (현제명).

Hwang Jae Gyeong (황재경; 黃材景)

No photos of just him like Lee In Beom, Hyun Je Myeong other than being in this group photo exist that I could find, I could only find information on him. I hope this information is for the write Hwang Jae-gyeong as his name when searching came up with more than one person with the same name.

Hwang Jae-gyeong was a flutists and arranger (popular singer) and was a member of the Yonjeon Music Club during the Japanese colonial period. He performed at a concert hosted by the Christian Youth Association on November 27, 1926, and worked with Cha Hyeong-gi , Choi Seong-du , and Han In-hwan under the guidance of Hyun Je-myeong

Shin Yeong Gyun (신영균)

Couldn’t find any information or photos of just him like Lee In Beom, Hyun Je Myeong other than being in this group photo.

I’m not shore which person in this photo is Shin Yeong-gyun, Choi Seong-du or Hwang Jae-gyeong

I didn’t realise this until I read a few of their wiki pages that some of them were on the list of 708 pro-Japanese collaborators during the Japanese Occupation, I thought that one of the reasons that he was mentioned so much and that he a lot of information was because he was very famous composer and that he worked at the Yonsei University, they are probably one of the reasons why? I feel like (in my opinion) that Yeonhui Professional Orchestra/ Quartet (연희전문사중창단), might not be popular or be mentioned today as the “first” male group is because Hyun Je-myeong, Lee In Beom were pro-Japanese, and that 3 out of 5 of the members having information both in a good or bad way.

[tiramegtoons]

Damn no anon? Guess this gotta do

SOO IF U AND YOUR VER OF SNATCHER HAD A SHARED PLAYLIST HOW WILL IT GO?

NO ANONS? 🤨

Pfft- couldn’t help it-

Also good question!

I’ve compiled a list below that I feel would be in it:

“Is this Love” - Whitesnake 1987

“You’ll Never know”- Vera Lynn 1943

“Bipp”- Sophie (drainpuppet remix)

“You know me Better” - Roisin Murphy

“I’ll Be Around” - The Spinners

“Unexpectancy Part 2”- Pizza Tower (Or pretty much most of the soundtrack)

AHIT soundtracks especially Your Contract has Expired because of course he would listen to his own music-

“Woman” - Wolfmother

“One bad Man” - Midnight Riders(Left 4 Dead 2)

“Criminal” -Groundbreaking

“Murphys Law”- Roisin Murphy

“Am I Looking like this”- Lyre Le Temps

“Glitz at Ritz”- Jules Gaia

“Suite 1 Romeo and Juliet 64 Op. Bis: 6 Death of Tybalt”- Prokofiev

“Megalomaniac” - KMFDM

“Instant Crush” -Daft Punk

“Baby be Mine”- Michael Jackson

“I Want to be Bad”- Jack Hilton’s band 1929

“Self-Control”- Laura Brannigan

“Villian”- (English Cover) Justine M.

“Kiss Me”- Sixpence None the Richer

“Reet Petite” - Jackie Wilson 1957

“Just the two of Us”- Grover Washington

“Tornera” (You’ll return)- Natalino Otto

“You stepped out of a Dream”- Scatman John

“Friends on the other Side”- Keith David(The princess and the frog)

“I’m still Here”- John Rzeznik (Treasure Planet)

“Slice me Nice”- Fancy

“Who wants to Live Forever”- Queen

“Dancing in the Moonlight”- Ruth Etting 1933

“Puttin on the Ritz”- Taco (the classic Fred Astaires version is just as good)

“Guts” - Groundbreaking

“In the Dark of the Night”- Anastasia

“In a Moments time”- Skullgirls

“Tales of the Magic Tree, 4 Spider Knows his craft”- Litvinovsky

“What a Girl, what a Night”- Harry Reser 1929

“I Ricordi Della Sera”( Memories of the Night) - Quartetto Cetra

“Maddest kind of Love”- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

“Undecided”- Ella Fitzgerald

“Enemy like Me”- Sim Gretina

“You were there”- Al Bowly 1936

That’s all I have for now, I’m sure it’ll grow even longer later on. :)

[hadeschan]

item # K24A36

VERY RARE, a custom-made Pra Malai Proht Pret, Luang Phor Guay, Wat Khositaram, Nua Pong Namman. An amulet with bas-relief of Pra Malai Arahant travels to hell. Pra Malai is standing, holding a talipot fan or talapat, and surrounded by Pretas (hungry ghosts) to help ease their sufferings. Made from many types of holy powder blended with tung oil (wood oil made from seed of tung tree). The legend has it that this type of amulet was custom-made for looksit (disciples / followers /adherents/ worshippers / devotees) of Luang Phor Guay for the wish of the great supernatural abilities of Pra Malai would help ward off demons, evil spirits, and unknown force, and ease the sufferings of dead parents or relatives who might be pretas (hungry ghosts) in hell. Made by Luang Phor Guay of Wat Khositaram (Wat Ban Khae or Wat Luang Phor Guay), Chai Nat Province before BE 2500 (CE 1957).

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BEST FOR: With great supernatural abilities of Pra Malai,  Pra Malai vanquishes ghosts and evil spirits, a ghost-busting deity, scare away demons, evil spirits, and ghosts. Ponggan Poot-pee pee-saat Kunsai Mondam Sa-niat jan-rai Sat Meepit (he helps ward off evil spirit, demon, bad ghost, bad omen, bad spell, curse, accursedness, black magic, misfortune, doom, and poisonous animals). Pra Malai fights against demonic manipulation. In Buddhism, Pra Malai helps ease sufferings of your parents or relatives in hell, the encompassment of intense pain and torment due to their negative karma and past misdeeds. And Pra Malai brings peace and prosperity to you and your family members. Klawklad Plodpai (it brings safety, and pushes you away from all danger), Kongkraphan (it makes you invulnerable to all weapon attack), Nang Nieow, a rock-hard skin that is completely impervious to damage with bludgeoning or piercing weapons. Maha-ut (it stops gun from shooting at you). And this amulet helps protect you from manipulators, backstabbers, and toxic people. And the force of the bad intentions / activities / behaviors from your enemies hitting you, the Khata Sà-tón Klap in this amulet puts an equal force back onto them, meaning those bad intentions / activities / behaviors bounce back up to your enemies.

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Pra Malai

Pra Malai, according to the various versions of the story, was a Buddhist Arahant who accumulated so much merit that he acquired great supernatural abilities. Using his powers, he traveled to the various hells, where he meets the suffering denizens and is implored to have their living relatives make merit on their behalf. He later traveled to the heavenly realms of the devas, Trāyastriṃśa and Tushita, where he meets Indra and the future Buddha Maitreya, who is still a Bodhisattva, (who is not a Buddha yet), who instruct him further in merit-making.

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Preta

Preta, also known as hungry ghost, is the Sanskrit name for a type of supernatural being described in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion as undergoing suffering greater than that of humans, particularly an extreme level of hunger and thirst.They have their origins in Indian religions and have been adopted into East Asian religions via the spread of Buddhism. Preta is often translated into English as "hungry ghost" from the Chinese and East Asian adaptations. In early sources such as the Petavatthu, they are much more varied. The descriptions below apply mainly in this narrower context. The development of the concept of the preta started with just thinking that it was the soul and ghost of a person once they died, but later the concept developed into a transient state between death and obtaining karmic reincarnation in accordance with the person's fate. In order to pass into the cycle of karmic reincarnation, the deceased's family must engage in a variety of rituals and offerings to guide the suffering spirit into its next life. If the family does not engage in these funerary rites, which last for one year, the soul could remain suffering as a preta for the rest of eternity.

Pretas are believed to have been false, corrupted, compulsive, deceitful, jealous or greedy people in a previous life. As a result of their karma, they are afflicted with an insatiable hunger for a particular substance or object. Traditionally, this is something repugnant or humiliating, such as cadavers or feces, though in more recent stories, it can be anything, however bizarre. In addition to having insatiable hunger for an aversive item, pretas are said to have disturbing visions. Pretas and human beings occupy the same physical space and while humans looking at a river would see clear water, pretas see the same river flowing with an aversive substance; common examples of such visions include pus and filth.

Through the belief and influence of Hinduism and Buddhism in much of Asia, preta figure appear prominently in the cultures of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

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Arahant

An arahant is a Buddhist who has reached enlightenment and achieved nirvana, or spiritual liberation. The term comes from the Pali word arahant and the Sanskrit word arhat.

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Talipot Fan

A Thai talipot fan, or talapat, is a hand-held fan made from a talipot palm leaf. Buddhist priests use them to cover their faces while chanting, and as symbols of their ecclesiastical rank.

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“ขอศิษย์ทั้งหลายอย่าอดอย่าอยากอย่ายากอย่าจนอย่าต่ำกว่าคนอย่าจนกว่าเขา”

“All of my Looksit (disciples / followers /adherents/ worshippers / devotees) will be away from destitution, failure, hardship & difficulty in living, poverty, inferiority, and deterioration in quality of life.”

……………………………………………………………

Luang Phor Guay was highly respected by Luang Phor Pare of Wat Pikulthong, Singburi Province. Many Batches of Luang Phor Pare’s amulets were blessed by Luang Phor Guay first, Luang Phor Pare would bring them to Luang Phor Guay and ask Luang Phor Guay to bless them for him before the Grand Blessing Ceremonies…

……………………………………………………………

*All of the amulet made by Luang Phor Guay, the last mantra that Luang Phor Guay blessed on amulets was “The Khata Sà-tón Klap (The Bouncing Back Mantra)”. The force of the bad intentions / activities / behaviors from your enemies hitting you, the Khata Sà-tón Klap puts an equal force back onto them, meaning those bad intentions / activities / behaviors bounce back up to your enemies.

……………………………………………………………

LUANG PHOR GUAY

Luang Phor Guay was an abbot of Wat Kositaram (Wat Ban Khae), Chainat Province living between (BE 2448 to BE 2522)

Luang Phor Guay was a disciple of many Legendary Guru Monks, for instance;

- The Holy Luang Phu Tao of Wat Kaang Kaao, a senior brotherhood of Luang Phu Suk of Wat Pak Klong Makham-tao

- The Holy Luang Phu Sri of Wat Pra Prang

- The Holy Luang Phor Derm of Wat Nong Pho

The supernatural power of Luang Phor Guay experienced by his Looksit (disciples / followers /adherents/ worshippers / devotees).

1)An ability to know the future.

2)An ability to shoot clay ball bullets from a sling bow with cursive path (line of fire) to any targets Luang Phor Guay wanted, no matter how far they were.

3)An ability to make a ring to be put on anybody’s fingers no matter where they were by blowing rings from Luang Phor Guay’s palms.

4)Photo shootings without Luang Phor Guay’s permission, those photos would be blurry or camera malfunctions.

5)An ability to make people who just visited Luang Phor Guay not to recognize Luang Phor Guay after leaving Luang Phor Guay.

6)An ability to stop gun from firing at him or anyone

7)An ability to make gun malfunction by squeezing out a piece of cloth in his hands.

8)An ability to make ants to return to their nest hole.

9)An ability to bless chicken food, and made chickens eat it if the chickens or the chicken eggs were stolen, and later eaten by the thieves, the thieves would got Dermatophytosis or Ringworm on their skins.

10)An ability to use a rock tying up with a robe, and beat up his looksit, and looksit felt no pain.

11)An ability to stop the gun from firing by saying “the gun jammed”.

12)An ability to treat people with headache by pinching their own thumbs.

13)An ability to heal people with broken bones.

14)An ability to replace the pain during child labor from wives to their husbands.

15)An ability to turn a man to both a crocodile, and then a tiger or vice versa.

16)An ability to turn midrib of a banana leaf to a green snake, and a loincloth belt to a cobra.

17)An ability to turn leaves of Maerua siamensis (Kurz) Pax tree to wasps.

18)An ability to turn a joss stick wrapped with red paper to a Siamese fighting fish.

19)An ability to hold burning charcoal in his hands

20)An ability to pick anything that his hand could hold from anyplace, no matter how far they were.

21) Luang Phor Guay’s message to his looksit would come true.

22)An ability to make his amulets floating in the water or flying in the air.

23)An ability to command wasps to sting any people he wanted. And command turtles to search for anybody he wanted.

24)An ability to toss his amulets into the air, and those amulets were flying to people whom he wanted to give amulets to, no matter where they lived.

25)An ability to know if his Looksit were assaulted or in danger, no matter where they were at.

……………………………………………………………

THE AMULETS OF LUANG PHOR GUAY

Luang Phor Guay made and blessed all of his amulets by himself. Mon Pra Gaan, the Lord Kala in Sanskrit, the Pra Gaan Mantra, the one who is beyond time (death) and universe and all life within, and the god of death. Those who have good intentions of using Luang Phor Guay’s amulets would be blessed, those who are not will be doomed. And all amulets made by Luang Phor Guay, at the final of blessing ritual, Luang Phor Guay would end with Khata Sa-ton-klap. Such Khata has a power that helps protect amulet wears from manipulators, backstabbers, and toxic people. Not only protection from those kind of people, but also people who are thinking a “bad” thought about the amulet wearers will also be doomed.

THE BLESSING PROCESS OF AMULETS OF LUANG PHOR GUAY

Luang Phor Guay blessed his amulets at the 7 times of the day firstly in the early morning, in the late morning, in the afternoon, in the late afternoon, in the evening, in the late evening, and at midnight. These 7 times of blessing was said to be the blessing process of Black Magic, and to prolong/extent the lives of people who wear his amulets in case that people’s lifespan on earth are shorten by their bad karma. And only best guru monks or Best white robe masters could perform such rituals. Luang Phor Guay would pick the day on auspicious constellations (Rerk Mongkon), master of devil constellations (Rerk Boon Phraya Maan), and criminal constellations (Jora Rerk). Luang Phor Guay said that the Rerk Boon Phraya Maan, and  Jora Rerk are constellations that help criminals, and evil people to successfully commit their crimes, and amulets of Luang Phor Guay would perform miracles to persuade those bad people to believe in good and bad karma, then they will return to support Buddhism, and finally, they will be decent citizens.

……………………………………………………………

DIMENSION: 5.10 cm high / 1.90 cm wide / 0.90 cm thick

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item # K24A36

Price: price upon request, pls PM and/or email us hadeschan@gmx.us

100% GENUINE WITH 365 DAYS FULL REFUND WARRANTY

Item location: Hong Kong, SAR

Ships to: Worldwide

Delivery: Estimated 7 days handling time after receipt of cleared payment. Please allow additional time if international delivery is subject to customs processing.

Shipping: FREE Thailandpost International registered mail. International items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges.

Payments: PayPal / Western Union / MoneyGram /maybank2u.com / DBS iBanking / Wechat Pay / Alipay / INSTAREM / PromptPay International

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

[whitepolaris]

Loyd's Hall of Haunts

William Loyd has been his own worst enemy since birth, which by how must be at least a couple of centuries ago. According to legend, as a young man in England he was considered such a scoundrel that his family disowned him. He was forced to drop one of the Ls in his last name to further disassociate him from the rest of the Lloyds and then was told to leave England entirely.

Being a rogue of low mortals and high aspirations, he naturally headed to Louisiana, where he bought a three-thousand-acre parcel of land on Bayou Boeuf near Cheneyville built a house there sometimes between 1816 and 1830, and then set himself up as a planter. The local Indian tribes apparently thought even less of him than his former relatives did, as a couple of flint arrowheads found embedded in the front door of his house seem to attest. As one of his neighbors quipped, "If you'd ordered a wagon train full of rascals but all you got was Bill Loyd, you'd still think you'd got your money's worth."

By 1864, when the Civil War had reached this part of Rapides Parish, wily "Grandpa Loyd" was considered (or else pretended to be) too old and too feeble to fight and chose to sit out the war at home. He invited Union troops to camp on his land and then wined and dined the officers. He may have hoped to curry a few more favors (or at least save his house from being burned down) by offering to tell them where the Rebel forces were hiding.

But if trying to stay on the winning side was his goal, this time it backfired. Following his directions, the Union soldiers walked straight into a Rebel ambush. Unfortunately for Loyd, enough of them managed to escape and straggle back to their campsite at his plantation to point an accusing finger in his direction. Justice was swift. Loyd was dragged out of his house, dipped in boiling tar, and then hanged from one of the oaks in his own front yard. That oak stood until 1957, when Hurricane Audrey finally uprooted it.

Plantation Phantoms

A poltergeist that has frequently plagued William Loyd's house and property ever since his has been attributed to the man's violent (and perhaps unjust?) death. Rearranging or hiding silverware, ringing doorbells, banging on walls and the piano, knocking pots off the stove, tipping over heavy furniture and slamming doors, the spirit seems forever bent on deviltry, much as Loyd himself had been during his lifetime.

Loyd is by no means the only one to have died on the property. According to family oral history, a few days following Loyd's summary execution a young Yankee soldier, in love with one of the young women in Loyd's household, deserted and stayed behind when his fellow troops pulled up their tent stakes to begin the Red River Campaign. He hid in a small storage closet under the roof off the east room on the third floor. When he finally emerged he accidentally surprised (or enraged) Loyd's widow, who stabbed or shot him and then left him to slowly bleed to death on the floor, where bloodstains marking the scene of the incident remain to this day. Unable to lug him downstairs by herself, Loyd's widow tipped his body out a third-floor window and then dragged his corpse into a shallow grave beneath the house.

Another bloodstain marks the spot where William Loyd's niece Inez, jilted at the altar on her wedding day, slashed her wrists and bled to death. Here again, however, the orally transmitted stories vary in the details, since some of the versions insist instead that she jumped to her death through that very third-floor window, only to be impaled on a bird shard of glass when she hit the ground below. Or could this have been the fate of Annie Loyd, yet another niece? Since all the records were destroyed during the Civil War, the various tales and legends about the house and its occupants have become entangled in the turbulent years that followed. Although they do all agree on one thing: Several restless spirits occupy the plantation.

Since the Civil War, more than a dozen families have attempted to live in the slowly crumbling house. But whether driven out by ghosts or daunted by both the ever-advancing decay of the structure and its remote location, none managed to stay for very long. Misfortunate and suffering seemed to grip anyone who tried to live there, but each new owner had to discover the curse for himself and then keep it a secret, lest he be unable to resell it to the next unsuspecting buyer.

Harmless Haunts

The old Loyd property changed hands again and again, shrinking from 3,000 to only 640 acres as the forlorn mansion gradually became so overgrown with vegetation that when Virginia Fitzerald and her husband bought the property in 1948, they had no idea it included the old house. Pulling down the vines that thickly shrouded it, the Fitzgeralds rediscovered the ten-room Georgian manor, cleaning out decades of debris to reveal its "floating" staircase of tiger maple and the beautifully intricate plasterwork of its sixteen-foot ceilings. Confident that they found a treasure, the Fitzgeralds and their young children moved in as soon as the rooms were cleared and the broken windowpanes replaced. They had not, however, counted on sharing the house with its long-term residents or heard about the ongoing curse, so when tragedy struck, they were unprepared. Within months of moving in, both Mr. Fitzgerald and his daughter were killed in a mysterious accident.

Undaunted by the supernatural, Virginia Fitzgerald chose to remain in the house. Determined to somehow carve out a place for the living among the spirits of the dead, she furnished the place with antiques-including a massive 1878 piano that belonged to William Jennings Bryan and that is still in the house today-and began delving into its past. Some things, like the bullets she found embedded in the stairs, never yielded an explanation, but in time she came to terms with the phantoms. Her surviving son raised a family there and eventually her grandchildren learned to play with one of the ghosts. "Harry Henry," as they called the lovelorn young soldier. Harry entertained them with violin music he played on the broad second-floor veranda and often wandered through the house in his old Union uniform. He and Inez, and another spirit the family called Sally (thought to be a former slave), all seemed to be harmless, even benevolent toward the Fitzgeralds, who had lived in the North before buying the property. But William Loyd apparently never forgave the Uion for the tarring and hanging and never ceased his troublemaking until the living Fitzgeralds finally moved out of the mansion into a cozier modern cottage they built nearby.

Loyd's Hall is now refitted for use as a guesthouse. If you choose to stay there, we recommend you keep quiet about where you're from-if you hail from the South, Harry might not like it, and if you're from up North, you might have William to deal with. So mum's the word either way.

[reservoirreputation]

'Newly Minted Orphan' Extras Part One

For my Reservoir Dogs fic of the same name. Go read the story first, if you're interested. Obvious spoilers below.

Part one is about character backgrounds and their dynamics with other characters. This is my second ResDogs fic, so to go from Dimples to this, doubling the characters to juggle, required a more thorough outline.

Very minor changes from this, which is essentially draft #1 of the fic, compared to what I ended up posting.

The late Joe Cabot(B 1919, is 73 in 1992) couldn’t have a simple will; couldn’t just leave all his possessions to his only son, Eddie. Joe Cabot could be a petty man, and when he’s killed under mysterious circumstances, his son executes his will, due process be damned. It’s not as if the company his Daddy kept were law-abiding citizens, anyway. Six people, strangers to each other, connected only by knowing the late Cabot patriarch, are brought to his sprawling, beautiful LA home. No names are allowed, and a simple rule is in place; in this house, where the late Joe Cabot’s spirit may still dwell, a fortune awaits at the end of the night. The last person to remain on the premises shall inherit his estate. 

THE PLAYERS: Mr. White,(B 1939, is 53 in 1992) an old hand and friend of the Cabot’s. He’s known the family the longest. Joe’s reason to suspect: Friends close and enemies closer. No one’s been a better family friend than White. In work like theirs’, it’s hard to tell when someone crosses over from one to the other.

Mr. Blue,(B 1933, is 59 in 1992) the eldest of the group, with the most extensive rap sheet. Has been in reluctant retirement due to old age, has been financially taken care of by Joe as of late, as his most tenured employee. Joe’s reason to suspect: no one’s more dangerous. Mr. Blue had been in his service the longest because Joe wanted to make sure none of his enemies could buy him out.

Mr. Brown, (B 1963, 29 in 1992) professional driver of any and all scenarios. Has helped many a thief get out of dodge safely. Has known and worked with the Cabot’s on and off for five years. Joe’s reason to suspect: Brown’s too nice and trusting. He’s been known to say the wrong things to the wrong people. Joe always wondered if it was all an act, and Brown was really a double-agent, playing up the naivete.

Mr. Blonde,(B 1957, is 35 in 1992) friend of Eddie’s for several years, only just released from a lengthy prison stint. He has the late Joe’s blessing. He also has a mean streak…

Mr. Pink,(B 1957, is 35 in 1992) the fastest and most agile of the group. When a job needs only one man, he’s the one to call. He’s abrasive, annoying and intuitive. He’s the newest hire in the group. Joe’s reason to suspect: Pink has no loyalty, has worked with many other families, including enemies, neutrals and friends of Cabot. He’ll do anything as long as it’s not a move against another group; cops, civilians, fine. Other families? Hell no. But, when you’re known to not have loyalty to begin with… 

Mr. Orange,(B 1961, is 31 in 1992) the oddball, the only non-convict invited. An encounter with Joe Cabot years before led to an odd connection, and Orange’s resignation from the force. He has a limp, needing the use of a cane, one of the reasons why he’s retired from law enforcement so young, and currently on disability. Joe’s reason to suspect: Orange is the only cop he let go. Liked something about the kid, recognized it later as a weakness. But, kept his word about not finishing him off. Orange could be looking for revenge.

THE FIRST SCENE. Someone is cleaning off a knife, a rag quickly becoming soaked in blood. The person wipes off the knife handle, sliding it back into a leather sheath. They look up at their handiwork; Joe Cabot, throat slit, slumped over his desk. Blood covers papers, pens, slowly drips over the edge closest to Joe’s body. They leave the office, quietly closing the door behind them, slipping back into the dark hallway.

ORANGE’S BACKGROUND SCENE, maybe even just a flash of it towards the start of the story. Tied to a chair, slicked with sweat, a gun calmly pointed at him. It goes off, shattering bones in his left foot. He screams. Joe holsters the gun, “You can go now, kid.”

SCENE WHERE EVERYONE’S SLOWLY TRICKLING IN, and people are searched for weapons at the door. White watches as Orange is searched, lets out a low whistle as one of Eddie’s guards finds a small pistol holstered on his calf. As Orange hobbles away, he’s told all of the bedrooms are on the second floor, which of course worsens his mood. White asks if he needs help up the stairs, and Orange thinks on it, frowning. “Yeah.” he replies, very reluctant. It’s a good twenty steps, Orange holding onto the railing with his right, White on his left, ready to steady him if need be. White says, “Something tells me you’re still armed.” Orange retorts, “If you think you’re more thorough, by all means.” It makes White blush, and he’s glad the kid isn’t looking over to relish in his embarrassment.

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

Eddie(B 1965, is 27 in 1992) and Blonde. The only person Eddie really knows. They got some fuck buddy thing going on. Eddie seems to be the only person Blonde actually likes. Eddie’s obviously bummed because his Dad’s dead, his manner subdued, but he also comes across as knowing something more, something that even Blonde hasn’t been clued in on; where it was reported that Joe Cabot died of a heart attack, Eddie really knows that his father was killed, his throat slit. What he won’t tell the others is that they were named in Joe’s will, not just to compete for his estate, but because, in life, Joe had a bad feeling about each and every one of them. He won’t even tell Blonde this, because Blonde was never in his Dad’s will; Eddie added him so that if someone were to actually win his Dad’s shit, it would, hopefully, be his bestie. Blonde, the most unhinged of the group, is all but guaranteed to be innocent. To Blonde’s credit, he’s very sensitive to Eddie’s moods, and will try to cheer him up from time to time. Sometimes, though, he fails to read the room, increasing tension.

Brown and Pink. Like HoHH, we have some of the characters meet while driving to the estate. Brown is handling the LA downpour well from inside his warm car, and spots Pink walking outside. He pulls over, asks if the guy needs a ride, establishing Brown as being caring, and Pink as skeptic, trying to refuse. “You’re soaked, you’ll catch a cold!” “Mama always said don’t talk to strangers.” “Well, normally I’d follow that up with telling you my name, but I’m actually going to a party where that’s forbidden.” Pink sighs, “Funny that, so am I.” “Why aren’t you driving?” “Don’t need no taxi knowing where I’m going.” “Cabot’s?” Pink sees that there’s no reason to not trust the guy, not at the moment, anyway, and reluctantly gets in. They’ll serve as opposites, examining the best/worst case scenarios of the evening.

Blue is the old hired hand, who even White looks towards for advice. He already has his reservations about this ‘game’ and is smart enough to hide his suspicions. Wherever he is, he just exudes calm, cool and collected. If they were allowed to talk about rap sheets, his would be the longest. If they were allowed to talk about time served, his would also be the longest. He’s warm, unassuming; easily the most dangerous one in the group. He uses his age to lure people into a false sense of security.

White and Orange. Like Pink/Brown, opposites attract. Only, no one knows that Orange is a retired cop, who’s only connection with Joe would make him the most blatant red herring. What everyone else also doesn’t know, is that the number one suspect is rubbing elbows with the true culprit. Orange comes across as abrasive to all, except for White. White feels sorry for the kid, tries to cheer him up, keep him company. It doesn’t help that there’s mutual pining.

Blue and White. they’ve been around the Cabot family the longest. Blue was more about business, White was a mix of both business and the family. Blue liked to keep to himself, as he attracted enough trouble as it was. White enjoyed Joe’s friendship to an extent, knowing there would always be that intangible line that he could never cross, how he’d never really be family. The two men often saw each other, occasionally exchanged pleasantries, but otherwise kept their distance. They were close in age, but Blue undoubtedly had more experience. White was never above taking advice, and on rare occasion would seek and/or accept Blue’s advice.

[mostlygibberish]

"I don't want to know the men I'm trying to destroy."

I liked the part with the noughts and crosses.

A fascinating cat-and-mouse game between an American destroyer escort and a German U-boat. There was a ton of great footage shot on a real destroyer escort, with its crew as the extras, and the footage of them actually firing depth charges was particularly awesome. The miniatures for the U-boat were decent, too.

All the scenes to do with ship command and tactics felt realistic, which was nice. I thought the split focus between the two captains and their crews was a good decision, with both Robert Mitchum and Curd Jürgens giving great, likeable performances. The mind games they played as they tried to predict and one-up each were very well done, and the ending was a satisfying conclusion to the strange camaraderie they had formed through opposition.

The only part I thought made no sense was when they rammed the U-boat near the end. I'm fairly sure that would have messed up their own ship considerably more than the enemy, and it seemed like they were still operational at that point, so there wasn't any reason for it.

A solid WWII movie with some nice submarine action. Really good.

[sidonius5]

𝒜𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒸𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝓂...

[sugarpkts]

[theendofthefilm]

The Enemy Below

Dick Powell USA, 1957

[theoscarchallenge]

I really enjoyed The Enemy Below. The way the captains keep trying to think like eachother, trying to get the upper hand. Good cast and those water explosions were pretty awesome. It received the Oscar for Best Effects-Special Effects for Walter Rossi.

[overlookedwwiimedia]

The Enemy Below (1957)

Basic Story: A U-boat and an American Destroyer play cat-and-mouse in the South Atlantic.

Fan Thoughts: Most films following submarines, no matter what side they were on, usually involve the captains having a battle of wits with the loser being sunk, and The Enemy Below is no exception.  Because the plot-lines for these films are somewhat limited, their quality hinges on the characters and acting.  The book The Enemy Below is a work of fiction based on the author Denys Rayner’s experiences from The Battle of the Atlantic during World War II.  The screenplay is very loosely based on the book, changing the British ship to American and the characters reactions at the end; however the film did include an actual event where a destroyer rammed a U-boat and captured many of the crew when it sank.  Adding to the real aspects of the film, Curd Jürgens who plays the anti-nazi U-boat Captain von Stolberg was an actual critic of the Nazi regime and was sent to a labor camp in 1944 for being ‘politically unreliable’.  There was a noticeable effort to make the German crew relatable, spending a significant amount of time getting to know them, giving more balance to the film and leading to the ending where the Captains meet each other with mutual respect.  The action sequences are entertaining, including all the shots of the ship and submarine both above and below the water, creating the tension that these films rely on.  Overall it is a solid production and focuses more on the crews than some more modern productions.

Warnings: none

Available On: Google Play, Prime Video, Apple TV, RedBox, Vudu, YouTube

[brokehorrorfan]

The Aztec Mummy Collection will be released on Blu-ray on July 19 via VCI. It collects three of Mexico's Aztec Mummy films: Curse of the Aztec Mummy, The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy, and Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy.

1957's Curse of the Aztec Mummy and The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy are directed by Rafael Portillo. 1964's Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy is directed by René Cardona.

Special features are listed below.

Special features:

Video essay covering each movie by Mexican film expert Dr. David Wilt

Curse of the Aztec Mummy:

The walking dead Popoca meets some mobsters led by a tough guy called The Bat and his enemy a masked superhero wrestler called The Angel.

The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy:

Out to find the ancient Aztec treasure, a mad scientist referred to as 'The Bat,' builds a giant humanoid robot to conquer the mummy warrior who is guarding the treasure's map and the tomb where the treasure is located.

Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy:

Two beautiful female Mexican Luchadoras go up against Popoca, the Aztec Mummy.

Pre-order The Aztec Mummy Collection.

[usafphantom2]

Ronnie Bell Following

USAF MiG-15 (616)

In April 1953 the U.S. Far East Command made an offer of $100,000 for the first MiG-15 delivered intact. No enemy pilot took advantage of this offer and when the Korean Truce went into effect on July 27, 1953, the UN still had not acquired a MiG-15 for flight-testing. On Sept. 21, 1953, personnel at Kimpo Air Base near Seoul, Korea, were surprised to see a MiG-15 suddenly land downwind and roll to a stop. The plane was piloted by a 21-year old Senior Lt. Kum Sok No of the North Korean Air Force who had decided to fly to South Korea because he "was sick and tired of the Red deceit." Shortly after landing at Kimpo Air Base, the young pilot not only learned of the $100,000 reward but also that his mother had been safely evacuated from North to South Korea in 1951 and that she was still alive and well. The MiG-15 was taken to Okinawa where it was first flown by Wright Field test pilot Capt. Tom Collins. Subsequent test flights were made by Capt. Collins and Maj. Chuck Yeager. The airplane was next disassembled and airlifted to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in December 1953 where it was reassembled and given exhaustive flight-testing. The United States then offered to return the airplane to its "rightful owners." The offer was ignored, and in November 1957 it was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force for public exhibition. Today it carries its original number "2057". At his request, No came to the United States, changed his name and became a U.S. citizen. He graduated from the University of Delaware, was joined by his mother and was later married. Interestingly, just below the gunsight on Lt. No's MiG-15 was the following admonition in red Korean characters: "Pour out and zero in this vindictive ammunition to the damn Yankees." The original caption states that this photo was taken at Okinawa, however there are 4th and 51st FIW F-86s in the background, which were based in Korea.

Via Flickr

[so-this-is-my-blog-i-guess]

NEWS

No evidence of former Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa found under New Jersey bridge

By Associated Press

July 21, 2022 | 8:42pm

DETROIT — The FBI found no evidence of missing Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa during a search of land under a New Jersey bridge, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

The Pulaski Skyway now becomes another dead end in the decades-long mystery that has stretched from a Michigan horse farm to the East Coast: Where are the remains of one of America’s most powerful labor leaders?

The 47-year riddle turned last year to land next to a former landfill under the bridge in Jersey City. The FBI conducted a search there in early June.

“Nothing of evidentiary value was discovered during that search,” said Mara Schneider, an FBI spokeswoman in Detroit.

“While we do not currently anticipate any additional activity at the site, the FBI will continue to pursue any viable lead in our efforts to locate Mr. Hoffa,” she said.

Schneider declined to comment further when asked for details about the excavation.

It is the latest of dozens of locations Hoffa's body was believed to have been in.

The Pulaski Skyway was searched after the FBI received a credible tip.

Authorities believe Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit in 1975 while meeting with reputed mobsters.

Dan Moldea, a journalist who has written extensively about the Hoffa saga, said he was personally briefed by the FBI in a video conference call Thursday.

He said the FBI and its contractors did not dig in the exact spot that he had recommended.

“I’m not thrilled with the result. … My impression today was them breaking the bad news to me: Thanks for the tip but this is over. That’s my interpretation,” Moldea told The Associated Press.

“They dug holes very, very deep,” he said.

The search for Hoffa has stretched across the entire United States.

Hoffa has been missing since 1975.

The FBI reached out to Moldea last year after he published a detailed account from Frank Cappola, who was a teenager in the 1970s when he worked at the old PJP Landfill near the bridge.

Cappola said his father, Paul Cappola, who also worked at the landfill, explained how Hoffa’s body was delivered there in 1975, placed in a steel drum and buried with other barrels, bricks and dirt.

Paul Cappola, worried that police might be watching, dug a hole on New Jersey state property, about 100 yards from the landfill, and subsequently moved the unmarked barrel there, according to Moldea.

Frank Cappola spoke to Fox Nation and Moldea before he died in 2020 and signed a document attesting to his late father’s story.

Moldea said the FBI told him it did not dig in the exact spot that he had recommended because radar showed nothing suspicious below ground.

“I do think they missed this one spot,” he said. “I think the body’s there. We just can’t find it.”

Hoffa was president of the 2.1 million-member Teamsters union from 1957-71, even keeping the title while in prison for trying to bribe jurors during a previous trial. He was released from prison in 1971 when President Richard Nixon shortened his sentence.

It has been long speculated that Hoffa, who was 62, was killed by enemies because he was planning a Teamsters comeback. He was declared legally dead in 1982.

————————————

Maybe if they dug in the right spots…

[mercurygray]

So, I Hear You Liked: 1917

More World War One Films

I was very excited about 1917 when it first came out because it almost perfectly coincided with the 100th anniversary of the First World War, a conflict that I love to read about, write about, and watch movies about. This period is my JAM, and there's such a lot of good content for when you're done with Sam Mendes's film.

Obviously there are a lot of movies and TV shows out there - this is just a selection that I enjoyed, and wish more people knew about.

Note: Everyone enjoys a show or movie for different reasons. These shows are on this list because of the time period they depict, not because of the quality of their writing, the accuracy of their history or the political nature of their content. Where I’m able to, I’ve mentioned if a book is available if you’d like to read more.

I'd like to start the list with a movie that isn't a fiction piece at all - Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old (2019) is a beautifully produced film that allows the soldiers and archival images themselves, lovingly retimed and tinted into living color, to tell their own story. It is a must watch for anyone interested in the period.

Wings (1927), All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), A Farewell to Arms (1932, 1957), The Dawn Patrol (1938), Sergeant York (1941), and Paths of Glory (1957) are all classics with a couple of Oscars between them, and it's sort of fun to watch how the war gets changed and interpreted as the years pass. (The Dawn Patrol, for instance, might as just as easily be about the RAF in World War 2.)

All Quiet is based on a famous memoir, and A Farewell to Arms on a Hemingway novel; both have several adaptations and they're all a little different. Speaking of iconic novels, Doctor Zhivago (1965) based on the Pasternak novel of the same title, examines life of its protagonist between 1905 and the start of the second World War.

I think one thing historians agree on is that the start of World War One is worth discussing - and that there's a lot of backstory. Fall of Eagles (1974), a 13 part BBC miniseries, details the relationships between the great houses of Europe, starting in the 1860s; it's long but good, and I think might be on YouTube. The Last Czars (2019) takes a dramatized look at the Romanovs and how their reactions to the war lead to their eventual demise.

As far as the war itself, Sarajevo (2014) and 37 Days (2014) both discuss the outbreak of hostilities and the slow roll into actual battle.

The Passing Bells (2014) follows the whole war through the eyes of two soldiers, one German and one British, beginning in peacetime.

Joyeux Noel ( 2005) is a cute story - it takes place early in the war during the Christmas Peace and approaches the event from a multinational perspective.

War Horse (2011) is, of course, a name you'll recognize. Based on the breakout West End play, which is itself based on a YA novel by Michael Morpurgo, the story follows a horse who's requisitioned for cavalry service and the young man who owns him. Private Peaceful (2012) is also based on a Morpurgo novel, but I didn't think it was quite as good as War Horse.

The Wipers Times (2013) is one of my all-time favorites; it's about a short lived trench paper written and produced by soldiers near Ypres, often called Wipers by the average foot soldier. The miniseries, like the paper, is laugh out loud funny in a dark humor way.

My Boy Jack (2007) is another miniseries based on a play, this one about Rudyard Kipling and his son, Jack, who served in the Irish Guards and died at Loos. Kipling later wrote a poem about the death of his son, and helped select the phrase that appears on all commonwealth gravestones of the First World War.

Gallipoli (1981) is stunning in a way only a Peter Weir movie can be; this is a classic and a must-see.

Gallipoli is a big story that's been told and retold a lot. I still haven't seen Deadline Gallipoli (2015) an Australian miniseries about the men who wrote about the battle for the folks back home and were subject to censorship about how bad things really were. For a slightly different perspective, the Turkish director Yesim Sezgin made Çanakkale 1915 in 2012, detailing the Turkish side of the battle. Although most of The Water Diviner (2014) takes place after the war is over, it also covers parts of Gallipoli and while it didn't get great reviews, I enjoy it enough to own it on DVD.

I don't know why all of my favorite WWI films tend to be Australian; Beneath Hill 60 (2010) is another one of my favorites, talking about the 1st Australian Tunneling Company at the Ypres Salient. The War Below (2021) promises to tell a similar story about the Pioneer companies at Messines, responsible for building the huge network of mines there.

Passchendaele (2008) is a Canadian production about the battle of the same name. I'd forgotten I've seen this film, which might not say very much for the story.

Journey's End (2017) is an adaptation of an RC Sheriff play that takes place towards the end of the war in a dugout amongst British officers.

No look at the Great War is complete without a nod to developing military technologies, and this is the war that pioneers the aviation battle for us. I really wish Flyboys (2006) was better than it is, but The Red Baron (2008) makes up for it from the German perspective.

One of the reasons I like reading about the First World War is that everyone is having a revolution. Technology is growing by leaps and bounds, women are fighting for the right to vote, and a lot of colonial possessions are coming into their own, including (but not limited to) Ireland. Rebellion (2016) was a multi-season miniseries that went into the Easter Rising, as well as the role the war played there. Michael Collins (1996) spends more time with the Anglo-Irish war in the 1920s but is still worth watching (or wincing through Julia Roberts' bad accent, you decide.) The Wind that Shakes the Barley covers the same conflict and is excellent.

The centennial of the war meant that in addition to talking about the war, people were also interested in talking about the Armenian Genocide. The Promise (2016) and The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017) came out around the same time and two different looks at the situation in Armenia.

This is a war of poets and writers, of whom we have already mentioned a few. Hedd Wynn ( 1992) which is almost entirely in Welsh, and tells the story of Ellis Evans, a Welsh language poet who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele. I think Ioan Gruffudd has read some of his poetry online somewhere, it's very pretty. A Bear Named Winnie (2004) follows the life of the bear who'd become the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh. Tolkien (2019) expands a little on the author's early life and his service during the war. Benediction (2021) will tell the story of Siegfried Sassoon and his time at Craiglockhart Hospital. Craiglockhart is also represented in Regeneration (1997) based on a novel by Pat Barker.

Anzac Girls (2014) is probably my favorite mini-series in the history of EVER; it follows the lives of a group of Australian and New Zealand nurses from hospital duty in Egypt to the lines of the Western Front. I love this series not only because it portrays women (ALWAYS a plus) but gives a sense of the scope of the many theatres of the war that most movies don't. It's based on a book by Peter Rees, which is similarly excellent.

On a similar note, The Crimson Field (2014) explores the lives of members of a Voluntary Aid Detachment, or VADs, lady volunteers without formal nursing training who were sent to help with menial work in hospitals. It only ran for a season but had a lot of potential. Testament of Youth (2014) is based on the celebrated memoirs of Vera Brittain, who served as a VAD for part of the war and lead her to become a dedicated pacifist.

Also, while we're on the subject of women, though these aren't war movies specifically, I feel like the additional color to the early 20th century female experience offered by Suffragette (2015) and Iron-Jawed Angels (2004) is worth the time.

As a general rule, Americans don't talk about World War One, and we sure don't make movies about it, either. The Lost Battalion (2001) tells the story of Major Charles Whittlesey and the 9 companies of the 77th Infantry division who were trapped behind enemy lines during the battle of the Meuse Argonne.

I should add that this list is curtailed a little bit by what's available for broadcast or stream on American television, so it's missing a lot of dramas in other languages. The Road to Calvary (2017) was a Russian drama based on the novels of Alexei Tolstoy. Kurt Seyit ve Şura (2014) is based on a novel and follows a love story between a Crimean officer (a Muslim) and the Russian woman he loves. The show is primarily in Turkish, and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, who plays the lead, is *very* attractive.

Finally, although it might seem silly to mention them, Upstairs Downstairs (1971-1975 ) Downton Abbey (2010-2015) and Peaky Blinders (2013-present) are worth a mention and a watch. All of them are large ensemble TV shows that take place over a much longer period than just the Great War, but the characters in each are shaped tremendously by the war.