#The man from Manchester || David King

[singeratlarge]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PETER NOONE, the great singer/actor/musician and front man for the uber-successful British Invasion pop band, Herman’s Hermits. Their run included 3 feature films, countless TV appearances, tours with The Beatles and The Who, and 60 million records sold, with songs written by Sam Cooke, Ray Davies, Goffin-King, and Graham Gouldman. Originally from Manchester, Peter was 12 years old when he entered showbiz. Davy Jones (also from Manchester) told me that when Peter was a “teen idol” on magazines he still had to take the trash out as he was still living at home with his folks. Beyond the 60s, Peter kept on making records, intersecting with Bruce Johnston (Beach Boys), Tom Petty, Phil Seymour, and David Bowie—who produced and played on Peter’s cover of “Oh You Pretty Things.” I also recommend The Tremblers, Peter’s New Wave rock band from 1979. Meanwhile, Peter is still on the trail with the current Hermits line-up, crooning “Mrs. Brown,” “There’s a Kind of Hush” and his other hits. I crossed paths with Peter on the road many times, and I admire the way he avails himself to his fans. Meanwhile, here’s “Today’s the Day,” a Peter Noone/DavyJones collaboration from 1998. HB PN and thank you for the years of musical joy you’ve given to us.

#peternoone #hermanshermits #thetremblers #raydavies #grahamgouldman #manchester #davyjones #monkees #brucejohnston #beachboys #tompetty #philseymour #davidbowie #prettythings #seanmcguire #phillipthornalley

[scotianostra]

On July 30th 1746 Francis Towneley, an English Jacobite of The Manchester Regiment was executed in London.

Colonel Francis Toneley was executed at Kennington Common along with eight other officers from the Manchester Regiment; George Fletcher, David Morgan, Thomas Chadwick, Andrew Blood, John Berwick, Thomas Deacon, Thomas Syddall and James Dawson. He was said to have been calm and dignified, wearing a suit of black velvet made for the occasion.

Townley was born in Lancashire to a Roman Catholic family and many of his family joined the Jacobite cause. His father and grandfather both fought to return the throne to King James II when he was exiled and his brother Richard was part of the Jacobite Rising in 1715. However, most of Francis Townleys involvement was in the ’45 Rising.

In 1728 Townley went to France and received a commission in the royal service. He would stay in France for over a decade before he returned to England where he was sent a colonels commission from King Louis XV of France. This enabled him to raise a force of Jacobites to aid Prince Charles Edward Stuart and the Jacobite cause. Townley headed to Manchester where he spent several months as a guest of the Jacobites in the town.

A few days before Prince Charles entered Manchester himself Townley rode out to join him and was told that all those in England who joined the Prince would be commanded by Townley as part of the Manchester Regiment. A few men of the town volunteered, and were made officers, but most of the rest, about three hundred in total, received payment for joining the Princes army.

The Manchester Regiment followed the Prince down to Derby and on their retreat back up to Carlisle. Here Townley was given orders to remain at Carlisle and defend the town, while the prince and his army continued their retreat into Scotland. Townley was determined to fight for the town and it was against his wishes that the governor of the town, a man called Hamilton, surrendered.

With the surrender Townley was thus taken prisoner and put to trial. In his defence Townley said that as a French officer he should be treated as a prisoner of war. He was a commissioned officer of France, not the Stuarts, and therefore was not a traitor. This defence however was not allowed and Townley was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.

His body was interred in the graveyard at St Pancras Old Church, one of the few places in London reserved for Catholic burials. Along with that of George Fletcher, his head was placed on a pike on Temple Bar; the journalist John Taylor reported that it was later removed by friends of his nephew Charles Townley.

Author Katherine Grant, who is a direct descendant, states the relic was returned to his wife Mary and kept in the family chapel. In the 1930s, it was moved to Drummonds Bank in London, before being interred at St Peter's Church, Burnley in the late 1940s.

The third pic is a satirical poster from 1746 and poem regarding the Jacobite Rebellion showing severed heads on poles include those of Francis Townley and George Fletcher.

There’s a great article about Towneley, well mainly his head, at the link below.

https://www.theguardian.com/.../grisly-inheritance...

[envihellbender]

“You’re next.”

Fandom: Dead By Daylight

Characters: David King, Janos Richter, Felix Richter (mentioned), Ursula Richter (mentioned)

Content: Slave!David AU, David’s been kept prisoner by a cult, gore, no beta we die like… wait

Summary: David fights for his life, and for Janos Richter’s entertainment.

—

“You’re next,” the Jailer mumbled in heavily accented English. It took David a moment to realise he was being spoken to, it wasn’t until the chain attached to his black leather collar was tugged that he got to his feet. He’d been pacing up and down his cell like a bored tiger and he had been so lost in thought he hadn’t realised the door had been opened. His jailor didn’t bother to say anything else to him, David never tried to talk to the man. He suspected that made him a preferred prisoner. He dragged his feet as he walked, a small defiance but the only one he was truly allowed. He was relieved to be out of his cell at least, it had become somewhat familiar but his piss and shit bucket was getting rank and his limbs were starting to ache. He hadn’t been on the island long, he’d only had three fights so far and this next one would determine if David was to be kept by the strange group that had kidnapped him from the streets of Manchester or… Well, he didn’t know what else. He didn’t want to think about it. He knew he fought and he won, what happened to the losers he didn’t want to think about.

The corridors were a cold, dark stone, they stank of urine and blood. David tried to ignore it as he was pulled along, resisting the urge to groan as he felt his body get pulled up the stairs. At least the arena was warm, he thought. It was eerily similar to what how he imagined the Colosseum would be, he never visited it. He went to Italy as a teenager but spent his time in bars rather than doing touristy things with his parents. He wondered if he’d ever see his mum or dad again, probably not, he thought emotionlessly. He couldn’t be sad about it, not place for anything like that in a place like this.

“Right. In you go,” the jailor mumbled. David almost stumbled as he stopped, there was a click as his chain was removed. He didn’t look at his captor, or even give him a nod. He simply walked through the familiar doorway and squinted as the sudden bright sun hit his eyes. The only thing keeping him from it was large metal bars that resembled a cage. It had been the weather that told him he’d been taken overseas, the sun didn’t burn like this back in England. He looked at the ground and winced, the sudden noise after so long in near silence made his ears ring. He could hear the audience jeering and celebrating, and a loud booming voice leading them. The bars began whirring and he walked forward without having to be asked. In the audience there was many different people - mostly old and white, he thought they were predominantly speaking German but he heard a few different languages. Say in the three thrones this time was a fat, blond middle aged man with a skeletal woman by his right side. To his left, was a young man around David’s age. The well dressed spectators always made David, who was wearing a soiled, blood stained vest and heavy torn sweatpants. He’d been kidnapped coming out of the gym, and he’d lost his trainers somewhere along the way. His feet were sore, bloody, and filthy.

“Well then,” the blond fat man began. “Which one of you will be my family’s new slave, I wonder,” he taunted. David looked to the right of him, there was a terrified looking young man who David recognised from the cell next to him, he always stank of piss and cried constantly. David actually felt relieved, he knew he could take him. In fact… He thought as he looked around. They all must have known it. He repressed a humourless laugh, he knew a fixed match when he saw one. He didn’t say a word. He looked at the man in the throne, not letting his gaze waver. He noticed the one he assumed to be his son was looking away, he was practically green with disgust. “I, Janos Richter, declare the battle begins.” He was drowned out by cheering, and before David could react he felt the scrawny prisoner run into his arm. David stumbled a little, but he instinctively grabbed the man by his black greasy hair and tugged him backwards. He cried out, and David looked around. Well, one of them had to die, right? He thought.

David threw his opponent to the ground, he began pacing like a lion. He circled him as he scrambled back to his feet and began begging for mercy. David stretched his arms, scratched his nose and rubbed his knuckles before he punched his opponent in the jaw. He sent him to the ground. David normally didn’t kick a man when he was down, but it wasn’t a match any more. It was a fight to the death. He repeatedly stamped on his opponent’s torso with his bare feet, his heel slamming into him causing each of his ribs to crack. David found himself lashing out with his God knows how much anger of being locked away, his starvation, his exhaustion… he released it all as he straddled his opponent and grabbed his hair, he slammed his head into the stone ground again, again, and again. When he stopped he realised that he wasn’t holding on to a head anymore. The skull had shattered. There was chunks of scalp, hair, blood, bone, and brain clinging to his hands. David’s vision grew blurry, he felt weak and bile began to rise in his throat.

“I believe we have a winner,” Janos Richter cackled slapping his fat thigh. The audience howled with laughter, David looked up to see his new owner before his gaze fell down to the headless corpse beneath him. Who had really won? He wondered.

[slackville-records]

Behind The Music

Laura Nyro

She was not only an engaging performing, her songs were covered by everyone from Barbra Streisand to Three Dog Night

Writer and Music Historian John Einarson remembers the great singer & songwriter Laura Nyro on her birthday!

Born on this date, October 18, 1947, Laura Nyro (born Laura Nigro in the Bronx, NY), singer songwriter. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock, and soul. Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", and "Save the Country"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul and Mary, with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson, with "Eli's Comin' "; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)".

Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof". For a time in the latter 60s her career was managed by a young David Geffen (photo below) who set up a publishing company for Nyro's songs and got her signed to Columbia Records after Nyro auditioned for Clive Davis in her apartment.

In late 1996, Nyro, like her mother before her, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After the diagnosis, Columbia Records prepared a double-disc CD retrospective of material from her years at the label. The company involved Nyro herself, who selected the tracks and approved the final project. She lived to see the release of Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro (1997), and was reportedly pleased with the outcome. She died of ovarian cancer in Danbury, Connecticut, on April 8, 1997, at 49.

Nyro's influence on popular musicians has also been acknowledged by such artists as Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Kate Bush, Janis Ian, Diamanda Galas, Bette Midler, Rickie Lee Jones, Elton John, Jackson Browne with whom she had a romantic relationship in the late '60s, Alice Cooper, Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Melissa Manchester, Lisa Germano, and Rosanne Cash. Todd Rundgren stated that once he heard her, he "stopped writing songs like The Who and started writing songs like Laura." Cyndi Lauper acknowledged that her rendition of the song "Walk On By", on her Grammy Award-nominated 2003 cover album At Last, was inspired by Nyro. Elton John and Elvis Costello discussed Nyro's influence on both of them during the premiere episode of Costello's interview show Spectacle. When asked by the host if he could name three great performer/songwriters who have largely been ignored, he cited Nyro as one of his choices. Elton John also addressed Nyro's influence on his 1970 song "Burn Down the Mission", from Tumbleweed Connection, in particular. "I idolized her," he concluded. "The soul, the passion, just the out and out audacity of the way her rhythmic and melody changes came was like nothing I've heard before."

A biography of Nyro, Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro, written by Michele Kort, was published in 2002 by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press.

One of the finest singer/songwriters ever.

Photo Laura Nero Collection

[soccerdailyuk]

The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate

The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate Ahead of the 2023-24 season, several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, have made significant financial investments.  They have signed players on substantial weekly salaries. Despite Manchester City's dominant position with last season's treble victory and Chelsea's emphasis on player sales, all these clubs feature in the top 10 list of weekly wages, along with the financially robust Newcastle United.  The rankings have been compiled based on the figures from Capology. 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24 =9. Andre Onana (Man Utd, £120k)  Following a tumultuous split with David de Gea, Manchester United made a decisive move by acquiring the services of Internazionale and Cameroon goalkeeper Onana.  The deal is rumored to be valued at £47 million. Known for his swift reflexes and agile footwork, the player who reached the Champions League final last season has been offered a substantial weekly wage that reflects his immense talent and potential to captivate audiences. =9. Dominik Szoboszai (Liverpool, £120k) Liverpool's evident requirement for a midfield overhaul during the summer made it apparent that changes were on the horizon. However, the acquisition of Szoboszai still caught many by surprise.  The young midfielder had been impressing onlookers all over Europe with his standout displays for RB Leipzig. Remarkably, at just 22 years old, he already serves as the captain for the Hungary national team. There is a high possibility that Liverpool has made an excellent deal, as they secured the talented player for a fee of £60 million. Considering his potential and abilities, it's likely that Szoboszai will prove to be a bargain for the club in the long run. =6. Mateo Kovacic (Man City, £150k)  Following Ilkay Gundogan's departure, Manchester City found themselves in need of a technically skilled midfielder who could excel against any team, without having to resort to selecting Kalvin Phillips.  Fortunately, they had the opportunity to sign Kovacic, who had expressed his desire to leave Chelsea. The two clubs negotiated a deal, and surprisingly, it was conducted with minimal fanfare. Under the management of Pep Guardiola, the Croatia international is expected to undergo a transformation and be deployed as an inverted centre-back, adding a unique dimension to his playing style and enhancing the team's defensive capabilities.  However, as with any tactical shift, the actual implementation may vary, and we'll have to see how Guardiola utilizes Kovacic's talents on the field. NEXT =6. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, £150k)  Leicester City's unfortunate relegation led to the expected departure of their key players. James Maddison moved to Tottenham Hotspur, while Harvey Barnes opted for Champions League football with Newcastle United. In addition, Tielemans, who had been linked with a move away for several years, left the King Power Stadium when his contract expired in May. He made a move across the Midlands to join Aston Villa, a club on the rise. The absence of a transfer fee might have contributed to the substantial weekly wage offered to Tielemans by Aston Villa. Nevertheless, they have secured the services of a skillful Premier League player, enhancing their midfield with his class and experience. =6. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, £150k) Following a remarkable breakout season in 2022-23, where he showcased his talent at Brighton and achieved World Cup success with Argentina, Mac Allister became a highly sought-after player, and it was anticipated that England's wealthiest clubs would engage in a prolonged transfer saga to secure his services. However, to the surprise of many, Liverpool managed to secure his signature as early as the beginning of June. Adding to the excitement, the 24-year-old has been entrusted with the prestigious No. 10 shirt at Anfield.  If he can replicate the impressive performances of its previous owner, Sadio Mane, then Mac Allister's weekly wage of £150,000 will certainly be well-earned and justified. Liverpool's swift acquisition of such a promising talent suggests their high hopes for him in the coming seasons. 5. Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea, £195k) Nkunku, the most recent high-value signing, has taken on the daunting task of trying to break Chelsea's notorious striker curse.  He arrives in England with an impressive goal-scoring track record from his time at RB Leipzig, along with tremendous potential that has garnered attention.  This potential and talent are evidently reflected in the generous salary he receives. Chelsea hopes that Nkunku's goal-scoring prowess and potential will help break the curse and elevate their striking options to new heights. 4. Mason Mount (Man Utd, £200k) Despite being just 24 years old, Mount has already achieved impressive feats in his career. He has won the prestigious Champions League, earned the title of Chelsea's Player of the Year twice, and represented England in 36 international matches.  However, these achievements are worth reiterating due to the severe criticism he has faced from displeased Chelsea fans on social media. For months, it appeared inevitable that Mount would depart from Stamford Bridge. Eventually, he made the move to Manchester United, becoming a player who can significantly bolster the team's performance at Old Trafford. If Mount manages to recapture the outstanding form he displayed two years ago, his weekly wage of £200k will be seen as a small price to pay. Manchester United is hopeful that he will shine and prove to be a valuable asset for the club. NEXT 3. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle, £210k) With Newcastle United making a return to Champions League football for the first time in nearly two decades, it was anticipated that they would be active in the summer transfer window. However, much to the surprise of many, manager Eddie Howe's signings have been limited to Barnes and Italian midfielder Tonali as of the time of publication. The acquisition of Tonali came at a hefty price of £68.5 million, luring him from AC Milan. Yet, social media was abuzz with videos showing the midfielder appearing less than thrilled about joining Newcastle. However, it's essential to remember that expressions can be misleading, and Tonali may just have a neutral expression rather than indicating any displeasure. It's expected that once he takes the field at St. James' Park, Tonali will showcase his true class and skills, demonstrating why he was a significant signing for Newcastle despite any initial social media reactions. 2. Declan Rice (Arsenal, £240k) Indeed, acquiring Rice's services came at an eye-watering transfer fee, reaching an astounding £105 million. In the current seller's market, it was expected that prying him away from West Ham, who won the Europa Conference League, would come at a high cost. The hefty price tag immediately places a new level of expectation on the shoulders of the midfielder. At just 24 years old, Rice is considered a potentially world-class player, and he has already showcased impressive skills. The substantial fee reflects his immense talent and potential. His abilities are highly regarded, and he is compensated accordingly with a substantial salary, recognizing his value as a player. It remains to be seen how he will perform under the weight of expectations at his new club. 1. Kai Havertz (Arsenal, £280k) Arsenal is making a bold statement this summer by investing significantly in strengthening their squad. One of their major signings is Havertz, who had been eager to depart Chelsea following three inconsistent seasons.  The club sees him as a player capable of elevating his performance under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta. Havertz's potential, combined with his crucial goal in the Champions League final, has led to him becoming the highest-paid new signing in the Premier League.  Arsenal is banking on his ability to take his game to new heights and contribute significantly to their future success. The substantial investment in Havertz reflects the club's ambition to compete at the highest level and improve their chances of mounting a serious title challenge in the upcoming season. The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate Read the full article

[energeticathlete-blog]

@tcrroradius At her mother’s insistence, Meg went on vacation. In all honesty, the freckled girl didn’t want to go anywhere. Her mother was a sick and frail woman. There were plenty of daily activities she couldn’t perform because of her illness. That’s where Meg came in. She gave up everything in her life for her mother, all in the name of staying by her side and assisting her. Meg knew it bothered her mother. There was a sense of guilt the elder held because of it. Of course, Meg chose to forgo the scholarships, not her mother. She reminds her of that often. That, and Meg didn’t need to go to college to enjoy her life. Despite all the sacrifices she made, she’d always have running. But her mother wanted to treat her to a real vacation, as if to make amends for the hampered life Meg lives. When her mother arranged the itinerary for Meg, she assumed it’d consist of a night or two at a local hotel. Maybe even throw in room service since Meg hardly had a soul to hang out with in town--most had moved due to college or for work--and she’d probably spend the days binging Netflix’s new releases. So when her mother handed her a plane ticket, Meg was thoroughly confused. After a heated argument she lost and a week of brooding later, the athletic girl was on a plane bound for the major city in northwest England; Manchester. “Up we go!” Meg exhales while hoisting her luggage onto the rather cozy bed within her hotel room. The lodging was rustic but clean, a wonderful mix of new world convenience with old world decor. Nothing like the cookie cutter hotels you see everywhere in America. Those were dime a dozen. The building itself looked older than most she’s seen in her city too. It helped set the tone of her trip. She really wasn’t home. This was an actual adventure. With that, Meg knew where her first destination would be; a local pub. It was already late, probably prime time for happy hour. After the long flight she endured, the lithe girl figured she’s earned herself a drink. So, after getting advice from the bellhop, Meg strolled the chilly streets of Manchester with a black jacket, jeans, white tee, and sneakers. It was a rather nondescript outfit, but she wasn’t exactly a trendsetter to begin with. Hopefully it meant she’d blend right in. The last thing she wanted was to have any spotlight drastically shone on her, especially while so far from home. Sadly, luck was not on her side tonight, not how she hoped it’d be. Meg hears the rabble from around the corner. Once she turns at the curb, the sounds get louder. There’s cheering, shouting, and cursing too. Was this how every bar was in Manchester? Well, the bellhop suggested it. Meg couldn’t judge it harshly, she has no opinion on the place. Shaking off her nerves, she decides to trust the word of a local and steps through the front door. That’s when her night changes. “Woah--!” Meg yelps sharply at the harsh force being slung her way. Bracing herself and the heavy weight now leaning on her, the freckled girl opens her eyes to find a man leaning back against him, and from the looks of it he was reeling from a massive right hook. Glancing up, Meg spots the bearded giant guilty of the punch. He was...enormous. Looking back to the man still recovering from the hit--she doubted he even realized he was leaning against her and not a wall--Meg drank in his appearance. The first thing she notes is the rose tattoo, then the tape woven around his knuckles. Squinting, she also could have sworn he looked like he was enjoying the fight. Meg should have slipped into a corner and tried to stay out of it, but the pleading look of terror on the barkeep’s face stoked a flame within Meg. A flame that yearns to help those in need. “Alright, that’s it! Break it up!” Meg shouts immediately, causing the rabble to taper off into pure silence. There were a couple mumbles, mostly ‘She American?’ and ‘The fuck she mean, break it up? It was gettin’ good!’. Eyes were on her now, something Meg wasn’t pleased about, but her insatiable need to help others towered above any discomfort the stares gave her. Stepping away from the man who was leaning against her, Meg gives his shoulder a quick squeeze before pulling away completely. “You alright, Rosie?” She asks the rugged scrapper, a half-smile on her face as she comes up with the nickname on the spot due to his tattoo. He doesn’t get the chance to respond even if he wanted to. The floorboard squeaks, causing Meg to instinctively turn around. It was the giant troublemaker from before. He was seething, like he wanted to kill the rose-tattoed man, and she was in his way. “Git th’ fuck outta ‘ere, yank. This ain’t yer fight.” The large, rotund giant proclaims. “No, but I’m finishing it.” Meg stiffens, her tone defiant and commanding. It was enough to cause the crowd to roar in excitement. She wasn’t sure if the man behind her was upset, surprised, or excited like the crowd, as she didn’t dare turn away from the large man before her. With a grunt, the man takes one step forward--enough to clear the distance between him and Meg--and reaches for one of her braids. He nearly gets it, but Meg is too light on her feet for the bulging mass of muscles to handle. Besides, it’s not the first time someone has gone for her hair before. What she didn’t expect was the thick leg he stuck out to trip her with. So much for sidestepping. Before she could fall though, the man grabs her arm and holds her above the ground, easily suspending her body. Her feet kick fervently, aiming but missing to connect to his arm. Fine, if he wanted to play dirty, Meg would play dirty. Hoisting herself up, she bites down on his fingers, causing him to let go almost instantly. As soon as she’s back on her feet, Meg reaches behind herself and grabs a beer bottle from an onlooker, giving them a charming ‘I’m sorry’ smile. As she turns back, the large man is grabbing for her arm. As he does so, she brings her other arm around and slams the beer bottle square center on his forehead. It’s enough to bring him to his knees and grab for his face, blood dripping down the bridge of his nose. Alone, Meg isn’t strong enough to deliver a decent blow, but he was the one who started playing dirty first. “Fuckin’ cunt,” He seethes before rushing for the doors, partially blinded by the blood dripping over his face. “I’ll be back la’er, ya yank bitch!” Were the final parting words she heard as the doors shut behind him. Then came the wave of exuberant cheering and hollering. Meg was shocked by the positive outcry to the point that she jumped and started glancing around, thinking the others were looking to fight her next. All she wanted was a damn beer. Speaking of, she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a few bills, handing them to the man whose beer she pilfered for the fight. With nervous giggle littering the air around her, Meg gives another look at the man who was literally thrown at her when she walked in. He seemed fully recovered now, though she couldn’t make out what he was thinking. Offering him a shrug and grin, she’s all but guided to the barkeep by the crowd. A few people offer to buy her a drink, though she’s quick to decline. Even the bartender is keen on giving her drinks for free for dealing with the delinquent. Meg tries to tell him no, but already the scrawny old man is pouring two pints straight from the tap for her. “Heh, thanks,” She mumbles sheepishly, suddenly embarrassed at her own actions. Adrenaline and base instincts often directed Meg’s life, but she didn’t think it’d bring her into this sort of situation. “I...oh shit, I wasn’t thinking of drinking two.” She grumbles nervously to herself, though she already knows the solution. Turning around and walking past every other guy praising her, Meg walks straight back to the rose-tattoed man and grins, offering him one of the glass pints. “I only wanted the one glass so I guess you’ll have to help me drink one. Only fair since I helped you out.” She remarks with the glass extended toward him, grinning from ear to ear. She prayed he wasn’t sore about her intervening, that he wasn’t pissed or looking to fight her next. Honestly, Meg wasn’t a particularly varied fighter. Her skill set focused on staying away from hits and getting in small attacks where she can. Although smaller, she knew this guy could easily kick her ass if he wanted to, she simply prayed he wouldn’t.

[bluewinnerangel]

LTWT 2022 post-show / exit songs

Dallas: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Austin: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Houston: Journey - Don't Stop Believing

St. Louis: Tom Jones - Delilah

Atlanta: Journey - Don't Stop Believing

Nashville: Dolly Parton - Jolene

Washington: Don McLean - American Pie

New York 1: Frank Sinatra - Theme From New York New York

New York 2: Frank Sinatra - Theme From New York New York

Pittsburgh: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Philadelphia: The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Boston: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Cincinnati: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Detroit: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Indianapolis: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Chicago: CeeLo Green - Fuck You

Minneapolis: Do You Want To Build A Snow Man (from Frozen)

Kansas City: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Denver: Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World

Orem: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Seattle: Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea

Portland 1: Oasis - Wonderwall

Vancouver: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Portland 2: Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World

Oakland: John Lennon - Imagine

LA 1: Bill Withers - Lean On Me

LA 2: Ben E. King - Stand By Me

Reykjavík: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Stockholm: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Oslo: Foo Fighters - Times Like These

Copenhagen: Tobias Rahim ft. andreas odbjerg - Stor Mand

Berlin: David Bowie - Heroes

Prague: Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

Amsterdam: Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag

Cologne: Ben E. King - Stand By Me

Paris 1: Oasis - Wonderwall

Paris 2: Queen - We Are The Champions

Zurich: Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Milan: Queen - We Are The Champions

Vienna: Queen - Somebody To Love

Łódź: Earth, Wind & Fire - September

Poznań: Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

Antwerp: Ed Sheeran - Lego House

Glasgow: Snow Patrol - Run

Manchester 1: Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

Manchester 2: Queen - We Are The Champions

London: Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive

Doncaster: Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah

Santiago 1: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

Santiago 2: Violetta Parra - Gracias a la Vida

Santiago 3: Gepe - Hablar de Ti

Paraguay: John Legend - All Of Me

Buenos Aires 1: Ed Sheeran - Lego House

Buenos Aires 2: Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag

Montevideo: The All-American Rejects - Dirty Little Secret

Rio De Janeiro: The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking

São Paulo 1: AC/DC - Highway to Hell

São Paulo 2: The Beatles - All You Need Is Love

Lima: Queen - We Are The Champions

Bogotá: The Killers - Mr. Brightside

San José: Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive

San Juan: Twenty One Pilots - Tear In My Heart

Monterrey: James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good)

Guadalajara: Lou Reed - Perfect Day

Mexico City 1: Jimmy Cliff - I Can See Clearly Now

Mexico City 2: The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

Mexico City 3: Ennio Morricone - L'estasi dell'Oro (Estasy of Gold) (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly soundtrack)

Istanbul: Queen - We Are the Champions

Dubai: The Beatles - All You Need is Love

Jakarta: Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

Manila: Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag

Brisbane 1: Adele - Someone Like You

Brisbane 2: AC/DC - Highway to Hell

Sydney 1: Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind

Sydney 2: Jasmine Thompson - A Thousand Years

Melbourne 1: AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long

Melbourne 2: Green Day - American Idiot

Perth: DMA'S - The Glow

I'll keep updating this post and a spotify playlist as tour goes on (plus one with all pre- and postshow songs here):

[inspiringreverie-a]

Starter for @daedhard

Being uprooted from her home in Japan every so often was now a natural occurrence for Tomoko. When the Yakuza business made living too dangerous for her to stay even in Japan, her father would call up the many overseas friends he had in the criminal underworld and send her to them for protection- with, of course, a heavy payment as an incentive to keep her out of harms way.

She’d switched off of multiple planes like her father ordered in an attempt to keep herself untraceable- turning what would have been twelve hours to twenty.  After having just gotten off of the train taking her to Manchester on the twenty first hour of her trip, Tomoko felt like a shambling zombie on the inside but presented a smiling, cheerful visage to the rest of the train station.

It’d be here she’d find her new guard- another stranger in a sea of strangers- and she took out her phone to pull up the picture she had been sent of him. Truth be told, she spent half of the journey gazing at it, analyzing the man’s features- tall, strong, and rigid in his stature like any bodyguard- but there was a ruggedness in his appearance that made him seem as if he would not be as boring as the others- or her personal bodyguard back at home, who was always such a buzzkill.

While looking at the picture on her phone, using a single pink polished nail to zoom in on it for a better look, Tomoko bumped directly into someone else- and before she could utter a “Sorry!” (or attempt to, as even though her English was getting better, it was still hard-) she realized the person she’d bumped into was the exact person she was meant to be looking for. 

“You’re..? ええと... Kingu- King-? David... King?” 

[jk-authors-jimmymack1967]

A Mod Epic – The Jimmy Mack Saga.

On New Year’s Eve, 1969, I was twenty. At the time I didn’t appreciate how lucky I had been to have lived through the best decade of my life. At least, not until I retired and reflected on my time as a young Mod between late 1965 and 1969. Those years shaped and influenced my life more than I imagined.

I always wanted to write, but a busy career and family life prevented me. Shortly after retiring, I wrote a rough first draft of what became the first chapter of Jimmy Mack (Some Kind of Wonderful). Three years later, on trip to Malta, I found the inspiration to complete the rest of the novel. By the time I returned home, the rough draft had been completed. I also had an outline plan for a ten-novel saga and related novels. So far, I’ve written four of the projected ten and one of the related novels. (Alice).

Mack is everything Quadrophenia’s Jimmy is not. Sharp and smart is not only a description of his appearance, these are also his personal qualities. This is a clever, quick-witted, and determined young man. He can be utterly ruthless and dangerous when the need arises, showing no fear in violent confrontations.

So far, there are four main novels, three of which form the 1967 trilogy. When completed, the saga will trace Mack’s life and those of his friends from 1964 to 1969.

Some Kind of Wonderful, the first novel in the series, reveals how he meets Effy Halloran and Angie Thornton. The drug-fuelled, Sixties all-nighter club scene and Soul music form the backdrop to their lives as they struggle with family problems and secrets. These two girls will become best friends and one day will form a strange, shared lovers’ triangle with him.

In the second novel, Strong Love (The first 1967 novel of the trilogy) a fateful encounter at Angie’s eighteenth party will lead her, Mack, and Effy into a new life in London’s Swinging Sixties fashion world. Their mutual passion for fashion creates the perfect opportunity to have new careers. Once in London, their future lives change for good, but there are those who are out to stop their runaway success.

Let the Good Timers Roll (the second 1967 novel) see the trio achieve fame and fortunes. Along the way, Mack and his girls find themselves in all the iconic Mod clubs of Manchester and London. Touted as a teen David Bailey, Mack and Angie follow Effy to London. She is a rising fashion designer, while Angie is set to become a top model. their lives begin to change. As their fame grows, it takes them to London, Spain, and New York. Along the way, they encounter fresh intrigue, deceit, and malice. These nearly destroy the threesome’s unusual relationship. Not everyone wants them to succeed some are keen to destroy them. They take the plunge and move to London. A new life is set to begin in Chelsea, next to the fashionable King’s Road, when Effy Halloran mysteriously disappears.

The New Breed (the third 1967 novel) sees Mack searching for answers about Effy’s disappearance as he and Angie establish their modelling agency in Soho. At every turn, someone appears determined to spoil and destroy their success. Scandals involving aristocrats, dangerous Greek shipping tycoons, and the lives of their various friends’ inter-twine with their lives. Will they forget their roots as they find themselves drawn into the Sixties celebrity circus, enjoying the high life?

Alice (Dying is simple. It’s coming back when things get interesting). is a related series novel. One which links to the main novels. Alice Liddell is one of Mack’s models and a close friend of Angie Thornton. Her story is strange and not to be taken at face value. It’s an allegorical tale that should get everyone thinking about who they are. This eighteen-year-old is not who she appears. Her story fills gaps in the other novels. If pressed, I like to say it should be man-datory reading for men, if they want to understand the world through female eyes. Sorry, I cannot say more about it as this would be a serious spoiler.

As an author, I write novels that can be read as superficial tales. But there are also much deeper levels and themes for readers to find. Don’t expect to find any mention of Brighton and beachfront battles. They are a Mod cliché. There was far more to Sixties Mods than what happened in 1964. Mods came from different backgrounds and had ambitions beyond drugs, dancing, and getting impeccably dressed. They understood when you became twenty-one, you were expected to become an adult. This was the way of their world in the Sixties.

[weclassybouquetfun]

I know it doesn’t really seem like awards season without the pomp and circumstance of awards shows and the press push for films in contention, but it is awards season! It is! 

Reminding us that this muted awards season is still on is Variety which announced their semi-annual Actors on Actors. Which actors will be on other actors (but not in the sexy way)?

Kicking off the event is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS costars Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins with Foster promoting THE MAURITANIAN and Hopkins promoting THE FATHER.

Ben Affleck (THE WAY BACK) and Sacha Baron Cohen (THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7)

ONE FINE DAY costars Michelle Pfeiffer (FRENCH EXIT) and George Clooney (MIDNIGHT SKY)

BAFTA EE RIsing Star winners Tom Holland (CHERRY, THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME) and Daniel Kaluuya (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH).

Actor-singers ANDRA DAY (THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY) and Leslie Odom Jr. (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI).

Eddie Redmayne (TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7) and Jamie Dornan (WILD MOUNTAIN THYME).

Glenn Close (HILLBILLY ELEGY) and Pete Davidson (THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND).

John David Washington (MALCOLM & MARIE) and Jared Leto (THE LITTLE THINGS).

Zendaya (MALCOLM & MARIE) and Carey Mulligan (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN).

Riz Ahmed (SOUND OF METAL) and Steven Yeun (MINARI).

Vanessa Kirby (PIECES OF A WOMAN) and Amanda Seyfried (MANK).

My thoughts on some of the films below.

The Father: Great film featuring very fine performances from Olivia Colman, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell and Sir Anthony.  Very cleverly filmed by leaving audiences to try to determine what is real or what is a part of The Father (Hopkins) dementia. Heartrending film.  The only strike against Hopkins is that he’s ACTING. You can see that performance from space.  There is nothing subtle about his performance, as opposed to Lance Hernricksen in FALLING which deals with a similar theme. 

The Way Back: I know it’s sport to knock Ben Affleck, but I think he’s a decent actor and a fantastic director. I know why WB or Affleck’s team is pushing his performance in this film as it deals with a man struggling with his sobriety. It’s a good enough film but nothing rises to exemplary.  I’d rather he and “The Way Back”s director Gavin O’Connor hurry up and reteam for the sequel of THE ACCOUNATANT. 

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: Certainly a rousing film  - I definitely cheered, and there was not one false note in the performances or weak link in this large cast. The issue is expectation. It is not the best of Sorkin’s work. Everything felt mediocre down to Daniel Pemberton’s treacly score. But mediocre Sorkin is better than a lot of other work.

MIDNIGHT SKY: I’m sure the novel is much better than the film. It’s a series of sci-fi tropes rolled up into one. For an easy comparison I would say it’s very similar in tone to Alfonso Cuarón’s far superior GRAVITY starring Clooney and Sandra Bullock. It wasn’t a wasted watch, but I found it lacking.

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI: Before seeing this I was fine with THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 cast possibly winning every Best Ensemble award, but not anymore. Superb film, amazing casting. It’s definitely in my top 5 so far.  Odom Jr. was fantastic as Sam Cooke and the interplay between the characters was fantastic. Director Regina King was wise to take this play, but not film it as a play. This was my single issue with MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. We know it’s a play, don’t film it like one (that’s another great film, mind you).

HILLBILLY ELEGY: There are just films where critics decide to dogpile on for little reason, and HILLBILLY ELEGY was the victim this time. Based on a book that deals with Conservatism and finger wagging, the film itself isn’t like that. It’s a very human look at a family dealing with addiction and poverty. It’s a kitchen sink drama with a lot of heart and humanity.  Close and Adams could have played their roles as caricatures, but didn’t. 

On a shallow note, Gabriel Basso got hit with the thiccness and is looking good. 

Promising Young Woman: A divisive film, but I loved it. Incredibly smart, dark comedic revenge tale. Carey Mulligan showed glimpses of what she can delve into with the Paul Dano film WILDLIFE, but this film shines a light on how versatile she is. 

SOUND OF  METAL: Story of a drummer, Ruben, who has lost the majority of his hearing. His girlfriend/bandmate, worried about how this news could affect his sobriety, gets him into a rehab center for people who are hearing impaired. The sound mixing in the film does a lot of heavy lifting as it replicates for the audience how hearing loss sounds. Excellent film, great performances but Ahmed’s costar Paul Raci is the heart of the film as the director of the community.  

Ahmed’s other film MOGUL MOWGLI garners a better performance from him as it gives him more room to be versatile. 

MINARI: Another film in my top five. “Minari” follows a Korean-American family as they move from California to Arkansas to build an even better life for themselves.  The Hollywood Foreign Press has rightfully been called out for deeming the film a Foreign film because the majority of it is in Korean. But what is more American than a varying of languages? Hopefully, they will let this film compete in Best Picture where it belongs.

And like with SOUND OF METAL, it’s the supporting actor who steals the show. Youn Yuh-jung is incredible

PIECES OF A WOMAN: Staggering film. It’s the spiritual cousin of “Manchester by the Sea” to me.  Kirby is a powerhouse, as is Ellen Burstyn as her mother. Searing film that looks at the different facets of a woman’s life.

MANK: Truly loved “Mank” and I think Gary Oldman’s performance deserves more recognition. It has the snappiness that Aaron Sorkin’s writing in “The Trial of the Chicago 7″ lacks.  Amanda Seyfried is so good in a role that could easily be one-dimensional.  I don’t get why the film is being largely ignored. I thought it was very smart and engaging. 

[blackqueertheatre]

Later Black Queer History- People and Places

Bridget Delaney

The later history of Black Queer Theatre is both available and hard to find. Some names and places are mentioned countless times, while others have names but no information. Below are some highlights of the people and places I found during my research.

(Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times)

Storme DeLarverie was a lesbian activist, who often cross dressed and performed in drag revues (Including Jewel Box Revue). Storme was known for her singing voice and protective nature. She was present at the Stonewall Riots and many other protests. She passed away in 2014, at the age of 93.

Although started by two white lovers, Danny Brown and Doc Benner, The Jewel Box Revue was the first racially integrated drag revue. The show began in 1939 but lasted many years after. Storme DeLarverie performed as the M.C. and the only drag king in the show.

(alvinailey.org)

Alvin Ailey (1931-89) was a dancer and choreographer who’s known for his piece Revelations and for founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. At 22 years old, Ailey stepped into the role of artistic director at the Lester Horton Dance Theatre. A year later he left to perform in Broadway shows such as House of Flowers and Jamaica. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1958, The Ailey School in 1969, and the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (Ailey II) in 1974.

(Netflix)

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute describes Marsha as “an activist, self-identified drag queen, performer, and survivor.” Marsha, born in 1945, was very influential and vocal in the gay liberation movement. Her death is still a mystery, but many suspect that she was murdered. Her story brings public awareness to the injustices against the Black trans community, as well as Black drag performers. The Marsha P. Johnson Institute mission statement is as follows:

“The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people. We do this by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power.

We intend to reclaim Marsha P. Johnson and our relationship as BLACK trans people to her life and legacy. It is in our reclaiming of Marsha that we give ourselves permission to reclaim autonomy to our minds, to our bodies, and to our futures. We were founded both as a response to the murders of BLACK trans women and women of color and how that is connected to our exclusion from social justice issues, namely racial, gender, and reproductive justice, as well as gun violence.”

You can donate to and read more about the institute using this link: https://marshap.org/about-mpji/

The Hot Peaches was a drag theatre company that Jimmy Camicia began in the 1970s. The shows there highlighted gay political content and the issues that the LGBTQ community faces. The company was racially inclusive and showcased performers like Marsha P Johnson.

The Gay Sweatshop Theatre Company was established in 1974 with the purpose of “[making] heterosexuals aware of the oppression they exercise or tolerate, and expose and end media misrepresentations of homosexuals.” The Gay Sweatshop was inclusive towards minorities, but it’s first play written by a Black playwright was put on in 1988.

(pinknews.co.uk)

Jackie Kay’s play “Twice Over” was the first Black play GSS put on. The play follows a 17 year old Black girl who gets to know her late grandmother. Through learning more about her, she learns more about herself. Kay has written other plays dating up to 2012. Her plays include: Manchester Lines, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Take Away, Twice Through the Heart, and Twilight Shift.

(1959 David Attie/Getty Images)

Lorraine Hansberry- A Black female playwright who wrote A Raisin in the Sun, Les Blancs, and The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window. Although married to a man, after her death it was discovered that she was a lesbian. She was the first Black woman to write a play on Broadway. A Raisin in the Sun showcases “the desire for social progress amid the differing opinions on how to achieve it.” The play was nominated for four Tony awards and NY Drama Critics Circle named it best play, making Hansberry the first African American and youngest winner of the award. The play was adapted into a musical in 1975, and was Tony winning. A Raisin in the Sun has been revived multiple times and is continued to be performed around the world today.

(Robert Giard)

Eric Gupton, Brian Freeman, and Djola Branner started a performance troupe in 1990 called the “PostModern African American Homosexuals” or Pomo Afro Homo. Eric was a singer/dancer from Boston, Brian was a writer/director/actor formerly a member of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and Djola was a playwright. Their two pieces “Fierce Love: Stories from a Black Gay Life” and “Dark Fruit” focused on the “lack of representation of three-dimensional lives of Black gay men in the theater” (Berkeley article). They were banned for explicit content and “expression of black queer identity” from the National Black Queer Theater Festival in 1991, and the group split up in 1995.

Even more information on these people and places can be found in the resources below.

Citations:

“16 Queer Black Pioneers Who Made History.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 3 June 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/black-history-month-17-lgbtq-black-pioneers-who-made-history-n1130856.

“Alvin Ailey.” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 16 Nov. 2020, https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-

theater/alvin-ailey.

“Here and Queer: A Brief History Lesson in Queer Theatre.” Theatre Royal Stratford East, 2 Feb. 2021, https://www.stratfordeast.com/news/here-and-queer-a-brief-history-lesson-in-queer-theatre.

“Jackie Kay.” Playwrights Studio Scotland, https://www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk/playwrights/jackie-kay.aspx.

Jude, Jamil. “Dramaturgy, Black Refusal, and Possibility with Otis Cortez Ramsey-Zoë.” HowlRound Theatre Commons, 28 Jan. 2020, https://howlround.com/dramaturgy-black-refusal-and-possibility-otis-cortez-ramsey-zoe.

“Memories of Marsha P Johnson.” New Yiddish Rep, https://www.newyiddishrep.org/memories-of-marsha-p-johnson/.

“Postmodern African-American Homosexuals (Pomo Afro Homos).” Postmodern African-American Homosexuals (Pomo Afro Homos) | Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies, https://tdps.berkeley.edu/postmodern-african-american-homosexuals-pomo-afro-homos.

Robinson, David. “'A Raisin in the Sun' Reveals Playwright Lorraine Hansberry's Black Activism.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 24 June 2020, https://www.biography.com/news/lorraine-hansberry-raisin-in-the-sun-summary-black-history.

“Twice Over.” Unfinished Histories, https://www.unfinishedhistories.com/history/companies/gay-sweatshop/twice-over/.

Yardley, William. “Storme Delarverie, Early Leader in the Gay Rights Movement, Dies at 93.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 May 2014, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/30/nyregion/storme-delarverie-early-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-dies-at-93.html.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor Richard Wilson.

Born Ian Colquhoun Wilson,July 9th 1936 in Greenock, he went on to study science there before completing his National Service in Singapore with the Royal Medical Army Corps. Wilson was a late convert to acting as he worked as a research scientist in Glasgow until the age of 27. He then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London. Before his most famous role as Victor Meldrew, he participated in theatre productions in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. He also directed several plays.

After several bit parts in TV shows including The Sweeney and Some Mothers Do Have 'Em' in 1978, he portrayed a regular character in the show A Sharp Intake of Breath'with David Jason between 1977 and 1980. This was followed by lead roles in the show High and Dry in 1985, and Hot Metal in 1988. It was in between these two series that I first noticed Richar Wilson in the fantastic BBC Scotland series Tutti Frutti with a host of other Scots, including Robbie Coltrane, Maurice Roëves and Katy Murphy, Richard was Eddie Clockerty, the group's devious and exploitative manager, I remember fondly the scenes he shared with Kate Murphy as his lippy secretary Miss Toner.

Wilson then won his most famous role as Victor Meldrew, although he initially turned down the part as he was younger than the character, in the sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The line 'I Don't Believe It' became the character's catchphrase, the show ran for ten years before they finally bumped him off

After One Foot in the Grave, Wilson enjoyed roles in 'High Stakes' and Life As We Know It' in 2001. Between 2002 and 2004, he appeared in several TV movies including Jeffrey Archer: The Truth and King of Fridges

Wilson returned to a recurring TV show in the form of Born and Bred' between 2004 and 2005 and has since made the transition from a grumpy old man to a wise, old apothecary in Merlin, which debuted in 2008 and finished in 2012. Since then he has been picky with his roles and not appeared in too many shows, however a wee look at Indb tells me he has two projects on the go just now, Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men also stars Alan Cummings and How Sweetly it turns.

Richard has devoted his time to working for the gay rights campaign group Stonewall he is also a patron for the Scottish Youth Theatre and has been a long-term supporter of the charity Sense.

Wilson was planning to reprise the iconic character of Victor Meldrew for one night only at The Edinburgh Fringe a few years back but in the run-up to the event the actor suddenly fell ill and had to pull out.

It was later revealed he suffered a heart attack but remembers nothing of it. He told BBC Radio 2′s Graham Norton:

“I had a heart attack and fell off a balcony. I don’t remember a thing about it.The great thing about the accident – I’m going to mention because I’d love to know who it was – the great thing about the accident is that there was a doctor walking by, and if he hadn’t been walking by, I wouldn’t be talking to you now"

The veteran actor is still working, latest roles have been in Around the World in 80 Days in 2021, A new film, Sweetly It Turns is next for Wilson.

[jungleindierock]

Jungle Indie Rock (2010-2020) - 10th Anniversary Playlist

On May 1st, 2010, a group of friends founded a music website to post the songs and videos they liked. We were Mar, Dao, Rebjukebox and Nik, four music lovers from USA, Spain, UK and Sweden who used to meet online to share bands and tracks. We called our site Jimdo Indie Rock Music, like our free hosting name, so the URL matched too. Later, we changed such a bad idea for Jungle Indie Rock, to keep the J of JIR. Our first playlist was posted exactly today, 10 years ago. It was downloaded by 42 people, including somebody from a lost island in the middle of the Pacific ocean. We were so excited... 42!!! Wow! Due to the “humongous” success of our music lists, we kept posting them. Every month was a fight to get our songs  opening the playlist. Yes, “our songs”, because we feel each track as if we had recorded it. Our songs, our bands, our albums,... When you like music so much you make it yours.

Today, with thousands of followers supporting us, we are together again to bring you our favourite songs from the 2010′s decade. This time, Mar, Rebjukebox, David (Daloja) y Dao selected I7 songs per year, 70 in total and 5 bonus tracks. Two extra songs are the ones we could not add via Spotify. To close the playlist, we have included some artists that were often posted in our blog and, unfortunately, they left us. We dedicate our 10th Anniversary Playlist to all the ones that passed away, many leaving so good music for all of us.

Video Playlist (Watch on TV)

Tracklist:

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio (2010) | [Rebjukebox]

Arcade Fire - Ready To Start (2010) | [Daloja]

Biffy Clyro - Many of Horror (2010) | [Mar]

Warpaint - Undertow (2010) | [Rebjukebox]

Jónsi - Grow Till Tall (2010) | [Mar]

Caribou - Odessa (2010) | [Dao]

Hurts - Stay (2010) | [Daloja]

Two Door Cinema Club - What you Know (2011) | [Dao]

M83 - Midnight City (2011) | [Daloja]

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy (2011) | [Rebjukebox]

We Are Augustines - Chapel Song (2011) | [Mar]

The Airborne Toxic Event - All I Ever Wanted (2011) | [Mar]

The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines (2011) | [Daloja]

WU LYF - L Y F (2011) | [Rebjukebox]

Beach House - Myth (2012) | [Daloja]

Arcade Fire - Abraham's Daughter (2012) | [Dao]

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar (2012) | [Rebjukebox]

The Lumineers - Ho Hey (2012) | [Rebjukebox]

The Shins - Simple Song (2012) | [Mar]

Keane - Sovereign Light Café (2012) | [Mar]

alt-J - Breezeblocks (2012) | [Daloja]

London Grammar - Wasting My Young Years (2013) | [Mar]

CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share (2013) | [Daloja]

Placebo - Loud Like Love (2013) | [Dao]

Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? (2013) | [Rebjukebox]

Radkey - Romance Dawn (2013) | [Rebjukebox]

Arctic Monkeys -  I Wanna Be Yours (2013) | [Daloja]

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Better Days (2013) | [Mar]

The War On Drugs - Red Eyes (2014) | [Daloja]

We Were Promised Jetpakcs - Safety in Numbers (2014) | [Mar]

Royal Blood – Little Monster (2014) | [Rebjukebox]

BRONCHO - Class Historian (2014) | [Mar]

Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You) (2014) | [Daloja]

Mogwai - Teenage Exorcists (2014) | [Rebjukebox]

The National - I need My Girl (2014) | [Dao]

Kurt Vile - Pretty Pimpin (2015) | [Rebjukebox]

Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better (2015) | [Daloja]

Wolf Alice - Bros (2015) | [Daloja]

Stereophonics - C'est La Vie (2015) | [Mar]

The Maccabees - Marks To Prove It (2015) | [Mar]

Foals - What When Down (2015) | [Dao]

Tame Impala - Let It Happen (2015) | [Rebjukebox]

Kings Of Leon - Waste A Moment (2016) | [Dao]

Júníus Meyvant - Neon Experience (2016) | [Mar]

Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate (2016) | [Daloja]

Savages - The Answer (2016) | [Rebjukebox]

Pixies – Um Chagga Lagga (2016) | [Rebjukebox]

DMA'S - Delete (2016) | [Mar]

Daughter - How (2016) | [Daloja]

Entertainment For The Braindead - Bicycle Bell (2017) | [Dao]

Cigarettes After Sex - Sweet (2017) | [Daloja]

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Continental Breakfast (2017) | [Rebjukebox]

Cage The Elephant - Too Late To Say Goodbye (Unpeeled) (2017) | [Mar]

The National - The system Only Dreams in Total Darkness (2017) | [Daloja]

Cherry Glazer – Nurse Ratched (2017) | [Rebjukebox]

Slowdive - Sugar For The Pill (2017) | [Mar]

MGMT - Little Dark Age (2018) | [Daloja]

Superorganism – Everybody Wants To Be Famous (2018) | [Rebjukebox]

Anna Calvi - Don't Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy (2018) | [Daloja]

Goat Girl - The Man (2018) | [Mar]

Manchester Orchestra - The Gold/The Moth (2017/2018) | [Dao]

Spiritualized – I’m Your Man (2018) | [Rebjukebox]

tAngerinecAt – Roses From Blood (2018) | [Mar]

black midi - Ducter (2019) | [Mar]

Fontaines DC – Big (2019) | [Rebjukebox]

Social Animals - Bad Things (2019) | [Dao]

Foals - On The Luna (2019) | [Daloja]

Angel Olsen - All Mirrors (2019) | [Daloja]

Big Thief – Not (2019) | [Rebjukebox]

Strand Of Oaks - Weird Ways (2019) | [Mar]

BONUS TRACKS ---------------------

Tim Easton - Old New Straitsville Blues (2018) | [Mar]

The Great Artiste - Song For A & E (2013) | [Dao]

Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital (2013) | [Mar]

Viola Beach - Get to Dancing (Live BBC Session) (2016) | [Mar]

David Bowie - Where Are We Now? | [Mar]

Thank you for being there all these years. Take care and keep rocking!!! 

Mar, Rebjukebox, David (Daloja), and Dao (Mi Rollo Es El Indie).

[soccerdailyuk]

The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate

The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate Ahead of the 2023-24 season, several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, have made significant financial investments.  They have signed players on substantial weekly salaries. Despite Manchester City's dominant position with last season's treble victory and Chelsea's emphasis on player sales, all these clubs feature in the top 10 list of weekly wages, along with the financially robust Newcastle United.  The rankings have been compiled based on the figures from Capology. 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24 =9. Andre Onana (Man Utd, £120k)  Following a tumultuous split with David de Gea, Manchester United made a decisive move by acquiring the services of Internazionale and Cameroon goalkeeper Onana.  The deal is rumored to be valued at £47 million. Known for his swift reflexes and agile footwork, the player who reached the Champions League final last season has been offered a substantial weekly wage that reflects his immense talent and potential to captivate audiences. =9. Dominik Szoboszai (Liverpool, £120k) Liverpool's evident requirement for a midfield overhaul during the summer made it apparent that changes were on the horizon. However, the acquisition of Szoboszai still caught many by surprise.  The young midfielder had been impressing onlookers all over Europe with his standout displays for RB Leipzig. Remarkably, at just 22 years old, he already serves as the captain for the Hungary national team. There is a high possibility that Liverpool has made an excellent deal, as they secured the talented player for a fee of £60 million. Considering his potential and abilities, it's likely that Szoboszai will prove to be a bargain for the club in the long run. =6. Mateo Kovacic (Man City, £150k)  Following Ilkay Gundogan's departure, Manchester City found themselves in need of a technically skilled midfielder who could excel against any team, without having to resort to selecting Kalvin Phillips.  Fortunately, they had the opportunity to sign Kovacic, who had expressed his desire to leave Chelsea. The two clubs negotiated a deal, and surprisingly, it was conducted with minimal fanfare. Under the management of Pep Guardiola, the Croatia international is expected to undergo a transformation and be deployed as an inverted centre-back, adding a unique dimension to his playing style and enhancing the team's defensive capabilities.  However, as with any tactical shift, the actual implementation may vary, and we'll have to see how Guardiola utilizes Kovacic's talents on the field. NEXT =6. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, £150k)  Leicester City's unfortunate relegation led to the expected departure of their key players. James Maddison moved to Tottenham Hotspur, while Harvey Barnes opted for Champions League football with Newcastle United. In addition, Tielemans, who had been linked with a move away for several years, left the King Power Stadium when his contract expired in May. He made a move across the Midlands to join Aston Villa, a club on the rise. The absence of a transfer fee might have contributed to the substantial weekly wage offered to Tielemans by Aston Villa. Nevertheless, they have secured the services of a skillful Premier League player, enhancing their midfield with his class and experience. =6. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, £150k) Following a remarkable breakout season in 2022-23, where he showcased his talent at Brighton and achieved World Cup success with Argentina, Mac Allister became a highly sought-after player, and it was anticipated that England's wealthiest clubs would engage in a prolonged transfer saga to secure his services. However, to the surprise of many, Liverpool managed to secure his signature as early as the beginning of June. Adding to the excitement, the 24-year-old has been entrusted with the prestigious No. 10 shirt at Anfield.  If he can replicate the impressive performances of its previous owner, Sadio Mane, then Mac Allister's weekly wage of £150,000 will certainly be well-earned and justified. Liverpool's swift acquisition of such a promising talent suggests their high hopes for him in the coming seasons. 5. Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea, £195k) Nkunku, the most recent high-value signing, has taken on the daunting task of trying to break Chelsea's notorious striker curse.  He arrives in England with an impressive goal-scoring track record from his time at RB Leipzig, along with tremendous potential that has garnered attention.  This potential and talent are evidently reflected in the generous salary he receives. Chelsea hopes that Nkunku's goal-scoring prowess and potential will help break the curse and elevate their striking options to new heights. 4. Mason Mount (Man Utd, £200k) Despite being just 24 years old, Mount has already achieved impressive feats in his career. He has won the prestigious Champions League, earned the title of Chelsea's Player of the Year twice, and represented England in 36 international matches.  However, these achievements are worth reiterating due to the severe criticism he has faced from displeased Chelsea fans on social media. For months, it appeared inevitable that Mount would depart from Stamford Bridge. Eventually, he made the move to Manchester United, becoming a player who can significantly bolster the team's performance at Old Trafford. If Mount manages to recapture the outstanding form he displayed two years ago, his weekly wage of £200k will be seen as a small price to pay. Manchester United is hopeful that he will shine and prove to be a valuable asset for the club. NEXT 3. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle, £210k) With Newcastle United making a return to Champions League football for the first time in nearly two decades, it was anticipated that they would be active in the summer transfer window. However, much to the surprise of many, manager Eddie Howe's signings have been limited to Barnes and Italian midfielder Tonali as of the time of publication. The acquisition of Tonali came at a hefty price of £68.5 million, luring him from AC Milan. Yet, social media was abuzz with videos showing the midfielder appearing less than thrilled about joining Newcastle. However, it's essential to remember that expressions can be misleading, and Tonali may just have a neutral expression rather than indicating any displeasure. It's expected that once he takes the field at St. James' Park, Tonali will showcase his true class and skills, demonstrating why he was a significant signing for Newcastle despite any initial social media reactions. 2. Declan Rice (Arsenal, £240k) Indeed, acquiring Rice's services came at an eye-watering transfer fee, reaching an astounding £105 million. In the current seller's market, it was expected that prying him away from West Ham, who won the Europa Conference League, would come at a high cost. The hefty price tag immediately places a new level of expectation on the shoulders of the midfielder. At just 24 years old, Rice is considered a potentially world-class player, and he has already showcased impressive skills. The substantial fee reflects his immense talent and potential. His abilities are highly regarded, and he is compensated accordingly with a substantial salary, recognizing his value as a player. It remains to be seen how he will perform under the weight of expectations at his new club. 1. Kai Havertz (Arsenal, £280k) Arsenal is making a bold statement this summer by investing significantly in strengthening their squad. One of their major signings is Havertz, who had been eager to depart Chelsea following three inconsistent seasons.  The club sees him as a player capable of elevating his performance under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta. Havertz's potential, combined with his crucial goal in the Champions League final, has led to him becoming the highest-paid new signing in the Premier League.  Arsenal is banking on his ability to take his game to new heights and contribute significantly to their future success. The substantial investment in Havertz reflects the club's ambition to compete at the highest level and improve their chances of mounting a serious title challenge in the upcoming season. The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate The 10 highest-paid new Premier League signings of 2023-24: Arsenal & Man Utd dominate Read the full article

[energeticathlete-blog]

@tcrroradius

Cont. from here

Meg remained silent for a long while, uncertain where this would put them. But when he pulled her into his lap, she knew for certain they'd be alright. There was no need to dwell on the trials nor the ever looming fog that seemed to suffocate all hope in this realm. At least it couldn't suffocate what she and David share. Not now, when they've finally opened up about their feelings. Feeling the tree against her back, Meg eagerly met his lips with her own, pleased that she can freely kiss David without guilt. Though, he did pull away too soon for her own good. There is a slight whine in her voice that rumbles out when David says they should return. She knew he was right, she simply didn't want to go back yet. Begrudgingly, the freckled athlete returns to camp with David, a content smile on her lips despite not wanting to return yet. A trial could start at any moment so it was about time they return, lest they are sent in unprepared.

Once back at camp, Meg watches as David and Ave have their small interaction. Seems her crush was able to figure out Ace's angle without her needing to say anything. That, and the shit eating grin on Ace gave it away. He was a charming man, but Meg had eyes for David, and she was infinitely pleased he realized it. Though, just as she watched David turn, the malicious fog started swirling around their bodies. It was the foreboding sign of a trial coming to claim them. Eyes darting quickly, she takes note of who all is being taken. Kate, David, herself, and Dwight. She swallows hard when her eyes don't meet David's before their claimed, filling her with a sense of dread. They made out like bandits last trial, what with all of them surviving. She doubts they'll be able to get out as lucky this time. As she fades into the fog, part of her wonders if she still has some of Ace's luck rubbed on her, though she fears it's not enough.

The heavy mist fades from her sight, revealing the familiar junkyard which is Autohaven Wreckers. The lithe athlete shudders in the pale moonlight, her jaw clenching as she spots the notorious gas station before her. Meg needed to move fast lest she get caught in the open. Vaulting silently over a nearby windowsill, the freckled girl creeps through the gas station and into the garage. There, as per usual, is the godforsaken generator resting beside an unspent pallet and car. It was a dead end, so if the Killer came, she'd be doomed. Still, being in here sure beat being in the open. Also it was better to get this generator out of the way early. If they wait too long, it'll be a pain to get done later one.

"Fuck, there's no other choice." Meg curses quietly as she settles against the generator, hands diving deep into the mechanical contraption. She occasionally hears the drumming of the heartbeat fade in and out of her area. Nibbling at her lower lip, Meg narrows her eyes on the loose cog, focusing on the task at hand. She couldn't lose sight of her goal. Her mind wandered to David, fearing he was the one being chased. All the more reason to get this done as fast as possible. David was strong and hardy, he could handle any Killer coming his way. But the faster she finishes here, the quicker she can reunite with him and possibly help him out.

[irregularincidents]

The North London cemetery of Highgate is is home to several famous interred people, including Karl Marx, Douglas Adams, and Bob Hoskins, but in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was supposedly host to another individual, the alleged Highgate Vampire.

Now, the rumours began in various young people claiming to have seen a variety of supernatural events around the (at the time) rather run down cemetery, including two girls saying they saw the dead rise from their tombs, another claiming to have been visited by a strange presence in the night, and others saying that a tall, red-eyed man could be seen wandering around the grounds. Things took an unfortunate turn in early 1970, however, when some jerk began killing animals, such as foxes, in a manner that some deemed to be ritualistic.

This led to stories in the local newspapers quickly gathering a lot of national attention, eventually leading to two paranormal investigators arriving at the scene, and with the two men immediately forming a lasting rivalry with each other which lasted for years afterwards.

On the one hand, there was self-proclaimed magician David Farrant, who was president of the Psychic and Occult Society, was keen to find a supernatural explanation for the animal deaths and paranormal stuff... And on the other, was Sean Manchester, a self-proclaimed vampire hunter, exorcist and bishop of the mysterious "Old Catholic Church".

It’s at this point that Farrant and Manchester seemingly began trying to one-up one another, with Manchester seemingly responding to Farrant’s claims to have seen a large grey ghost in the graveyard with a proclamation of his own, that the sightings and deaths were due to a “king vampire“ being present in the graveyard. And not just any king vampire, but a medieval sorcerer who was buried in the cemetery after moving to England from Wallachia, the home of Dracula himself, who obviously had been raised from the dead by a modern Satanist and was now stalking the living!

The public, already on edge due to the supposed ghost sightings and animal “sacrifices“, promptly flipped out after a television interview involving Manchester, Farrant and other “witnesses“ claimed that multiple supernatural entities resided in the graveyard. This led to mobs of vampire hunters swarming Highgate Cemetery looking for monsters to kill, only not finding any, obviously.

This did not, however, stop people from decapitating, burning and staking the corpse of a woman buried in the cemetery several months later.

Both Farrant and Manchester claimed to have either intended to kill vampires in the cemetery, with Farrant getting arrested after being discovered with a crucifix and stake in the cemetery grounds (the case was dismissed before going to court), while Manchester claimed that he and broken into the tomb of a vampire with the help of a psychic assistant and was GOING to stake it, but was dissuaded by his companion (he put up incense instead).

As public interest in the case began to decease, so did the amount of supernatural sightings. This did not, however, stop Manchester from challenging Farrant to a magicians duel in 1973 (which disappointingly didn’t go ahead), while Farrant was himself jailed for two years in 1974 for supposedly vandalising memorials and interfering with dead remains (he insisted he was framed by Satanists).

Manchester and Farrant would trade public insults and jabs for years afterwards, up until Farrant’s death in 2019, as the two man attempted to spin the narrative of what exactly was going on in Highgate Cemetery for their own purposes for literally decades.