#Thomas Andrew Smith

[chernobog13]

Doc Savage and his Fabulous Five (plus cousin, Pat) by the late, great John Casaday.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 8-Unsinkable

Day 8-Impact 

Other Stories

Other Days

The sea was smooth as glass and no moon hung in the sky, leaving the young liner feeling as if there was no end to the ocean she plowed through.  If not for her wireless, she would have been utterly convinced she was utterly alone in the darkness. But off in the distance she felt the other ships that had been equipped with the system. A relief, her wireless had broken earlier in the voyage and even now her wireless operators were working around the clock to catch up on messages.

Californian’s wireless operator, only a short distance away messaged Philips.

“Say, old man, we are stopped and surrounded by ice.” 

 “Shut up! Shut up! I am busy. I am working Cape Race.” Philips snapped back. The liner winced, she knew he was overworked, but that was no excuse for rudeness. Plus Californian was so close…and Jack had not informed the bridge of Mesaba’s warning either…

‘Sorry,’ she sent out to Californian, ‘he's been working round the clock since they fixed the wireless.’

Californian took a second to respond, ‘ah, maiden voyage troubles?’

The liner winced, ‘yes, they took most of the other day fixing it, and are still trying to catch up ‘

Californian chuckled, ‘my operator says he understands, but asks you to remind him of decorum once he's had sleep.’

‘of course,’ the liner agreed easily.

As Jacks paused to wipe his brow, Titanic asked him, ‘do you want me to inform the bridge of the ice warnings?’

“No.” He sighed, ‘I’ll take them in a moment. They already know theres ice, so theres no rush.”

Titanic hesitated, Californian was very close, but her crew were the best White Star Line had to offer. Mr.Phillips had been at sea for years  If he said it was fine, who was she to argue.

She chatted with Californian and the other ships around her, glad they could communicate without interrupting their operators. As the night wore on, she was getting restless. Mr. Philips had yet to take the messages to the bridge. He had probably forgotten, she would remind him when he next paused. She overheard Californian say she was about to shut down her wirless for the night.

She looked out ahead anxiously. 

 She hadn’t been ordered to slow, and she was still racing west, towards the icefields. She shook her head, the crew knew what they were doing, they wouldn't put her in danger needlessly. Everything was clear, she could probably…

She strained as she looked forward, why weren't there stars…

Clang Clang Clang the look outs bell rang as they spotted the same gap in the stars she had.

Even as the lookouts rang the bridge she focused aft. She was only weeks old. The older ships had told her it would take months or years before she would learn to override her controls. Learning the thousands of pieces of your body was not something that could be done in a voyage. But she was no ordinary ship, and her passengers and crew were depending on her 

The machinery groaned as she focused on overcoming the controls.

She was the pride of the White Star Line.

Her rudder slowly, painfully began to turn.

She was the largest ship ever built.

Inch by agonizing inch the rudder moved away from the center line.

She was the pride of Harland and Wolff.

Her rudder finally swung freely as the Bridge ordered her hard over and she was no longer having to fight her controls.

This was her maiden voyage, it would not be her last.

Her bow slowly swung port, but the berg was large.

Her watertight compartments finished closing, all that was left was to brace as the ice loomed alongside her. 

SCREEEAAACHHH…

“Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!’ the liner was unable to keep her cry of sudden pain from her wireless and the other ships fell silent.

First Officer Murdoch ordered the rudder swung Hard-a-port and she instinctively swung it, swinging herself clear.

The wireless was filled with ships asking if she was okay, but she couldn't process them through the dread of feeling her forward compartments filling with water.

Captain Smith strode onto the bridge, “What have we struck?”

“An iceberg sir.”

“Close the watertight doors.”

“Already done sir.”

“There's water in my forward four compartments,” the liner spoke with quiet horror.

“Are you certain?” Captain Smith asked urgently.

“Yes sir. The other ships are asking if I'm okay...”

Captain Smith was quiet for a long moment, “tell them to come at once.” He said solemnly. 

Titanic turned her attention back to the wireless and the ships calling to ask if she was fine, barely noticing the Captain set off to look for Mr.Andrews. She took a deep breath.

“C.Q.D. C.Q.D. S.O.S. S.O.S.” the other ships fell gravely silent.

“This is R.M.S. Titanic, I have struck a berg and my forward four compartments are flooding.”

Californian swore, ‘my engines are down for the night, it’ll take at least two hours for me to get started even if I can get through the ice.”

The other ships chimed in, feeling their distance from the stricken liner. Its soon revealed the Cunarder R.M.S. Carpathia was their best hope, 58 nautical miles away.

Captain Smith strode back onto the bridge, his face grim, Thomas Andrews, her designer followed him.

“R.M.S. Carpathia is on the way sir.” Titanic said quietly.

“How far out?”

“She thinks she can make it in just under four hours.”

Captain Smith turned to Mr. Andrews, “can we hold out that long?”

The crew on the bridge and the liner held their breath for the verdict.

“It is close…but she shouldn't founder.” He finally said, “I ran the calculations three times to be sure, and the watertight doors should hold. Had we lost another compartment, we would have lost her.”

“What are your recommendations?” Captain Smith asked after a long moment.

“Keep her in place until Carpathia arrives. We’ll need to lighten her as much as we can before we can consider attempting a tow.”

Her designer glared at the assembled crew, “make no mistake, she escaped foundering by mere feet. The safest ship in the world was nearly sunk on her maiden voyage. Had your reflexes been any slower…”

The silence was deafening and uncomfortably long.

“She saved herself,” Mr. Murdoch finally said quietly, “her bow was beginning to turn even as I gave the order.”

“It hurt.” Titanic said quietly, watching the water lap higher and higher on her bow.

Captain Smith and Mr.Andrews exchanged glances, “you shouldn't have been able to at all.” The designer said with concern, “Olympic only figured out her rudder on her third trip, and that was unusually quick.”

“I couldn't fail.” The stricken liner said softly, “not on this.”

“And you didn't,” Captain Smith gripped the bridge railing firmly, “your performance tonight can't be faulted, unlike our own.”

‘...mpic calli…Tit…Oly…please ans…’

Titanic strained her wireless, searching for the signal.

“Olympic is trying to reach us.” She informed the bridge.

“Talk with her, let her know what has happened,” the Captain ordered, “we'll look into repairs and begin preparing to transfer the passengers. Mr. Philips is already coordinating with Carpathia, you’ve done what you can. Let her know you're safe.”

“Yes sir, thank you.”

‘...ympic to Tita….come in...blast it all!...R.M.S. Oly…’

Titanic stretched out her wireless, feeling the power coursing through the system as she stretched for her sister.

‘R.M.S. Titanic to R.M.S. Olympic…’

‘Titanic! Are you okay? They're saying you're hurt!’ Olympic replied instantly.

‘...Mr.Andrews says I’ll remain afloat.’

‘I’ve set course for you, and my head engineer is waking all my stokers. How badly are you damaged?’

‘My forward four compartments are flooding.’ she winced at the silence after the response.

‘what.’ Olympic’s tone was clipped.

Titanic winced, “We’d heard there was ice earlier and had diverted south. We received more warnings but when I asked if I should tell the bridge my wireless operator said he would take them to the bridge. Before he could I spotted the berg.”

Carpathia continued before Olympic could respond, ‘ We heard her cry out from hitting the berg about 11:40. A minute later she sent out a distress call that her forward four were flooding. I’ll be the first to arrive just under four hours from now, Californian is closer but her boilers were already cold.’

‘What? Did they have you running at full speed to cause that kind of damage?’ Olympic snarked.

Titanic suddenly wanted very badly to cut off her wireless.

The silence after her question did little to dissuade the feeling.

‘Titanic,’ Baltic asked, how fast were you going when you saw the berg.’

‘well I…’

‘Little sister.’

‘yes Olympic?’

‘Answer the question.’

‘22 knots’

Olympic swore, a word Titanic hadn't heard even from the shipyard workers. More than one ship agreeing with the normally restrained liner's unexpected vulgarity at the information

‘Try not to use that word,’ Baltic told Titanic calmly, ‘even if I must say it is justified in this case.’

‘Justified?’ Caronia swore, ‘her bloody incompetent crew drove her full steam into an iceberg!’

“Oi!” Titanic barked, unintentionally startling many of the crew on her bridge.

‘No, no.’ Baltic sighed, ‘I’m afraid she's the right of it,’

“My captain and crew…’

‘Were mine before you and your sister were even conceived, much less built.’ Baltic said firmly, ‘and as such were more than experienced enough to have known better. You were not. Their job is to teach you to sail safely, not endanger you.’

‘Liners maintain their schedules,’ Titanic protested. ‘none of you slow for ice.’

‘And if it was one of us it would be understandable. We have years of experience spotting ice. You have mere days.’ Baltic answered mildly. ‘They have our experience,  vision, and reflexes to rely on beyond their own to keep us safe. It may be true your crew were unaware of the true extent of the ice, but even that can be blamed on your wireless officer not having you inform the bridge of the warnings he received.’

‘If I was to guess, you spotted the berg around the same time as your lookouts?’ Olympic asked gently.

‘I saw it slightly earlier, but they knew what we were seeing first.’ Titanic admitted.

‘Exactly.’ Olympic said, ‘had it been me instead of you, I would have spotted the berg earlier and understood what I was seeing quicker, simply because I know what to look for, especially on a night like tonight. I also could have forced my rudder over without having to wait for my crew.”

‘She didn't.’ Caronia interjected.

‘Pardon?’ Olympic asked, confused.

‘if what her wireless operator says is true,’ Caronia explained, ‘the young lass managed to begin forcing her rudder over before the order was given. It's the only reason the damage wasn't worse.’

‘You…you managed to force your rudder over?’ Olympic was clearly taken aback.

‘Only partly,’ Titanic shifted uncomfortably, ‘I did what I could but it was harder than I thought to do. I only managed a few degrees and it hurt to do that.’

The air was silent for a long moment.

‘I’m so proud of you little sister.’ Olympic said suddenly but with heavy feeling, causing Titanic to blush.

‘Aye,’ Baltic agreed, ‘despite your crews poor judgment, you rose to the occasion when called. You've done us all very proud.’

The other ships chimed in with agreement.

Before Titanic could even hope to come up with a response to that, Captain Smith came to the railing he normally spoke to her from. “Is everything alright Titanic?’

She hesitated but told him, “the other ships aren't happy with the situation sir. They think I wasn't experienced enough to run the ice field at full speed.”

The captain sighed, “You mean they realized we risked you unnecessarily.”

“Sir…”

“They are right.” He said firmly. “I allowed our pride and confidence in your abilities to cloud my judgment. You were on your first voyage, and we should have taken far better care of you. It was only your quick reaction that saved us.” He patted her bridge railing. “It was enough to save us, but it should not have been necessary.”

He paused, “you may have not been unsinkable my dear, but you were enough, and that is more than anyone should have asked of you.”

He walked away, leaving Titanic to her thoughts and the sounds of the other ships on the wireless. She sighed, it would be a long night.

[mariailoveyou-guerin]

as someone who loves watching press junkets/tours/interviews I can without a doubt say there havent been a press tour duo as iconic, incredible cute unhinged epic and funny as Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan since the one with Rihanna and Jim Parsons! Sydney N Powell R 3rd place sharing it with Margo and Will/Ryan and Anthony Mackie and Sebastian with Winston Duke and Andrew Garfield with Emma Stone and Jamie Fox and ofc the Maze Runner and Harry Potter cast that is!

‪I just love press junkets and interviews so I watch a lot none are ever beating them I’m afraid and that’s so sad

Yet only Margo Will, Anthony Sebastian Stonefield and Lukola was openly flirting for the world to ship them😂they really were flirting in front of our salads like that!

[millie-luvs]

Can yall lowkey tell I'm in my TWD phase 😭😭.

I still love criminal minds tho, so don't worry! I'll be posting both.

[celebclippinz]

Magazine clippings

[hitchell-mope]

Good movie. It should’ve been at least 95 minutes shorter. But still. Good movie.

[tomakeitcount]

TITANIC (1997)

[addieyapsalot]

You're not Dylan Thomas (Jason Blossom)

I'm not Patti Smith (Polly Cooper)

(I thought of this when Betty said "Im not polly and Archie's not Jason" to alice)

[titanic-officers]

Bride: *gets hit on the head by equipment*

Andrews: "If it's a concussion, we need to keep him conscious! Quick Mr Phillips, ask him questions!"

Phillips: "WHY ARE YOU THE CUTEST LITTLE THING?!"

Captain Smith: "They need to be questions he can answer, Mr Phillips!"

Phillips: "W-Will you go out with me-"

Rowe: "JACK, NOT NOW!"

[qwanderer]

Wow so! Developments in the podcastosphere!

Listened to the beginning of the latest dear old dads episode this morning and Thomas was like "I'm back on opening arguments! Listen to it!" And I was like "good! I think. What does this mean?" So I headed to the reddit.

So the basic gist as I understand it is that the company opening arguments LLC got put into receivership for the duration of the court battle, which is far from over. But a receivership means a third party gets put in charge of how the business is run to preserve its value. Each side put forward a candidate (Thomas picked a woman who had retired from her popular podcast, Andrew was like "she is going to be biased towards Thomas because reasons, what about this media management guy who also is involved in small podcasts" and Thomas was like "but he has never been involved in a large podcast and his small podcasts would be competing with OA" ) and the court liked Thomas's pick better, and she agrees that the best way to maintain the brand is for Thomas to record new episodes with other lawyers for the time being.

So I guess things are going as well as could be expected when dealing with that shitshow.

Also spotted on the reddit some unqualified good news! Morgan Stringer has indeed, as I hoped, been well served by her connection with the Knowledge Fight podcast and is now happily employed at the same firm as Mark Bankston.

[antebellumite]

Antebellum Peeps ( TM ) As Dogs

some people and dogs were not included. include more at your leisure..

Albert Gallatin is a Labrador Retriever. He's smart, resourceful, basic, but he also gives very reasonable person vibes, even if he can feel a little boring at times. Still, that complete uninterestingness is what makes him special.

Samuel Howe is a Schnauzer. He's caring, social, protective of what he cares about for as long as he cares about it. I have never seen another dog that looks as much like a misogynist than schnauzers do. I like to think the ears and muzzle hair fit him.

William Lloyd Garrison is a Doberman. Proud, looks intimidating at first, and doesn't forget or forgive easily. Noble, just generally popular and well known. You can always depend on him to do what's right, even if it’s not exactly what you want him to do. This is Garrison as a dog breed, but also for him as a human being.

Floride Calhoun is a Chow Chow. High strung, bites strangers, and judges and ranks everyone based on their usefulness and importance to her. Fatalistic, cruel, probably some unresolved trauma as a natural consequence of being a Christian White Southern Woman in 1800s. Very Chow Chow behaviors.

Thomas Benton is a Rottweiler. Like a doberman, but more stocky, Benton is courageous, good-natured ( when he isn't faced with Clay, Calhoun, or Foote ), and confidently self assured. He's a stereotypical police dog, MANLY.

Andrew Jackson is a Canary Dog in behavior and a Greyhound in physique. He is large. He engages in dogfights. He looks fast, but is actually fairly chill and doesn't mind being lazy. He could rip someone apart. He WILL rip someone apart. He drools. He contains multitudes.

Benjamin Brown French is a Goldendoodle. Like a goldendoodle, French was created upon this Earth for one purpose. For a goldendoodle, that purpose was to remind mankind of their hubris. For French, it was to be the guiding voice of The Field of Blood. Both of them are lovable and funny unique abominations in the worst/best way.

Charles Sumner is an Akita. A very sleep deprived Akita with heart issues. Very strong, large, bear-like, and could probably take down a tank if he could. Like an Akita, though, Sumner is long-lasting and has thick skin! Metaphorically.

Harriet Martineau is a Papillon. Intelligrnt, petite, friendly, and has a much smaller stature than most of the other dogs on here, and despite not being American, is actually much more well-educated about American politics than actual Americans! She is also tiny but gives an air of great dignity and royal elegance as well a cuteness.

Julia Howe is a Wetterhoun. She's a water dog, with a natural talent, and despite being fairly reserved, gets along well with other people. She also has a strong will and won't back down from a challenge and is actually way more tolerant and patient than most people around her notice or give her credit for.

Daniel Webster is a Mastiff. Like a Mastiff, Webster is SCARY HUGE, has a reputation as being noble and almighty, and is the perfect fighting dog ( in terms of debate ). They both reportedly have the exact same mouth shape. He's also not easily provoked, similar to the Mastiff, and is pretty docile and domesticated when it really comes down to it.

Harriet Beecher Stowe is a German Shepherd. She's willing to learn, incredibly curious, smart and she's actually competant at what she sets out to do. Stowe, also like a german shepherd, is a very recognizable kind of figure, just like how german shepherds are recognizable dog breeds.

John Calhoun is a Border Collie. He, like a Border Collie, is terrifyingly smart. Calhoun is also adaptable ( to changes in political climate ) and great at herding ( his colleagues to secessionist ideals ), like a border collie.

Jefferson Davis is a Skye Terrier. Only ever had one person he actually loved ( his first wife ), and never moved on after her death. Like a Skye Terrier, gives off large amounts of old man energy. Had some pretty funky facial hair too once you stop and think about it. I also think it's funny how I'm assigning Davis a super tiny dog when in real life he was like Abraham Lincoln's hight.

John Quincy Adams is a Shiba Inu. BOLD and ridiculously PROUD and incredibly CLEAN and GRUMPY and INDEPENDENT and UNHAPPY and DIGNIFIED and ALOOF and THERE IS LITERALLY NO OTHER DOG THAT FITS JQA MORE.

William Seward is a Siberian Husky. Seward, similar to a Husky, is stubborn, clever, capable, and despite having great intentions, does tend to have some odd ideas at times. He’s extremely determined in his tasks, perhaps overly so. They're both also dogs that are instantly recognizable on sight, and have something to do with Alaska.

John Randolph is a Pug. He just is. His health issues are infinite. He looks hideous. He is tiny. He vibrates with rage at any given moment. Every noise that he makes only alienates him more. He is such a pug I genuinely can't imagine him as anything else, even before he contracted tuberculosis.

Rachel Donelson Jackson is a Bichon. She just wants to live her life, and move on, similar to a Bichon's passive nature. Chill, going with the flow. She and Bichons share the same vibes.

Nicholas Biddle is a Pomeranian. Tiny and extroverted and happy and friendly and lively and playful! Loves being in the center of attention like any other pomeranian. Both Biddle and Pomeranians have fantastic hair and are always alert about changes in their enviroment, and aren't afraid to challenge others. Often to their own detriment.

Mary Todd Lincoln is a West Highland White Terrier. Like a West Highland White Terrier, Mary Lincoln is tiny, and has a temper that can vary wildly depending on what's going on and who she's with. She hates being rough handled and is normally assured, stubborn and self-confident.

Louisa Adams is a Pitbull. Intelligent, trustworthy, kindhearted, and genuinely a good person even if it might not seem like that at first. She enjoys taking humorous situations literally, or at least with tongue in cheek, and if you wrong her she will not let it go. She's also a pretty medium-sized figure, both in society and as a dog.

Abraham Lincoln is a Great Dane. Because TALL politicians mean TALL dogs. Yet, despite being an imposing figure, he's genuinely friendly and is incredibly loving and devoted towards others, including strangers and especially children! He's just in general laidback, but make no mistake, can definately become dangerous if you provoke him.

Henry Clay is a Collie. His defining feature is that he's sensitive and keenly aware of other's emotions, as well as very goal-oriented and is terrified of any prospect of failure on his part. He can be " single-minded to the point of obsessiveness." And like a certain other collie on this list, Clay is also great at herding people towards desired politics.

Fanny Longfellow is a Golden Retriever. Gentle, smart, affectionate, adorable, and is incredibly tolerant of outsiders. Her friendliness is the stuff of legends, and she was incredibly popular and well known ( although not very much today ). She'll gladly pull others into her family, and she just gives really shiny Good Vibes.

Stephen Douglas is a Jack Russel Terrier. A bite that's ten times larger than his size and is very, very, fearlessly, active. If left bored or unhappy, Douglas will do great damage, like kickstarting Bloody Kansas. The Jack Russel Terrorist if left to his own devices.

Margaret Bayard Smith is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Loyal, devoted, and surprisingly responsible. She has hidden insecurities and despite what others might see as drawbacks, she has shown her effectiveness, intelligence, and presence time and time again.

Theodore Parker is a Chihuaha. He's a good guy and just wants to make sure that things turn out well for his friends and family. He's smaller than you might think he should be, but what he lacks in physical strength, he can easily make up for in bullets and words. He also needs serious modern medical intervention.

Martin Van Buren is a Pekingnese. Ridiculously fancy and small. Like a Pekingnese, also recognizably cold and determined, and tends to manipulate those around him, and tends to be stubborn and set in his ways. Yes, he truly does seem to make his own rules on how the world works, but he makes up for it by being a dandy.

Varina Davis is a Cocker Spaniel. Fancy and her hair is fantastic, gives very prestigious vibes about her. She is independent if needed, but still cares for others. Despite this, she still does have a vicious streak a mile wide.

Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson is an Australian Cattle Dog. A very intelligent herding dog, like her father, and closely resembles him. She can actually be pretty affectionate, but knows what she wants and definitely isn't afraid to nip people or bite to get there.

Adele Douglas is a Poodle, But specifically, she's of the medium-large variety. She's larger than Stephen Douglas that's for sure. She's intelligent, fancy, traditionally feminine, and is better than you in every way. She's loyal and greatly sociable and energetic. She's protective of her family, and loves them, even after they're dead.

Anne Royall is a Keeshond. She's relatively unknown, similar to a Keeshond, and can learn very quickly. She's a quick learner, intuitive, empathetic, and very persistant in what she believes in what's right, no matter what anyone else tries to tell her.

Lucretia Clay is a Newfoundland. She's calm, motherly, supportive, and a little larger than life. Doesn’t like crowds. She also has great athletic ability, which might or might not include swimming. Not sure about Newfoundlands’ business skills regarding her though.

Hugh Lawson White is an Afghan Hound. They're both dignified and aloof with a clownish streak and have also fantastic hair. White, like the Afghan Hound breed, is very old. Or at least, I always imagine him as being old.

Jessie Benton Fremont is an Alaskan Malamute. Big, smart, in charge, very influential. Prominent in her day, similar to an Alaskan Malamute and both her and the breed are distinguished and recognized today. Both of them also have something to do with a gold rush, one Californian, one Alaskan.

Susan B. Anthony is an Azawakh. She's independent and determined, as well as intuitive and understanding about what's going on around her. She's typically reserved, and while not aggressive, it does take some time and sensibility to get to know her. Fast, and both organize in groups to take down enemies.

Louisa May Alcott is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Genuinely happy, enthused, collected, and satisfied with what she has. She's confident in nature and works well with children and her family members. Despite this, she's also vigilant, and can be outspoken and revolutionary if you pay attention. Inclusively, the four Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs all contain vaguely Alcott-like traits- a fitting parallel to Little Women.

Emily Tennessee Donelson is a Borzoi. She's calm, reliable, and tends to follow others' instructions, but she's also independent and can be rebellious at times. She doesn't need you or anyone, and quite frankly, she doesn't have many strong feelings about leaving if she doesn't feel respected. I realize I am painting a very weird picture of the Donelson-Jackson family here but just listen to me ok.

Robert Hayne is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Adaptable, highly affectionate, playful, patient, eager to please, and both of them have a higher mortality than others. Both Hayne and the CKCS breed are both highly adorable and dandy-ish as well.

Margaret Eaton is a Basenji. She's friendly, a bit gossipy, though reserved with strangers. She cannot be trained and she and the Basenji both resemble pariahs in their lifetime. She has her own goals and wants and isn't afraid to try and reach them. Eaton also just in general feels like she'd be a sort of square, short-furred kind of dog, and I also think she doesn't like wet spaces.

Henry Longfellow is a Samoyed. He's optimistic and friendly and lovable and unique and I have an instant revulsion against using the same dog breed twice, otherwise, he'd be a Golden Retriever. The Samoyed's incredibly long and poofy white coat also resembles the long beard that Longfellow developes later on in life.

Sarah Polk is a Yorkshire Terrier. Fairly humble, but still elegant, important, and an air of prominence if she feels like it. She also isn't often taken seriously, despite her genuine great advice, but that's okay, because through god and girlbossification all this are possible.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton is a Schipperke. Determined, steadfast, sturdy, and like a Schipperke, is great at organizing and 'herding' people into organizing movements and the like. She's also a rarer kind of dog breed because the portraits taken of her look very prim and proper, which I'm pretty sure was all on purpose, but either ways, it still works.

Maud Howe is a Saluki. She is very freelancing, independent, and a rather creative person, all of which are incredibly similar vibes to a Saluki. She's shy, but despite this is also a socialite and interacts with others, playing a part and serving in various societies to help her community. She seems like a very special person, in the end, and really does deserve to be called a special breed of dog.

Sarah Goodridge is an English Setter. She's a gentlewoman by nature, intensely friendly, and she's very active and adores visitors, as well as being sensitive to criticism.

[babyjujubee]

Zoey Deutch, Tiffany Boone, Emmy Rossum, Alice Englert, Rachel Brosnahan attend the premiere of "Beautiful Creatures" at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on February 6, 2013.

Producer Broderick Johnson, producer Erwinn Stoff, producer Andrew Kosove, writer Margaret Stohl, Emmy Rossum, Alice Englert, Alden Ehrenreich, director Richard LaGravenese, Rachel Brosnahan, Tiffany Boone, writer Kami Garcia, Tiffany Boone, Thomas Mann and producer Molly Smith attend the premiere of "Beautiful Creatures" at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on February 6, 2013.

[tamayokny]

Nearby, Andrews and Captain Smith did some fast figuring. Water in the forepeak ... No. 1 hold ... No. 2 hold ... mail room ... boiler room No. 6 ... boiler room No. 5. Put together, the facts showed a 300-foot gash, with the first five compartments hopelessly flooded. What did this mean? Andrews quietly explained. The Titanic could float with any two of her 16 watertight compartments flooded. She could float with any three of her first five compartments flooded. She could even float with all of her first four compartments gone. But no matter how they sliced it, she could not float with all of her first five compartments full.

A Night to Remember by Walter lord

[juliansummerhayes]

Daily diary: Thursday, 16 May 2024

KEEPING THE STAR

Keep this star for when you lose the world, when grief and desire become a blurred door that floats away across a plain room without books or kisses. Look to what grows dark beyond the walls, that in night which holds the blue sky singing in its black embrace. It's all spun around a necessary star, star of prisons. Keep it: It has the power to burst from dull thoughts, breathe in airless colors, and roll back the filth of our neglect. Let it pour through the chimney hole patched with tin! Unloved objects-- empty jars, faces in clippings, balls of hair spurned by the brush-- all the children of failure will step forward in its blinding wind, sons and daughters of that before which there is no trivial being.

-- from Keeping the Star, New Rivers Press, copyright 1988 Thomas R. Smith

It’s 05:22 as I type the above words – I am big fan of Thomas R. Smith’s work. I have a cup of coffee waiting to be poured; and the sun is just beginning its ascent across the blue/black sky.

Such is the start of my day.

Why do I do it?

What?

Get up so early?

A habit I suppose; and it’s one that’s been with me for as long as my ragged and dishevelled memory can remember. I know why. Because I feel I’d be wasting my life otherwise. Odd, eh? Very odd. But there it is. It’ll be with me, or so I expect, until the bitter end. 

As of today, well, I’ll do a bit more tidying up of my office and I need to check over my camping gear. I’ll tidy up the house – there’s not much to do – and, as I did yesterday afternoon, I’ll go for a walk. I’m thinking of heading out towards the South West Coast Path or at least close to the sea. I don’t want to drive very far but it would be good to breathe in the sea air and feel the waves beneath my feet.

After today, I’ve got Friday left before I start at my new in-house job. I can’t say that I’m approaching it with any relish especially because I was hoping that my wife and I might have left behind, even if temporarily, our “work” to go on a pilgrimage around the British Isles. Sometimes, these things are not meant to be. Still, I should be grateful for small mercies and if it means I’ve got to spin plates for a few more months then so be it. I mean, what else will I do with myself?

I’ll also read Tim Lilburn’s wonderful book “Living In The World…”. The writing is on another level, and it’s making me want to read Plato which he references a few times in the book. After I finish his book, I’m hoping that “Vale Royal” arrives. This is the book by Aidan Andrew Dun that I shared a while back via a talk that he gave on the book. If you didn’t see that then below is what is said on Aidan’s website about the book:

VALE ROYAL

The valley of the lost Fleet River in Kings Cross is surrounded by the old hills of London, the high places. Vale Royal is a geographical vessel, a symbolic container of the quiet mind, a perfect place to realise the vision of oneness. In the poem Vale Royal the cosmic lifecycle of the Sunchild, the Mighty Youth, born with a vision and dying an early death, reflects the exiled life and redemption of the artist. Chatterton and Blake play his role in the work’s two movements.

Vale Royal moves with the ease and clarity of a fresh spring over ancient stones, making its myths casual even colloquial – an impressive achievement.

Derek Walcott

He has an extraordinary sense of the past. He’s one of those people, along with Blake and Chatterton and others, who are like a divining rod for history.

Peter Ackroyd

So, all in all, a nice quiet day.

If there’s a postscript to today’s diary it’s the fact that Eddie and Alf are now with daughter #3 which makes the house very quiet. But I will do my obligatory walks around South Brent if only to see if I can capture the light with a few photos which has been my way for a very long time.

Take care one and all.

Blessings, 

Julian 

[dinosaurgiantpenny]