#christopher saleh

[socratezzzz]

Poetry: A Journey from Thought to Verse

In The Dance of Light and Shade New Article on Medium Have you ever wondered how a thought transforms into a piece of written poetry? How do words take shape to form an enthralling rhythm that dances in your mind and resonates with your soul? Let me share my personal journey of crafting poetry, a process that’s as magical as it is therapeutic. It all starts with a single thought. An idea or an…

[thegreatlibraryfangirl]

Nothing sets my brain on fire more than this page of Sword and Pen.

[aronarchy]

A copy of the first reading list, if you dislike clicking on Google docs links:

The liberal news media is working overtime to silence Palestinian voices. As we sit thousands of miles away, witnessing the massacre through social media, the least we can do is educate ourselves and work to educate others. Apartheid threatens all of us, and just to reiterate, anti-Zionism ≠ antisemitism.

Academic Works, Poetry and Memoirs

The Revolution of 1936-1939 in Palestine: Background, Details, and Analysis, Ghassan Kanafani (1972)

Palestinians: From Peasants to Revolutionaries, Rosemary Sayegh (1979)

Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment, Mazin Qumsiyeh (2011)

My Life in the PLO: The Inside Story of the Palestinian Struggle, Shafiq al-Hout and Jean Said Makdisi (2019)

My People Shall Live, Leila Khaled (1971)

Poetry of Resistance in Occupied Palestine, translated by Sulafa Hijjawi (Baghdad, Ministry of Culture and Guidance, 1968)

On Palestine by Ilan Pappé and Noam Chomsky (2015)

Gaza in Crisis: Reflections on the US-Israeli War Against the Palestinians, Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé (2013)

The Politics of Dispossession: The Struggle for Palestinian Self-Determination, 1969-1994, Edward W. Said (2012)

Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique, Sa’ed Atshan (2020)

Stone Men: The Palestinians Who Built Israel, Andrew Ross (2019)

Ten Myths About Israel, Ilan Pappé (2017)

Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question, Christopher Eric Hitchens and Edward W. Said (2001)

Palestinian Walks: Notes on a Vanishing Landscape, Raja Shehadeh (2010)

The Gun and the Olive Branch: The Roots of Violence in the Middle East, David Hirst (1977)

Gaza: An Inquest into Its Martyrdom, Norman Finkelstein (2018)

Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel and the Palestinians, Noam Chomsky (1983)

Israel and Palestine: Reappraisals, Revisions, Refutations, Avi Shlaim (2010)

Politicide: Ariel Sharon’s War Against the Palestinians, Baruch Kimmerling (2006)

The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering, Norman G. Finkelstein (2015)

Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire, Jehad Abusalim (2022)

Nakba: Palestine, 1948, and the Claims of Memory, Ahmad H. Sa’di and Lila Abu-Lughod (2007)

Peace and its discontents: Essays on Palestine in the Middle East peace process, Edward W. Said (2012)

Three Poems by Yahya Hassan

Articles, Papers & Essays

“Palestinian history doesn’t start with the Nakba” by PYM (May, 2023) 

“What the Uprising Means,” Salim Tamari (1988)

“The Palestinians’ inalienable right to resist,” Louis Allday (2021)

“Liberating a Palestinian Novel from Israeli Prison,” Danya Al-Saleh and Samar Al-Saleh (2023) 

Women, War, and Peace: Reflections from the Intifada, Nahla Abdo (2002)

“A Place Without a Door” and “Uncle Give me a Cigarette”—Two Essays by Palestinian Political Prisoner, Walid Daqqah (2023)

“Live Like a Porcupine, Fight Like a Flea,” A Translation of an Article by Basel Al-Araj

Films & Video Essays

Fedayin: Georges Abdallah’s Fight (2021)

Naila and the Uprising (2017)

Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory (2015)

Tell Your Tale Little Bird (1993)

The Time That Remains (2009)

“The Present” (short film) (2020)

“How Palestinians were expelled from their homes”

Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists (2011)

Born in Gaza (2014)

5 Broken Cameras (2011)

Little Palestine: Diary of a Siege (2021)

Al-Nakba: The Palestinian catastrophe - Episode 1 | Featured Documentary

Organisations to donate to

Palestine Red Crescent Society - https://www.palestinercs.org/en

Anera - https://support.anera.org/a/palestine-emergency

Palestinian American Medical Association - https://palestinian-ama.networkforgood.com/projects/206145-gaza-medical-supplies-oct-2023

You First Gaza - https://donate.gazayoufirst.org/

MAP - Medical Aid for Palestinians - https://www.map.org.uk/donate/donate

United Nations Relief and Works Agency - https://donate.unrwa.org/-landing-page/en_EN

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund - https://www.pcrf.net/   

Doctors Without Borders - https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/palestine

AP Fact Check

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-misinformation-fact-check-e58f9ab8696309305c3ea2bfb269258e

This list is not exhaustive in any way, and is a summary of various sources on the Internet. Please engage with more ethical, unbiased sources, including Decolonize Palestine and this list compiled by the Palestinian Youth Movement.

[ghostoftonantzin]

Books I have read this year, 2023, roughly in order

I enjoyed doing this last year, so I thought I would do another little write-up of the books I read this year and what I thought.

I've read 52 books this year, hitting a goal I hadn't thought to set. That includes a few graphic novels, but not the audiobooks, which I listened to 15 of this year (I spent a lot of time driving). Same as last year, I've annotated the audiobooks with an asterisk.

I also started listening to Backlisted this year, which significantly influenced my reading choices.

Under a cut, because it got long

Swedish Cults, Anders Fager (1/2) - I saw this was originally published in 2009, and I feel like the first story in this collection somehow really echoes that time. Which is probably a strange thing to say about a horror story.

When Washington was in Vogue, Edward Christopher Williams (1/13) - very sweet, very interesting look at a time and a place I didn't know much about.

The Cement Garden, Ian McEwan (1/19) - I expected to enjoy this a lot more than I did, based on how it's often described as a great "fucked up" book. I think the teenage boy POV just didn't do much for me.

Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons (1/20) - a reread, for the first time since probably 2014 or so. I enjoyed it (and understood it) a lot better this time around. I got to the back half and couldn't put it down, which is a strange thing to say about a parody of the rural novels of the 1930s.

Nona the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir (2/12) - finally got this from the library. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two books in the series

Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2/24) - a reread. The final page always destroys me.

Cassandra at the Wedding, Dorothy Baker (2/25) - Very literary. I think I enjoyed it, though I can't muster up the energy to form a stronger opinion. The scene where Cassandra pulls out the bridesmaid dress she bought was memorable, though.

Are You My Mother?, Alison Bechdel (2/28) - a reread. Scratches the same itch as Fun Home, but doesn't tie the family narrative into the theoretical themes as cohesively.

Surviving the Applewhites, Stephanie S. Tolan (3/12) - another reread, to see if it was as good as I remembered from fourth grade. It held up for the most part.

The Secret to Superhuman Strength, Alison Bechdel (3/13) - finally, not a reread. Fun, erudite, perhaps not as tight as Fun Home, but another excellent Bechdel.

Ravishment, Amanda Quick (3/24) - sometimes you have to read an entire romance novel in an evening. This was fun, though its plot and that of "Mistress" (see below) blur into one another.

Season of Migration to the North, Tayib Saleh (4/7) - I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it in a class where I could discuss it and learn more about the historical context behind it.

The Bloater, Rosemary Tonks (4/9) - of Backlisted fame. I should reread again, more slowly, to get a better taste for Tonk's use of language.

Mistress, Amanda Quick (4/15) - also a fun quick read, though I can't remember much of the plot.

Excellent Women*, Barbara Pym (4/25) - yet another attempt to get into audiobooks, and it semi-worked this time. Mildred sets a high bar for other Pym protagonists to follow, and I thought Pym created an excellent portrait of post-war life for unmarried women and the minor indignities and intimacies that accompany it. Also ridiculously funny, at least to me.

Clouds of Witness*, Dorothy L. Sayers (5/12) - I wanted to read Gaudy Night, but I figured I should read at least a few Peter Wimsey mysteries that came before it. I think my favorite character was Lord Wimsey's mother.

Star, Yukio Mishima (5/16) - an interesting portrait of a disaffected youth and of fame in Japan at the time it was written.

Strong Poison*, Dorothy L. Sayers (5/16) - the first Wimsey mystery to feature Harriet Vane, and my first encounter with Lord Peter's office of overlooked older secretaries, who provides the enjoyable detour of Miss Murchison making an important breakthrough in the case. Not bad, though not super memorable.

Have His Carcase, Dorothy L. Sayers (5/17) - the only Wimsey mystery I read instead of listened to, because neither library app had the audiobook. This one was too reliant on keeping timetables straight for my taste, but I still read it in a day.

Beyond Black, Hilary Mantel (5/22) - possibly the best book I read this year. Bleak, bleak, bleak, and wonderful for it. Yet one of the most cathartic happy endings I've ever read.

Thus was Adonis Murdered, Sarah Caudwell (5/28) - caught my sense of humor by the second or third page. Hilariously dry mystery, and understandable even if you don't know legal jargon.

The Feast, Margaret Kennedy (5/31) - this book is not even remotely a thriller, is in fact sort of an elaborate morality play, and yet I couldn't put it down. The conceit- that a cliff collapses onto a hotel and everyone inside dies, but not all the hotel guests were inside- keeps you guessing at whose sins are bad enough to merit a karmic death.

Starlight, Stella Gibbons (6/4) - a lot grimmer than I expected, and almost ahead of its time in terms of the (I'm going to say) pointlessness of its ending, in a "people come into the main character's lives, stuff happens, but the main two old ladies aren't actually affected" way. Not a book you would expect to find demonic possession in, but it's there and it's played straight!

The Shortest Way to Hades, Sarah Caudwell (6/6) - I find it interesting that all of these mysteries center around details of things like inheritance law and yet all feature murder as the main crime, and also that (spoilers) the villain is disposed of in a manner that does not require the main cast to get involved with the police.

The Sirens Sang of Murder, Sarah Caudwell (6/9) - by the second volume in this series I kept trying to guess who the murderer, and I was never ever able to do it. Not that I've ever been good at that part of mystery novels, but I do appreciate Caudwell keeping me on my toes.

Gaudy Night*, Dorothy L. Sayers (6/11) - finally, the book I read three prior mysteries for. I found this one fascinatingly slow for a mystery and much more focused on the life of women in academia in that era than I had expected. I particularly enjoyed the character of Miss de Vine, who at first seems like the classic absent-minded professor, only to reveal herself to be much wiser in ways of the heart than she appears.

The Black Maybe, Attila Veres (6/19) - short horror story collection, translated from Hungarian. Not bad, but none of the stories were super memorable.

Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (6/22) - I did not enjoy this and probably would not have finished it if my mom hadn't highly recommended it. The characters felt flat and the plot struggled to build enough tension for the emotional beats to hit. I also feel like the four-year-old character did not act anything like a four-year-old, though I'll admit I don't know a lot of four-year-olds.

Hackenfeller’s Ape, Brigid Brophy (6/26) - I would say this book wasn't that exciting, very dry and academic for its bizarre plot, but one detail near the end (which I won't spoil) knocked me sideways and tbh probably made the book for me.

Less Than Angels*, Barbara Pym (6/27) - I had to go back and add this while writing these reviews because I'd completely forgotten to list it at the time. Not as good as Excellent Women, though I also had to adjust to the multiple perspectives as opposed to just one.

Comemadre, Roque Larraquy (7/2) - a reread. Still one of the strangest books I've ever read. Highly recommend.

The Sky is Blue, With a Single Cloud, Kuniko Tsurita (7/3) - I'd had this collection of manga one-shots for about a year, and decided to finally read it when hanging out at the library when the water was out at my apartment. It's very interesting to see her style develop and to learn more about the alternative manga industry.

Mrs. Caliban, Rachel Ingalls (7/4) - I had been vaguely meaning to read this for a while, then found it on Hoopla. Looking back on it, it rivals In a Lonely Place (the Dorothy Hughes one) with regards to drawing California in the mind's eye, though the mood of their particular Californias are very different.

Black Wings Has My Angel, Elliott Chaze (7/8) - the tension at the end of this book is like pulling teeth, it's incredible.

Scruples, Judith Krantz (7/24) - absolutely frothy and frequently ridiculous, but also fun. Their are main characters named Spider and Valentine, and it's taken completely seriously. It's actually a really interesting look at the values and beliefs of the 1980's as reflected through pop culture.

Days in the Caucasus, Banine (7/28) - I was more interested in the sequel to this memoir, Parisian Days, but figured I should read this volume, about the author's childhood in Azerbaijan in the years leading up to its incorporation into the Soviet Union. It provided a really interesting perspective of the Soviet Union from a resident of one of its subject states.

Frederica, Georgette Heyer (8/6) - my first Heyer. I'm impressed by her ability to write annoying younger siblings and walk the line between "overly cute" and "overly aggravating".

In the Miso Soup, Ryu Murakami (8/17) - good, though not my favorite of the year by far. The violence depicted did manage to turn my stomach a bit.

My Man Jeeves*, P.G. Wodehouse (8/20) - I've realized that I need to listen to audiobooks that are fun if I'm going to survive long drives, so I turned to the Jeeves series (I only listened to the Jeeves stories in this one). An interesting introduction to the character, especially since it starts in America instead of the England of the more well-known tales.

Love in the New Millennium, Can Xue (8/29) - I'm not sure if this book is meant to be very surreal, if I'm missing cultural context, or both, but I will say it does serve me well to be a little befuddled by books sometimes. This book has a strange, flowing sense of perspective, where it moves between perspectives and the stories of its characters, only slowly unveiling where it's emotional weight lies. Very interesting.

The Inimitable Jeeves*, P.G. Wodehouse (9/1) - second collection of Jeeves & Wooster stories. Good, though Bingo isn't my favorite side character.

Flesh, Brigid Brophy (9/1) - the beginning chapters are incredibly sensual in a way I can't describe, but after that it inspired an incredible feeling of dread that something would go terribly wrong. Despite the fact that this is a satire of young adults in 1960s London, I could feel emotional catastrophe creeping around every corner. I don't think this was Brophy's intention.

Ice*, Anna Kavan (9/8) - somehow not anything like I had osmosed it being. The narrative flows between reality and fantasy so fluidly that it's incredibly easy to wonder if you spaced out and missed something important while listening to it. The plot is also fascinatingly simple and surprisingly free of actual conflict: despite impediments, the hero ("hero") rarely actually encounters any opposition that seems like it could truly keep him from his goal. This adds to the feeling that everything occurring in the book is barely-veiled symbolism.

The Glass Pearls, Emeric Pressburger (9/13) - the tension in this might have honestly been too much for me. Good, but I don't know if I can read it again.

The English Understand Wool, Helen DeWitt (9/16) - sometimes you read a book and recognize that it's very good, while also being annoyed that what it is is different from what you want it to be. I understood it worked as a morality tale, but I found it limiting and frustrating. I will also indulge in a bit of cattiness here and say that for a book about luxury and high-quality goods, the book design chosen by New Directions for this series feels like a cheap set of children's books. (I read this on an online checkout from the library, so I only saw the book itself in a bookstore.)

Right Ho, Jeeves*, P.G. Wodehouse (9/18) - The fact that Jeeves and Bertie were on the outs for this one did stress me out, I will admit.

In a Lonely Place, Karl Edward Wagner (9/22) - the stories pick up in quality in the back half, in my opinion, though none of them are true duds. The last story and standout in the collection, yet another twist on a vampire tale, really draws its strength from the grimy-yet-glamorous depiction of an art student's life in London.

Kissing the Witch, Emma Donoghue (9/27) - I enjoyed how each story folded into one another and found this book hard to put down. Also very gay, loved it.

The Drama of Celebrity, Sharon Marcus (9/27) - I was reading this for background for my fic, and it was somewhat helpful. It's really mostly an analysis of Sarah Bernhardt's career, with some light theory of celebrity to contextualize it instead of the other way around like I expected.

Malpertuis, Jean Ray (10/15) - I probably shouldn't have read the summary for this book before the book itself, but I'm not sure I would have fully understood the plot if I hadn't. Not a knock on the book itself.

The Great God Pan and Other Stories*, Arthur Machen (10/16) - I don't read a ton of nineteenth-century literature, so I was surprised by how compelling the title story was, especially when listened to. I also found some of the imagery in "The Novel of the White Powder" horrifying and would not be out of place in a modern horror story. The final story was a bit of a slog, though.

Heartburn*, Nora Ephron (10/20) - a relisten to the version narrated by Meryl Streep. I downloaded it based on a recommendation describing the audiobook as turning it into the one-woman monologue the book was meant to be, and I can't think of any higher recommendation to offer than that.

Casting the Runes and Other Stories*, M.R. James and others (10/30) - I knew about M.R. James from popular culture, but I honestly had not expected "Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad" to center so much around golf.

Invitation the the Waltz, Rosamond Lehmann (11/1) - I read most of this in one sitting, playing old music through my headphones, which felt really ideal. Setting most of it during one formal dance allows for a sense of insular-ness while allowing the details of the world to be woven in. If that makes any sense.

Crazy Salad and Scribble Scrabble*, Nora Ephron (11/3) - it's really interesting to listen to these essays written during the second wave feminist movement and realize that we've been having the same arguments for 50 years. It's also interesting to read about the minutiae of Watergate from the perspective of those watching it unfold in real time. So many weird, unmemorable cultural-political things that have gone down the hole of public memory! (I need to note here that the last essay in Crazy Salad is, based on my memory of the first time I read it (I skipped it this time around) very transphobic, so I can only recommend this collection with that heavy caveat.)

BBC Radiophonic Workshop: A Retrospective, William L. Weir (11/7) - I first learned about the BBC radiophonic workshop through the Backlisted episode about Rosemary Tonks, and this was a fascinating look into that period of British history and the origins of electronic music. It's also helped me pinpoint how to find that sort of music I think of as "alien abduction music", which is a bonus.

Joy in the Morning*, P.G. Wodehouse (11/10) - I didn't realize this wasn't in the 3-book arc that starts with Right Ho, Jeeves until I was partway through. Still, quality Wodehouse.

Good Morning, Midnight, Jean Rhys (11/17) - despite listening to the Backlisted episode before reading this, I didn't quite grasp what "modernist novel" meant, which meant I was surprised by the stream-of-consciousness flow of this novel. It's such gorgeous writing, though. Depressing as hell.

Winter Love*, Han Suyin (11/18) - beautiful and sad. The main character, Red, is frustrating, even though everything she does is perfectly understandable within the context she lives in.

The Girls, John Bowen (11/21) - the blurbs for this book ("Barbara Pym meets Stephen King") made it seem like this would be both lighter and more horrifying than it actually was. I found it to actually be very melancholy in parts, and surprisingly focused on the emotional aftereffects of murder. The ending, the final paragraph, is gorgeous.

Black Orchids, Rex Stout (11/30) - I'm now trying to find Nero Wolfe books in secondhand bookstores, though I'm limited by the lack of secondhand bookstores in my area (that may be a good thing). I enjoy how Nero Wolfe and Archie play off each other.

The Hearing Trumpet*, Leonara Carrington (12/1) - so, so good, and I'm glad I listened to it as an audiobook, because the narrator, Sian Phillips, is an elderly woman herself and therefore able to conjure up a whole range of different voices for the old women who populate this book.

Mistletoe Malice, Kathleen Farrell (12/6) - I was actually disappointed by this, which might have been a matter of mismatched expectations. However, the Christmas tree never caught fire, and I swore a review I read said it would, so I spent the whole book waiting in vain.

Venetia, Georgette Heyer (12/16) - A delight. Aubrey is a great character, and I enjoy how Heyer has the different characters play on each other.

Great Granny Webster, Caroline Blackwood (12/18) - did not expect this book to have a large section on "decaying old Anglo-Irish homes and their horrors", but I guess that's a richer vein in literary fiction than I realized (see: Good Behaviour by Molly Keane).

Sylvester, Georgette Heyer (12/21) - not quite as enjoyable as Frederica or Venetia, in my opinion, though that may be partly because I waited for almost 2/3 of the book for Phoebe's book to actually be published.

Providence, Anita Brookner (12/28) - beautiful prose, of the sort that makes me realize my own inadequacies in both my writing and my critical capabilities, because I can neither replicate it or describe what makes it so compelling. This book is also so tightly crafted for a story where almost nothing happens. It ends up exactly where it's been leading all along.

[infj-zen]

Chess Kings MBTI

Here are a few top feeling type men chess players by MBTI

NF

ENFJ Jonas Buhl Bjerre, Jayant Gokhale, Siddharth Jagadeesh

INFJ David Brodsky, SL Narayanan, Fernando Peralta, Aryan Tari, Radoslaw Wojtaszek

ENFP Pontus Carlsson, Vladimir Fedoseev, Abhijeet Gupta, Jon Ludvig Hammer, Robert Hess, David Howell, Pouya Idani, Vincent Keymer, Li Chao, Awonder Liang, Parham Maghsoodloo, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Peter Heine Nielsen, David Paravyan, Richard Rapport, Salem Saleh, SP Sethuraman, Nigel Short, David Smerdon, Peter Svidler, Pranav Venkatesh, Christopher Yoo

INFP Nijat Abasov, Varuzhan Akobian, Lazaro Bruzon, Aryan Chopra, Bardiya Daneshvar, Neelotpal Das, Ding Liren, Arjun Erigaisi, Vugar Gashimov, Lars Oskar Hauge, Enamul Hossain, Dmitry Jakovenko, Sergey Karjakin, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Vasilios Kotronias, Viktor Laznicka, Moulthun Ly, Georg Meier, Srinath Narayanan, Alexander Onischuk, Grigoriy Oparin, Alexander Riazantsev, Ray Robson, Kenny Solomon

SF

ESFJ Balazs Csonka, Eric Hansen, Sebastian Mihajlov, Daniel Rensch

ISFJ Robert Hungaski, Velimir Ivic, RB Ramesh, Johan Salomon, Karthik Venkataraman

ESFP Baskaran Adhiban, Aman Hambleton, Vassily Ivanchuk, Yasser Seirawan, Wang Hao, Max Warmerdam, Jeffery Xiong

ISFP Bassem Amin, Levon Aronian, Aravindh Chithambaram, Andrey Esipenko, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, Rinat Jumabayev, Haik Martirosyan, Raunak Sadhwani, Vahap Sanal, Krishnan Sasikiran, M.S. Thejkumar, Yu Yangyi

[socratezzz]

Written by Christopher Saleh, “Whisper Your Fears in A Roar” is a reflective and emotional journey through memories, loss, and personal growth. With its poignant lyrics and haunting melodies, the song explores the echoes of the past—photos, moments, and choices—that shape our present. As Socratezzz’s soulful vocals bring the words to life, the track delivers a powerful message about embracing the lessons learned from both joy and pain. It’s a song that invites listeners to reflect on their own journey while looking toward the future with hope.

[recentlyheardcom]

New York Jets' firing of Robert Saleh startling but not surprising, given Woody Johnson's previous remarks

The early returns certainly were not what Johnson or the Jets (2-3) could have hoped for — Week 4’s 10-9 home loss to the Denver Broncos was particularly bothersome — and this time, there was no Zach Wilson to blame. Johnson — whose brother, Christopher, hired Saleh while Woody was serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom during the Trump administration — brought Saleh back after 2023…

[ulkaralakbarova]

A group of American soldiers stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold hidden near their base, and they embark on a secret mission that’s destined to change everything. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Archie Gates: George Clooney Troy Barlow: Mark Wahlberg Chief Elgin: Ice Cube Conrad Vig: Spike Jonze Amir Abdullah: Cliff Curtis Adriana Cruz: Nora Dunn Walter Wogaman: Jamie Kennedy Captain Said: Saïd Taghmaoui Colonel Horn: Mykelti Williamson Captain Van Meter: Holt McCallany Cathy Daitch: Judy Greer Teebaux: Christopher Lohr Paco: Jon Sklaroff Debbie Barlow, Troy’s Wife: Liz Stauber Amir’s Wife: Marsha Horan Amir’s Daughter: Alia Shawkat Hairdressing Twin #2: Ghanem Algarawi Hairdressing Twin #1: Jabir Algarawi Western Dressed Village Woman: Bonnie Afsary Traditional Village Woman: Jacqueline Abi-Ad Deserter Leader: Fadil Al-Badri Kaied: Qaid Al-Nomani Iraqi Tank Major: Sayed Badreya Iraqi Troop Carrier Major: Magdi Rashwan Iraqi First Kill Soldier: Ali Afshar Berm Soldier / Truck Driver: Tank Jones Berm Soldier: Patrick O��Neal Jones Berm Soldier: Shawn Pilot Berm Soldier: Brett Bassett Cuts Troy’s Cuff Soldier: Jim Gaffigan Camp Soldier / Truck Driver: Al Whiting Camp Soldier / Truck Driver: Brian Patterson Camp Soldier: Scott Dillon Camp Soldier: Kwesi Okai Hazel Camp Soldier: Joseph Romanov Camp Soldier: Christopher B. Duncan Camp Soldier: Randy W. McCoy Camp Soldier: Mark Rhodes Camp Soldier: Scott Pearce Civil Affairs Company Clerk: Gary Parker Saudi Translator: Haidar Alatowa Iraqi Soldier with Map: Salah Salea Dead Iraqi Soldier: Doug Jones Iraqi Civilian Mother with Baby: Farinaz Farrokh Lying Iraqi – Bunker #1: Omar ‘Freefly’ Alhegelan Friendly Iraqi – Bunker #1: Hassan Allawati Pleading Civilian Woman: Sara Aziz Iraqi Civilian Man: A. Halim Mostafa Storeroom Captain – Bunker #2: Al Mustafa Iraqi Interrogation Sergeant: Anthony Batarse Iraqi Rifle Loader #1 – Bunker #2: Mohamad Al-Jalahma Iraqi Rifle Loader #2 – Bunker #2: Mohammed Sharafi Storeroom Guard – Bunker #2: Hillel Michael Shamam Iraqi Radio Operator: Joey Naber Black Robe Leader: Basim Ridha Iraqi Republican Guard Lieutenant – Oasis Bunker: Peter Macdissi Iraqi Republican Guard Sergeant – Oasis Bunker: Tony Shawkat Iraqi Republican Guard Sergeant – Oasis Bunker: Joseph Abi-Ad Troy’s Interrogation Guard – Oasis Bunker: Fahd Al-Ujaimy Troy’s Interrogation Guard – Oasis Bunker: Derick Qaqish Troy’s Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Hassan Bach-Agha Troy’s Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Fadi Sitto Deserter #1: Ali Alkindi Deserter #2: Abdullah Al-Dawalem Deserter #3: Rick Mendoza Republican Guard on Roof – Oasis Bunker: Jassim Al-Khazraji Fleeing Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Haider Alkindi Fleeing Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Kalid Mustafa Fleeing Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Ghazwyn Ramlawi Fleeing Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Raad Thomasian Fleeing Republican Guard – Oasis Bunker: Wessam Saleh Fleeing Republican Guard / Sniper – Oasis Bunker: Jay Giannone Fleeing Republican Guard / Sniper – Oasis Bunker: Sam Hassan Action Star: Brian Bosworth Iraqi Child: Donte Delila Iraqi Child: Dylan Brown Helicopter Pilot (uncredited): Rick Shuster Film Crew: Screenplay: David O. Russell Executive Producer: Bruce Berman Producer: Charles Roven Director of Photography: Newton Thomas Sigel Original Music Composer: Carter Burwell Production Design: Catherine Hardwicke Editor: Robert K. Lambert Set Decoration: Gene Serdena Costume Design: Kym Barrett Costume Supervisor: Bob Morgan Producer: Edward McDonnell Art Direction: Jann K. Engel Art Direction: Derek R. Hill Casting: Mary Vernieu Producer: Paul Junger Witt Casting: Anne McCarthy Makeup Artist: Adam Brandy Construction Coordinator: Lars Petersen Steadicam Operator: Larry McConkey Dialogue Editor: Donald L. Warner Jr. Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Herbick Makeup Artist: Donald Mowat Chief Lighting Technician: Terry Hall Key Grip: David L. Me...

[pleaserelaxslowly]

2023

My favorite tracks from 2023:

1. “Cellphone (Redux)” by Dirty Bird from Riddim Seeker (2023)

2. “The Void” by Benoît Pioulard from Eidetic (2023)

3. "Cities in Dust" by Garbage from Witness to Your Love (2023)

4. "Satellite" by quickly, quickly from Easy Listening (2023)

5. "Holiday House" by Beach House from Become (2023)

6. "Outside the Club (Vocal Version)" by Galcher Lustwerk from LUSTWERK II (2023)

7. "Silver Machine (The Hacker Remix)" by Desire from Silver Machine (The Hacker Remix) (2023)

8. "Prayer at the Gate" by PJ Harvey from I Inside the Old Year Dying (2023)

9. "Fader (Edit)" by Róisín Murphy from Fader (2023)

10. "alife" by Slowdive from everything is alive (2023)

11. "Dreaming" by Lusine featuring Asy Saavedra from Long Light (2023)

12. "If" by Blonde Redhead from Sit down for Dinner (2023)

13. "Even it Out" by Fever Ray from Radical Romantics (2023)

14. "deep in it" by berlioz from jazz is for ordinary people (2023)

15. "Much More (Sirens of Lesbos Remix)" by dreamcastmoe from Sound Is Like Water, 202% THC Remix Package (2023)

16. "Rich Baby Daddy" by Drake featuring Sexyy Red and SZA from For All the Dogs (2023)

17. "Arrivederci" by Mary Lattimore featuring Lol Tolhurst from Goodbye, Hotel Arkada (2023)

18. "Cake & Candy" by RuPaul from Black Butta (2023)

19. "MIDNIGHT" by podhajski from MIDNIGHT NOSTALGIA (2023)

20. "Brokendata" by Com Truise from Brokendate (2023)

21. "王七叶式躲闪BGM" by Mahalin from 王七叶式躲闪BGM (2023)

22. "These Days" by Julie Byrne with Laugh Cry Laugh from Julie Byrne with Laugh Cry Laugh (2023)

23. "Kontur" by Thore Pfeiffer / Niko Tzoukmanis from Pop Ambient 2024 (2023)

24. "Invisible Hand" by Solomon Fesshaye from Invisible Hand (2023)

25. "Check Your Translation (Hrishikesh Hirway Remix)" by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith from Let's Turn it into Sound Remixes (2023)

26. "SHOREDITCH" by VRDNYN from SHOREDITCH (2023)

27. "Heart Can Still Somersault" by Tom VR from Heart Can Still Somersault (2023)

28. "Tangled in Joy" by Temple of Angels from Endless Pursuit (2023)

29. "J'aime les filles" by Kate Bollinger from J'aime les filles (2023)

30. "Endless (Helios Remix)" by Christopher Willits from Gravity Remixes (2023)

31. "Birdy Bell" by Suchi from Birdy Bell (2023)

32. "Anything Else" by Audion from The Return of Losing It (2023)

33. "Fountain, Growth" by Khotin featuring Tess Roby from Release Spirit (2023)

34. "daylight falls" by Dua Saleh from daylight falls (2023)

35. "Intertwine" by Helios from Espera (2023)

[socratezzzz]

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

Google Gemini created this post about my article on Medium As the dawn of a new year approaches, there’s an undeniable energy that sweeps across us – the potent mix of anticipation and optimism. It’s a time when we look to embrace change while cherishing our old traditions; it is this beautiful paradox that makes New Year’s resolutions so enduring and powerful. In my latest article on…

[cyanman777]

1001 Comic Books: A Request

If anyone has any of the following comic books/strips, be it your own scans or whatever, please put them on IA and/or send them my way...

Rock 'n' Roll Necronomicon by Savage Pencil

Quadratino by Antonio Rubino

Un semaine de bonte by Max Ernst

The Beast is Dead! by Victor Dancette and Edmond-Francois Calvo

Torchy in Heartbeats by Jackie Ormes

Mother Delilah / Boys' Ranch #3 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon

Reves et Culbutes by Maurice Henry

Wayang Purwa by Saleh Ardisoma

Lifi \ Rhyphie by Sanho Kim

Salomon by Chago

Patty's World by Phillip Douglas and Purita Campos

Les Girafes by Guillermo Mordillo

Bella at the Bar by Jenny McDade and John Armstrong

Bahadur: The Red Bricks House by Aabid Surti and Govind Brahmania

Genius by John Glashan

Dori Stories by Dori Seda

Biff \ The Essential Biff by Mick Kidd and Chris Garrett

Untouchables by Lee Hyun-Se

Pee God #2 by Gary Panter and Joe Cotton

The Angriest Dog in the World by David Lynch

MAD Show-Stoppers by Mort Drucker

Sof' Boy by Archer Prewitt

The Marat/Sade Journals by Barron Storey

Palepoli by Usamaru Furuya

Nudl Nude by Youngsoon Yang

The Best of Bittercomix by Conrad Botes and Anton Kannemeyer

Comix 2000 by Jean-Christophe Menu

I'll Be Back Shortly by Frank Odoi

Powr Mastrs by Christopher Forgues

Rumble Strip by Woodrow Phoenix

Magic Mirror by Ed Pinsent

The Secret by Andrzej Klimowski

please

i'm desperate

[havaforever]

Mes meilleurs moment au Cinéma en 2022

Pour ma critique complète, cliquez sur le titre du film

1) FLEE de Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Une animation digne de Valse avec Bachir, sinon mieux! Une esthétique très originale au service d’un film profondément sensible et percutant. Une pépite!

2) GODLAND de H. Palmason

Une fresque de toute beauté, sans aucune complaisance sur les dérives de la vie mystique, un grand film, long, lent, profond et subtil.

3) CONTES DU HASARD ET AUTRES FANTAISIES de Ryūsuke Hamaguchi

Si Rohmer était japonais, il n’aurait pas pu mieux faire, mais il eut fallu qu’il ait aussi ce décalage, cette poésie aussi puissante qu’invraisemblable. 

4) LA CONSPIRATION DU CAIRE de Tarik Saleh

Sur fond d’un thriller un peu moyen, un film puissant, dépaysant et instructif.

5) LES LECONS PERSANES de Vadim Perelman

Une fable magnifique, poétique, d’une grande originalité, sur fond de la plus triste période historique de tous les temps.

6) BRUNO REIDAL, Confessions d’un meurtrier, de Vincent Le Port

Un fait divers qui agit comme une machine à remonter le temps, les mœurs, et à la radicalité d’une réflexion anthropologique à ses racines. Saisissant.

7) LES CRIMES DU FUTUR de David Cronnenberg

Puissant, dérangeant, décapant, pas complètement réussi, loin de là, tout en étant du grand cinéma. 

8) LES NUITS DE MASHAAD de Ali Abasi

L’enfer de la tyrannie sociale et religieuse, est sous nos yeux, il suffit de le laisser entrer par la grande porte. A couper le souffle. 

9) THE CARD COUNTER de Paul Schrader 

Guerre, torture, amour et poker face, dans l’ordre ou dans le désordre? A vous de choisir.

10) LES BONNES ETOILES de Kore Eda

Avant tout parce que je reste fan de ce cinéaste, mais aussi parce que parler de la famille avec cette force, ça fait toujours du bien. 

-----------

Et encore des bons films qu’il sera toujours intéressant ou agréable de voir: 

11) LA NUIT DU 12 de  Dominik Moll

Une plongée très humaniste chez les enquêteurs de la crim’

12) UN AUTRE MONDE de Stéphane Brizé

Réalisme d’une vie sans pitié sur fond de crise du capitalisme, oui, mais avec un brin d’autre chose plus sensible, plus subtile, plus talentueux que d’habitude. 

13) SIMONE, LE VOYAGE DU SIECLE de Olivier Dahan

Un film même magnifique à la fois historique, biographique et même relativement réussi cinématographiquement, ne réussirait pas à dire l’ampleur de cette femme unique au monde par son courage et sa vaillance à être. Et pourtant, on n’en sort absolument pas déçu. Une réussite dans son genre. 

14) LEILA ET SES FRERES de Saeed Roustaee

Une belle leçon, un moment intense et émouvant, même si le film en lui même est inégal, pas toujours suffisamment esthétique. Si le récit manque souvent e grâce, il ne manque jamais de justesse. 

15) EN ATTENDANT BOJANGLES de Régis Roinsard

Vivre avec une femme maniaco-dépressive, et l’aimer; épouser sa folie, jusqu'au bout. Bouleversant. 

16) LE LYCEEN de Christophe Honoré

Le deuil d’un être cher implique t-il un certain deuil de soi? Jusqu’où, et surtout combien ? 

17) L’INNOCENT de Louis Garrel

Thriller familial et psychologique sous forme de comédie émouvante et décalée. Une belle réussite, de et avec le plus bel acteur français du moment. 

18) Moonage Daydream - About BOWIE  

Biopic instructif et distrayant, coloré et nostalgique de nos années (disco et plus) de jeunesse. 

19) NIGHMARRE ALLEY de Guilermo Del Torro

Esthétique, maniéré, mystérieux, sulfureux mais sur papier glacé.

20) CARAVAGE

Un fresque picturale et historique sur l’histoire passionnante et passionnée d’un des plus grands maitres de la peinture. 

Pour les meilleurs films de 2021, c’est ici!

[nofatclips]

signs by Dua Saleh - Director/Editor: Braden Lee

[half-a-tiger]

DUA SALEH - “Umbrellar”, off their new EP ‘Rosetta’ out now via Against Giants

Director, Editor, Colorist: Braden Lee

DP: Christopher Behnen

Model: Amarachi Anyamele

Filmed on location at Franconia Sculpture Park

Inspired by Ismail Zaidy photographs

[pilotseason2020]

MAVERICK (ordered to pilot)

In a present day America that finds itself under authoritarian rule, the President’s daughter – raised to believe her father is moral and benevolent – has her worldview rocked on her first day at Georgetown. Challenged by her fellow students, and under the watchful eye of Secret Service agents, she’ll have to decide if her loyalties lie with her family or with a growing resistance as she navigates her freshman year.

Cast (thus far)

Reina Hardesty (The Flash) as Kit, who was raised in a family of wealth and power. Intelligent and an inquisitive dreamer, she finds her relationship and alliance with her family’s beliefs starting to change after she moves out to begin her first year in college. Both the actress and character are biracial- Asian/white. (Feb 28)

Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives) as Charles Price, Kit’s father and the president of the United States who has a devoted following and a soft spot for his daughter. He commands the country with dignity and charm, but his plans for keeping his citizens safe are more nefarious than they seem. (Mar 9)

Nandy Martin (The Fosters) as Vanessa. Smart and tough, Vanessa is Kit’s new roommate at Georgetown and has no fear of speaking her mind. She constantly fights for the underdogs because she is one herself, even as she hides some of her own insecurities. (Feb 28)

Pete Ploszek (Teen Wolf) as Sebastian, Kit’s easygoing and intelligent older half-brother. He is Kit’s rock after the death of her mom and her most trusted confidant. As a member of his father’s administration, he might know more about his father’s dark goals than he lets on. (Mar 9)

Zainne Saleh (The Night Shift) as Cara. A sophomore at the University, Cara knows more of the cruelties of the world than she lets on. She’s been marginalized and is ready to fight back against the government by using her fearless ability to hack any system. (Feb 28)

Christopher Meyer (Tell Me a Story) as Chase. A handsome and effortlessly cool freshman at the school, Chase connects quickly with Kit as they are in all of the same classes. But he has many secrets to hide, even as the chemistry between them grows. (Mar 5)

Zayne Emory (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as Lucas. A popular sophomore at the university, Lucas is an old family friend of Kit’s, as they grew up in similar elite circles. He’s sweeter than his frat bro façade, and has been holding a torch for Kit for years, hoping the timing is now right. (Mar 5)

Series Creator: Merigan Mulhern, Warren Hsu Leonard

Pilot Director: Larry Teng

Producers: Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Lis Rowinski

Studios: CBS Television Studios, Fake Empire

Genre: Political and Family

Primetimer Pilot Preview: “recommend”