#correspondents at war

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics:

1. Fred J. Jackson was an American author, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, director & producer for the pulps & stage & screen.

2 thru 6. Fred was a highly prolific author of short stories, serialized novels & movie scripts.

He used the great pen name of Victor Thorne.

Though he usually wrote for the pulp mags, many of his tales were adapted into film - but, by others...

Among his works are:

A. The musical "La La Lucille."

B. The novels "Hidden Princess" & "Anne Against the World."

C. The plays "Iron Woman", "Naughty Wife", "Stop Flirting" & "The Bishop Misbehaves!"

D. The screenplays "Man Hunt", "Wells Fargo", "Miracle on Main Street", "Dark Swan", "Stormy Weather" & "The Fatal Ring."

E. The short stories "High Speed", "Jack of Diamonds" & "The Morocco Box."

7 & 8. "La La Lucille" was one of Fred's best works. Here we have 1 page of the piano score for it & a look at it's stage production as well.

1913: Missives of War!

Bio - This year started out like the last few. With Lovecraft sleeping the days away. Waiting for night's release.

But, his life was about to change...

As a devoted reader, Howard had strong opinions about what he liked. And he wasn't shy about sharing his thoughts.

HPL was a regular commentator, of the early pulps, for 2 years now.

He probably didn't know that his most recent, long & venomous missive was about to stir up a letter 'war.'

One whose 'battles' would last for almost a year!

Lovecraft had become incensed of the amount of space that Argosy¹ had given over to Fred Jackson's "trivial, effeminate &... coarse" romances.

Howard followed this up with his criticism that Fred's characters had the "delicate passions & emotions proper (only) to negroes & anthropoid apes²!"

This led to, as (the writer) "Arthur³" best describes as, "a snail mail flame war" between 'allies' of both men!

For HPL, this meant an attack on himself - as the "Poet of Providence" & the old style language that he used.

Focusing on how Howard must be "in love with his dictionary!!"

Lovecraft responded by complaining about Fred's "erotic fiction⁴" (innocent by today's standards)!

And, how Howard preferred tales "where acts of valor are more dwelled upon, than (the) affairs of Venus⁵."

Numerous of Fred's defenders kept the venom flowing. One going so far as to threaten "to loosen up my .44-6 on that man Lovecraft!!"

HPL then escalated the 'fight', venting his contempt - in verse⁶!

One John Russell became Howard's personal 'enemy' - by responding in kind!!

The whole thing was a sort of an early "rap battle" with "wicked burns" being spit out by both sides!

In the end, both men came to regard each other as intellectual equals, veterans of a rarified battleground...

This poetic "smackdown" would see both men suddenly become 'noticed.'

Notes:

1. Argosy was the 1st American pulp fiction magazine. It specialized in short story, male oriented tales.

2. As usual, HPL likes to use race & bad pseudo-science to empower the impact of his curses.

3. I don't know who writes under this name, so don't ask. She/He/It does have some great turns of phrase.

4. A common trope of this 'romance' material is rape 'enjoyable' enough for the 'heroine' to fall in 'love' with the 'hero' - without her ever consenting to have 'sex'!!!

This is something that still crops up in rape fantasies, porn movies, etc...

5. Venus was the Roman Goddess of Love & Sexual Passion. She's the Latin version of the earlier Greek Aphrodite.

6. Mostly heroic couplets in the style of Pope & Dryden.

Lovecraft's poetic missives include the "Ad Criticos" cycle & " The End of the Jackson War."

Quotes:

1. In 1913 (during the 'war'), Howard stated - in some surprise, "(My little letter) created an immense sensation (of hatred) among... Argosy's readers."

2. In 1916, HPL crowed that, "The editor... had anti-Lovecraft letters - on the following month!"

"Then, I (wrote) another satire, flaying my tormentors in stinging iambic pentameter⁷."

"This too was printed - til the storm of fury waxed high."

(The dispute was, for the most part, quite good natured.)

Note:

7. Iambic pentameter describes a poetic satire written in 10 syllable sentences & composed of 5 parts.

[mysharona1987]

[nando161mando]

"The killing, um the death, of a Palestinian man..."

A BBC correspondent goes to great lengths to avoid reporting that Israel killed 78 y/o US citizen Omar As'ad.

[ciderbird]

every time I try to make some sense of the franco-russian alliance of 1807-1812 I’m losing my mind because it goes like

historian 1: from the very beginning tsar Alexander decided to use his charm to fool Napoleon and merely pretended to be his ally to win some time, much needed to prepare a new Coalition. We can see his distrust clearly from his correspondence.

historian 2: from the very beginning Napoleon decided to use his charm to fool Alexander and manipulated his ambitions to win some time, much needed to secure a peace with England. We can see the tsar’s excitement clearly from his correspondence.

historian 3: Napoleon and Alexander never actually trusted one another and the whole alliance was a ruse based on mutual flattery and empty promises so that the two great powers could prepare for a new war. We can see this animosity clearly from their correspondence.

historian 4: Napoleon and Alexander were mutually charmed and developed a deep intimate friendship that was sullied by obligation and political intrigue. We can see their sincere attachment clearly from their corres-

[alicentflorent]

People are shading Rhaenyra over being angry about constantly being harassed about bringing daemon back but let’s not forget that he groomed her, emotionally manipulated her and since the usurping had started to become physically abusive to her. Daemon is important to their war efforts because he has caraxes and is the only one willing to willing to get his hands dirty by directly committing war crimes but Rhaenyra is still struggling with questioning every aspect of the relationship she thought that they had and if he can still be trusted to be loyal if she chooses to end the relationship

[quatregats]

Well, you sure did write some studies in psychology alright

[galaxymacbeth]

John can’t really help himself.

It’s well written and she took the time to highlight the area they were in. He didn’t know Urzikstan was known for its cuisine before being taken over. Maybe next time they were there, he could convince Farah—

“Cap.”

He looked up. His boys stood in the doorway of his office, each wearing an expression of curiosity and smugness on Simon’s part.

“Boys,” John said, turning his chair to face them and not the article, “need me?”

“It’s almost dinner, Cap,” Kyle said. Sweet Kyle who always made sure the team ate together, “hadn’t seen you all day.”

“Just busy,” John pushed himself to stand and rounded his desk, “let’s eat.”

Each of them eyed him as he moved past them and down the hall. Simon chuckled, nudging the sergeants to follow, and closed the door behind him. He knew what John had been reading. Again. For the third time since Monday. It was Tuesday.

The mess was barren, given that dinner didn’t actually start for another ten minutes, but the cooks were always kind enough to let them eat before anyone else.

“What’re ye up tae,” Soap asked when they sat down.

“Paperwork,” John said. Simon smirked again but didn’t say anything.

“Heard from Alex,” Kyle interrupted, “said they were...strategizing.”

“Back to Farah, then?” Soap grumbled but John’s body began to vibrate.

He should know better.

But he can’t fucking help himself.

To no one’s surprise, Laswell had them on a plane two weeks later. Ghost grinned through the briefing and the gear up. He grinned through the “John, a minute?” as he corralled the sergeants to the gym for a last minute sparring session he was sure the captain would join them for.

John, however, was not grinning.

“I’m a grown fucking adult, Kate,” he growled at the laptop. Kate stared at him.

“You’re a man. And she’s pretty, I’ll give her that. Stay. Away.”

“Last I checked,” John stood to his full height even if she couldn’t stand in front of him to be intimidated, “I head this task force and I don’t take orders from you.”

“We head this task force together, John. And if I tell you to stay far away from a news reporter, then you will.” Kate crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him again.

“I have no interest in talking to her again.” Kate rolled her eyes.

“I’m sure. Keep it that way, then. Farah needs your full attention.”

John slammed the laptop shut before he could say something stupid and wrestled it into his arms. As he left the room, his phone vibrated.

S In the gym sparring

Yeah. John could use some sparring.

Once in Urzikstan, they were whisked into a tent with Farah and Alex. John was unconsciously grateful for the distraction. They stood there for hours, discussing the best way to get intel and what to do with it. It was Soap nodding off that finally ended Farah’s fiery ranting.

“Go, go sleep,” she said with a hand on Soap’s shoulder. He barely nodded at her as Ghost led him away by the vest to their tent. Kyle rubbed at his face, grimacing at his gloves for a moment, before turning to the captain.

“Sleep, sir?”

“Just a bit longer here,” John shook his head, “be there in a little.”

Kyle nodded, slapping a hand against his back as he shuffled out after Ghost and Soap. Alex mumbled something to Farah and, with a kiss to her head, he followed after them.

“She is not here,” Farah said as John flicked through the papers strewn over the table.

“Who?”

She chuckled and nodded, “your trouble maker. She left last night for Iran.”

John sighed, but didn’t reply. Was the tightness in his chest because he was glad not to have to run into her? It had to be. It needed to be.

“I am making dinner tonight,” Farah continued, “she was right about our food.”

“Good, I’ve been wanting to try it,” John mused, “read somewhere it was good.”

Farah laughed this time and pat his shoulder in dismissal.

The mission was a relative success. Intel was obtained and Ghost handled the informant it came from. All in all, it was a pleasant experience.

Too pleasant.

The showers that the ULF had left much to be desired, but John wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He took the most lukewarm shower of his life and pulled on a fresh pair of military issued cargo pants and green shirt. His socks were not fresh, however, and he tried not to think about it when he put them back on and shoved his feet into boots.

The debrief with Farah and Kate would be quick and then he could relax. For the however many hours before Nik would pick them up to shuttle them off to their next mission.

John stepped into the shipping container turned command center to hear Farah and Kate arguing.

“I told you to keep her away from them.”

“I am not her keeper, I have an army to command,” Farah slammed a hand on the table, “revoke her passport if she’s that important.”

“Who told her they would be there?”

John cocked his head and leaned against the wall to listen.

“Are you accusing me of something?”

“It’s incredibly convenient, Farah, you must admit.”

John cleaned his throat and Farah lifted her head to look back at him. Kate’s face soured even further on the screen but she sat up.

“Let’s start.”

“Don’t stop on my account,” John shrugged.

“We got the intel, have you received it?” Farah cracked her neck and waved a hand at the laptop.

John held back a scoff at the two and let the debrief continue. Farah’s shoulders never relaxed and Kate kept eyeing John when she thought he wasn’t looking. Neither of the women mentioned the terse words shared before his arrival and the meeting ended with a short “behave” directed at no one in particular.

John finally scoffed once the laptop was shut and Farah let out a strangled cry.

“Well, that was fun,” a chuckle came from the far end of the container and John’s face paled at it.

“I am glad you think so,” Farah hissed.

“Oh, c’mon, Farah, the woman can be terrifying, but trying to keep me from doing my job?” She smoothed a hand over the PRESS patch on the front her tac vest. “Kate Laswell has another thing coming.”

“You’re supposed to be in Iran,” John finally chokes out. The tightness in his chest loosens and he almost wants to scream at his heart for racing behind his ribs.

“Certain sources alerted me of a...possible story in Urzikstan,” she shrugged, “something about a Russian PMC.”

John growled deep in his chest and turned to Farah. She looked less than happy to see the American too, but her shoulders relaxed and she stood up.

Did no one else understand how dangerous it was for her to be here? National security aside, John had seen how ‘well’ she handled hostage situations and she couldn’t shoot to save her life (literally).

“You told her?”

“Farah isn’t my source, John.”

“Then who is?”

She smirked at him but there was a solid knock on the side of the container before Alex and Ghost stepped in. Their intel was ready to be acted on.

“Just a few words on what’s happening,” she had her tiny notebook and pen in hand and the gratuitous smirk on her face had morphed into a curious frown.

“A recon mission,” Ghost said, “for intel.”

She scribbled each word down and looked back up, waiting for more. Her lashes blinked and John was forced to steel his resolve. Soap’s puppy dog eyes were hard enough to ignore; hers were god damn impossible. He turned his head away from her and saw the glee in Ghost’s eyes. Farah let out a sigh and gave her a carefully crafted quote about collecting evidence of sabotaging of civilian water supply.

With a snap of her notebook, the journalist smiled again. “I’ll be getting out of your hair, now.”

But certainly not out of his mind.

She pranced from the container and Alex tipped his head out to make sure she was gone before he and Ghost laid into their next mission.

dividers by @/cafekitsune

oh, would you look at that. it consumed me.

[bluebellowl]

I always imagined he'd be a war correspondent, not sure for what country though. He’d be perfect for the job. There's no risk of dying and STAYING dead; there are many stories around him. Soldiers are losing it when they saw him get taken out by artillery, and the next day he’s back on his feet with one gold coin less (gotta pay the boatman).

His prosthetics would be more makeshift than usual since they’re so likely to break. This also goes for his eye, which is why sometimes when he’s looking to the side, it looks a bit odd. Apparently there was a shortage of prosthetic eyes in WW2 because soldiers would lose an eye a lot through flying projectiles of all kinds.

I nicknamed him “The Skunk” because of his hair. He’d wear it short in those years to maintain it better, making the pigment-less stripe along his scar very visible. Soldiers like to give nicknames.

[i-am-aprl]

TODAY: A Palestine solidarity demonstration gathered outside the entrance of the White House Correspondents Dinner, confronting celebs and high-profile guests as they arrive.

[diazheartsbuckley]

📸📸📸📸📸

Hi darling 💗

📸📸📸📸

It doesn’t exactly come as a surprise to Buck because his gaydar had been going off since the moment that they first met. Or well, it became clearer the moment that Eddie grabbed ahold of his shirt and held him up against a wall in anger. Yet there’s something about the way that Eddie says it so nonchalantly that makes everything inside of Buck tingle with an urge to just lean in and kiss him.

But he keeps his cool and twiddles his thumbs, barely glancing at Eddie.

“Oh, I-… I didn’t realize” Buck says, gently biting his lip.

“Yeah you did, Buck. I also don’t really try to hide it. Everyone knows around here. Or well, most people. The army has a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ mentality, so that’s usually what happens. People don’t ask and I don’t tell. But I don’t mind people knowing. Although I’ve had to deal with my fair share of bigots during the years”

Buck chuckles a bit dryly and finally gets the courage to look at Eddie, before he says, “tell me about it. It’s not easy being into men in an environment where you’re told to push everything down and aside until it eats you up”

Make me write ✍🏻

[workersolidarity]

🇺🇸🇵🇸 🚨

PROTESTERS DISPLAY MEMORIAL TO THE DEAD IN GAZA FOR BIDEN WHITE HOUSE

📹 Scenes from demonstrations in Washington DC, in the United States, where protesters displayed a memorial on a building to the over 140 journalists killed in the Israeli occupation's genocidal bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The memorial was displayed for the Biden administration and American journalists to see during last night's White House Correspondants' Dinner.

#source

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[carbone14]

'Lee Miller in Hitler’s bathtub, Hitler’s apartment' - Munich - 30 avril 1945

Photographie de Lee Miller et David E Scherman

[historyforfuture]

When the criminal finds no punishment , he increases his crimes

The criminal netanyahoo and his gang with the criminal zionist forces spe. air forces which have no men bec. They kill and assassin but not fight .

[ciderbird]

this is how I sound to my irl friends btw

[roscoe-conkling]

After the success of his 1895 Civil War novela 'The Red Badge of Courage', novelist and poet Stephen Crane now had the means and recognition to pursue his dream job: war correspondent.