#guinness store house

[vvintagesoull]

A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle

[newyorkspanker]

Briefly Punished For Reckless Behavior

Guinevere and Tiler left the front door of the house open and unattended to while I was out at the store, so I punished them. I punished them a lot that day as you could see on Guin's bottom, so I gave them just a few swats, then sent them to the corner.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Accessory Day

National Accessory Day, celebrated on November 3, is the perfect day to honor our love for accessories. Some attires are incomplete without the touch of accessories, while other attires are worn to highlight the statement piece — Bella Hadid’s golden lung necklace at the Met Gala comes to mind. Any adornment worn with clothes, including shoes, bags, belts, bracelets, watches, rings, necklaces, and earrings, falls into the category of accessories (the first two often find themselves in their own separate category). Now that we are clear about the sphere of fashion we are celebrating, let’s learn more about its history.

History of National Accessory Day

Accessories add the essential details and refine the finer points of a look. In the fashion world, accessories are known to be the “vitamin to fashion” and “exclamation point of an outfit.” But how did it come into existence?

Some accessories naturally evolved to fulfill necessities, while others were introduced to represent social status and wealth. Early accessories — when humans were dancing around a fire dressed in leaves and animal skin — were made of bones, seeds, feathers, shells, and stones. Crowns, amulets, or badges often depicted the status of the individual in the tribe or town.

Necessity carved the other sets of accessories, such as bags and footwear. Glasses, shades, and watches (often replaced with Fitbit these days) were introduced to the list with newer inventions.

In the last few centuries, it has been observed that wars and economic depressions have impacted fashion more than any major brand or designer. For instance, in the Victorian era, gloves, fans, and extravagant hats were integral to women’s wear, while after the Great Depression, the style became subtle and minimalist with long socks and simple hats.

Accessories are capable of changing the mood of a get-up. Social media is filled with tutorials to style the same dress for different occasions by just changing the accompanying accessories — just changing how a scarf is worn or adding a belt can change the whole vibe of the look.

National Accessory Day timeline

150,000 Years Ago The Most Vintage Necklace

Archeologists find a 150,000-year-old necklace made of perforated beads and seashells at an excavation site in Morocco.

20th CenturyThe Term “Fashion Accessory” Originates

The term ‘‘fashion accessory’ comes into use, attributed to the adornments worn to compliment the main attire.

1837 Hermès is Established

Hermès, the oldest French luxury house that continues to be operational today, is founded.

1995 The Advent of Internet

With the advances in the internet and online transactions, clothes and accessories are sold online, with eBay being one of the first online stores in 1995.

National Accessory Day FAQs

What do accessories do to an outfit?

If you’re tired of your wardrobe, you can switch it up by not emptying your pockets. Some classic additions can breathe new life into your wardrobe.

Which designer bag is the most expensive?

The Guinness World Book of Records notes the most expensive bag to be the 1001 Nights Diamond Purse from the House of Mouawad. It took 8,800 person-hours and 10 artisans to make.

What is the most popular item of jewelry?

Earrings are considered the most popular jewelry among women.

National Accessory Day Activities

Spice it up

Make your own accessories

Spread the love on social media

Rather than picking an attire and styling it with accessories, spice it up a little today and pick some accessories and choose an outfit to match it. You can look up styling tutorials online and experiment with different looks.

Do you remember buying colorful beads and weaving them into a necklace? Well, you can do the same or find something more exquisite to make jewelry with, such as feathers, pearls, silver beads, or flowers.

Tell fellow aficionados about National Accessory Day. Share your love on social media by sharing a picture of yourself in your favorite accessory.

5 Interesting Facts About Accessories

16 love charms

30% of e-commerce

Accessories as a symbol of strength

Symbolism of status

The founder of National Accessory Day

In Hindu culture, married women wear 16 adornments called ‘solah shringarm,’ as a symbol of prosperity.

In the U.S., the apparel and accessories industries account for 30% of the e-commerce business.

Villages in the older period thrived on the prowess of hunters; hence, they wore the teeth and bones of the fearsome animals that they had killed.

Accessories such as amulets, rings, and necklaces often symbolized the social status of individuals in ancient societies.

National Accessory Day was founded by Luxury Next Season in 2019.

Why We Love National Accessory Day

It gives a whole new vibe

This day celebrates fashion

It celebrates art and luxury

Accessories give a new vibe to ordinary outfits and totally transform the look. The hoop earrings are for the days when one doesn’t want to put in an effort. The bold ring with a suit gives the vibe of a classy bad boy.

National Accessory Day gives us an occasion to celebrate the indomitable element of fashion. Fashion is a form of expression worthy of celebration, and this is the perfect day to show our appreciation.

Diamond-studded bags and gold watches are some of the most expensive accessories in the world. Owing to their rich history, vintage accessories are also very expensive owing to their rich history. As accessories are symbols of many things, this day celebrates art, luxury, and history.

Source

[film-classics]

Greta Garbo - The Face of the Century

Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson in Stockholm, Sweden on 18 September 1905) was a Swedish-born actress who built her global appeal on a carefully maintained mystique during her short career. Called "The Face of the Century," she is regarded as one of the Hollywood's greatest beauties.

Garbo was born into a poor family and dropped out of school at 13 to take care of her father. His death deeply affected her and promised to make a life for herself that was void of financial hardship.

Following her father's death, Garbo worked as a salesperson at PUB department store.  After modeling for the store's catalogues, she earned a more lucrative job as a fashion model, which led to a role in her first film in 1922.

She then earned a scholarship at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy, where she met Finnish director Mauritz Stiller, who became her mentor.  Louis B. Mayer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer wanted Stiller in Hollywood. The director agreed to a contract with one condition: Garbo. Reluctantly, Mayer inked her a deal, too.

She made her first MGM film in 1926, and by 1928, had become MGM's highest box-office star with A Woman of Affairs. She followed it up with several more hits, including Camille (1936). Her career slowed down in the 1940s and retired at 35.

After retiring, Garbo declined all opportunities to appear onscreen, shunned publicity, and led a private life. She died, aged 84, in a New York, as a result of pneumonia and renal failure.

Legacy:

Nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in Romance (1930), Camille (1936), and Two-Faced Woman (1941)

Presented an Academy Honorary Award in 1955

Received the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress twice: Anna Karenina (1935) and Camille (1936)

Won the National Board of Review Best Acting Award three times: Camille (1936), Ninotchka (1939), and Two-Faced Woman (1941)

Was the highest-paid star at MGM for most of her career

Won the Photoplay Awards - Best Performances of the Month for a record eight times: May and December 1926, February and November 1927, March and September 1928, and January and March 1929

Won Best Actress for Anna Christie (1930) and Queen Christina (1933) from Picturegoer Awards

Listed by the Motion Picture Herald as one of America’s top-10 box office draws from 1930 to 1932

Was one of the subjects of French composer Charles Koechlin's "Seven Stars Symphony" (1933)

Granted the Swedish royal medal Litteris et Artibus in 1937

Is one of the celebrities whose picture Anne Frank placed on the wall of her bedroom in the “Secret Annex” in 1942

Voted "Best Actress of the Half Century" in a 1950 Daily Variety opinion poll

Named “the most beautiful woman that ever lived” in 1954 by Guinness World Records

Given the George Eastman Award by George Eastman House in 1957

Has appeared on many postage stamps from, among others, Swedish Posten in 1980 and 2005, Correos de Cuba in 1995, Deutsche Post in 2001, US Postal Service in 2005, Poșta Română issue in 2005, and Australia Post in 2008,

Made a Commander of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star by order of King Carl XVI Gustaf in 1983

Depicted in the film Garbo Talks (1984)

Awarded the Illis Quorum by the government of Sweden in 1985

Had a star was named after her in 1985

Has appeared on commemorative coins from Germany in 1994, France in 1995, and Sweden in 2005

Listed 25th in Entertainment Weekly’s 100 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in 1998

Ranked #38 in Empire's Top 100 Movie Stars in 1997

Has had a museum, the Garbosällskapet, dedicated to her in Högsby since 1998

Named the 5th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema in 1999 by the American Film Institute

Inducted in the Online Film and Television Association Hall of Fame in 2002

Ranked #8 in Premiere magazine’s 50 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in 2005 and #25 in 100 Greatest Performances of All Time in 2006 for Ninotchka (1939)

Honored by Stockholm City Council in 1992 with a square, Greta Garbos Torg, and a bust of her likeness in 2009

Honored by Norwegian Air Shuttle as its "Tail-fin Hero" on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2016

Featured on 100-krona banknote by Sveriges Riksbank since 2018

Featured in an exhibit at the Postmuseum in 2005, the Belmacz in 2013, the Fotografiska in 2016, the Staley-Wise Gallery in 2016, and Galerie56 in 2023

Honored as Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month for April 2019

Honored with a statue of her, "Statue of Integrity," in 2016, located in the forest in Härjedalen

Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard for motion picture

[sweetdreamsjeff]

LIVE AT SIN-E - LEGACY EDITION

2 CD + DVD release celebration planned

Live Music + Documentary Film Preview + Special Guests + Giveaways at SIN-E

On Tuesday, September 2, 2003 (CD release day)

The Estate of Jeff Buckley and Shane Doyle, owner of Sin-e, present an evening of rising musical talents, documentary film preview, and giveaways to celebrate the end of a 10-year wait for the commercial release of Jeff Buckley Live at Sin-e -- legacy Edition, deluxe 2-CD package of 157 minutes of music plus an 11-minute DVD. The evet will take place at the recently re-opened sin-e, 150 Attorney Street, New York City, on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 (doors at 7:30 PM), the same day that the 2CD + DVD arrives in stores across the United States. Tickets for the event will be $10.00 each and admission is for those 21 years & over.

The following festivities are planned:

First local airing of songs from the Live at Sin-e (Legacy Edition) and a screening of an 11-minute DVD featuring 3 live performances shot at Sin-e, and additional interview footage of Jeff recalling his early gigs.

World Premiere Preview of Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley, a passionately crafted documentary five years in the making, ready for domestic and international film festivals in 2004. Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley takes viewers on an expansive, yet incredibly intimate trip through the world of Jeff Buckley.

A variety of musical guests who played with or were influenced by Jeff Buckley over the years including Sandy Bell, the group Maggi, Pierce & EJ, Brendan O'Shea, Sage, Jeffrey Hyde Thompson, Emily Wells and other unannounced special guests.

Cool, limited promo items offered to attendees from the Estate of Jeff Buckley and Sony Music Entertainment.

Originally issued as a 4-song EP, Jeff Buckley - Live at Sin-e was the first official Columbia release by Jeff and was originally issued in the final days of December 1993, within weeks of his "showcase" performances to fifty people or so at the hole-in-the-wall coffee-house on the Lower East Side. Until the release of his debut full length album Grace the following August, the EP was the only memento of those incredible nights (July 19 & August 17, 1993), solo tours de forces by the 27-year-old Buckley armed only with his Telecaster and a Guinness. The appearance of this 157-minute 2-CD package is cause for rejoicing among Jeff's fans. Among the 34 tracks are a dozen between-song monologues by Jeff -- ranging from poignant to surreal to downright hilarious -- and 22 songs that range from covers of Billie Holiday, Led Zeppelin and Nina Simone, to Nussrat Fateh Ali Khan, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles, plus a dozen original works from Jeff.

[paperbag1999]

books i’ve read in 2023

• The Dispossessed - Ursula K Le Guin

• Little Fires Everywhere - Celeste Ng

• Once and For All - Sarah Dessen

• Heart Berries - Terese Marie Mailhot

• Convenience Store Woman - Sayaka Murata

• Empire of Pain - Patrick Radden

• First Person Singular - Haruki Murakami

• Carrie - Stephen King

• The Dark Forest - Liu Cixin

• Akira - Katsuhiro Otomo

• Pure Colour - Sheila Heti

• A Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes - Rodrigo Garcia

• Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner

• The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo

• Yellowface - RF Kuang

• The Year of Less - Cait Flanders

Monkey Beach - Edin Robinson

I'm Glad My Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy

Ugly Love - Colleen Hoover (this was a hate read!)

How to Keep House While Drowning - KC Davis

The Fault in our Stars - John Green

Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer

Currently Reading

Turtle All The Way Down - John Green

The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K Le Guin

[ratnas]

Los Angeles Complete Travel Guide

LOS ANGELES FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDE

The second largest city of the US, Los Angeles has its own unmatched magnetism. In my growing up years, I recall Los Angeles as the venue of the Olympics. And then subsequently over the years, this most prominent metropolis in California, as the glamorous hub of Hollywood. Beverly hills where stars own palatial houses. And of course Disneyland ! If you’re a Disney fan, and are traveling with your family surely you couldn’t possibly return without a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim. 

Best Los Angeles Getaway With Family

As LA is huge, with Anaheim being a city in itself, plan your itinerary in such a way that you first visit the parks. There are two Disney parks  near Los Angeles in Anaheim, 26 miles away. It is highly recommended, to first spend 2-3 days here. Stay in one of the hotels just walking distance from the parks and then move to main  LA for the remaining part of your trip. 

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES 

Staying in a centrally located hotel in West Beverly Hills, Hollywood, at the doorstep of the Walk of Fame boulevard has its advantages. Just as you step out, you’ll find yourself on the legendary Walk of Fame boulevard, having the longest list of stars, celebrities and performers. 

It’s a pleasure to stroll here. The views of the tree lined street, the blue skies above and brightly colored buildings is picture perfect in the day and transforms into a wonderland in the night when the fluorescent lights are lit. 

It was Halloween during that time, and if you too happen to visitng in this month, then look forward to being fully entertained by all sorts of the weirdest and scariest dressed passerby’s. 

 There are a plethora of museums on the boulevard that can be visited depending upon your interest and time. These include  the Guinness World record museum, World of Illusions and the Hollywood Wax museum to name a few, that are great for families. Also plenty of cultural activities happen – live theatre, art galleries, film complexes and music concerts. 

BEVERLY HILLS 

Beverly Hills has been the setting of innumerable films, and  to be actually present there was like a dream come true. And above all, the most magical moment was to watch the shooting of a movie starring Brad Pitt on the streets of West Hollywood. This sort of completed our trip and was the ultimate experience. 

If you’re a tourist visiting Los Angeles for the first time, it’s worthwhile to take a chartered tour to the famous Beverly Hills. There are multiple types of private trips with a live commentary at hand including half day, full day or few hours. The three hour tour included Beverly Hills, residence of celebrities and film stars, and finishes off at Rodeo drive . This is actually quite sufficient, as you can do it at your own pace rather than a hurried, longer trip,  in which a lot is squeezed in.  

One advice here,  before the tour begins make sure to eat something and be refreshed as there are no stoppages in between, specially if you have younger children accompanying you. 

https://travelsimplygo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LA8.jpg

The tour halts at vantage points from where the iconic Hollywood sign is visible on the hill-side. Sunset Point and Bronson Avenue give a clear view, and are ideal spots for photos. 

You’ve seen them in movies, now see where your favorite stars live, hang around for a while, listening to interesting stories narrated by your guide, gazing at their posh, sprawling homes/ mansions !! 

Afterward, the tour continues onto the upmarket Rodeo drive, with its high class stores of luxury brands. Here again there are no halts and is the final destination, where you are dropped off. 

Griffith Observatory – There is more to the Griffith Observatory than the exteriors and stunning views of the city from its elevated position. A planetarium inside and a number of ticketed shows too draw tourists. 

 FAMOUS BEACHES 

Santa Monica beach – the pier at Santa Monica is worth visiting. It’s a picturesque point on the Pacific Ocean, having  loads of activities, a children’s park, or street performers vying for attention and tips. 

The other prominent beach of LA is Venice, spectator sports like basketball, baseball, football, soccer etc are played in abundance  on these beaches. 

The `city of angels’, looks spectacular after dark when it’s lit up and truly comes alive. The best way to enjoy that is to drive through the streets around the Hollywood area, where traffic congestions are less. Admire the high-rises or the  wonderful houses in the residential neighborhood!  

If you wish to have more adventure and unlimited fun, then there is Universal Studios, Hollywood. Apart from the plethora of thrilling rides and sci-fi shows,  of particular interest here are the movie shooting sites, and complete tours of how special effects are created in films.  

Though Los Angeles is fringed by the Pacific Ocean, and has nice beaches, the weather is not typical beach type. It can be classified as a Mediterranean climate – characterized by  dry summers and wet winters. My own experience of the weather in October – sunny and warm during the day and evenings becoming mildly cold as temperatures go down. Going by the diverse activities offered here, travelers can pack accordingly.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Photo of Guinness as a young boy/ #FolliesOfGod

* * * * *

"You'll miss the mundane walk from the post office to the store to the house--the dog greeting you; the neighbors waving; the breeze on your face. You'll miss the slow woman who disrupted your pace. You won't know this until the walk is difficult or impossible. There is something to loving the mundane--Thornton Wilder, I believe, dealt with this, to great and roaring cynicism. Be awake and alive and present, because this is your own great and gilded age, and it's going to slip away with brutal swiftness. People pay small fortunes to see a whale for three seconds or an eagle fly ahead, but they race through their one and only life. I'm fairly positive that I'll regret my stupidity the most in my final moment of awareness."

--Alec Guinness/Interview with James Grissom/

[Follies Of God]

[hundredsofsmallbirds]

"sometimes id have a beer after work at the calzone place" is downplaying it. there was almost always a case of pbr in the walk-in, and if there wasnt and you really wanted one then one of the owners had some guinness in a mini-fridge in the office that he'd probably share if you asked. sometimes if someone had to run to the store to pick up something we ran out of, the owners would also say "and grab whatever beer you want, just make sure there's enough to share". they didn't give a fuck how much you had or how old you were as long as you weren't driving schwasted

it was like working at a frat house. one night i convinced three separate drunk men to tip me $40 each. i miss it

[alphaman99]

Follies Of God

"You'll miss the mundane walk from the post office to the store to the house--the dog greeting you; the neighbors waving; the breeze on your face. You'll miss the slow woman who disrupted your pace. You won't know this until the walk is difficult or impossible. There is something to loving the mundane--Thornton Wilder, I believe, dealt with this, to great and roaring cynicism. Be awake and alive and present, because this is your own great and gilded age, and it's going to slip away with brutal swiftness. People pay small fortunes to see a whale for three seconds or an eagle fly ahead, but they race through their one and only life. I'm fairly positive that I'll regret my stupidity the most in my final moment of awareness." --Alec Guinness/Interview with James Grissom/Photo of Guinness as a young boy/

[bookdepositori]

Reading List:

Just to help me keep track of things, I decided I should make a solid reading list for future reference. I made this account to motivate myself to read more fiction, so that's all that's listed here. I'll still make posts about non-fiction and graphic novels, but this reading list is just for fiction. I'll try to keep this pinned and update it as needed.

Physically Owned: - Arrow of God (Achebe) - Wuthering Heights (Brontë) - The Summer Book (Jansson) - One Hundred Years of Solitude (Márquez) - Love in the Time of Cholera (Márquez) - Pedro Páramo (Rulfo) - Lurkers (Tan) - A Canticle for Leibowitz (Miller) - How the García Girls Lost Their Accents (Alvarez) - The Glass Hotel (Mandel) - The House of Spirits (Allende) - Dear Life (Munro) - The Wind That Lays Waste (Almada) - The Sons (Kafka) - Time of Silence (Martín-Santos) - Wilderness Tips (Atwood) - The Trail We Leave (Palma) - Half in Love (Meloy) - In the Eyes of Mr Fury (Ridley) - Pachinko (Lee) - Men Without Women (Murakami)

Not Owned: - My Year of Rest and Relaxation (Moshfegh) - Wizard of Earthsea (Le Guin) - Nevada (Binnie) - No Longer Human (Dazai) - Kindred (Butler) - Hole (Oyamada) - Detransition Baby (Peters) - Summer Fun (Thornton) - Lote (von Reinhold) - House of Leaves (Danielewski) - Station Eleven (Mandel) - Piranesi (Clarke) - Pather Panchali (Bandyopadhyay) - The Last Picture Show (McMurtry) - Roadside Picnic (Strugatsky) - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed (Enriquez) - The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas (Assis) - The Bluest Eye (Morrison) - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (Cho) - Untold Night and Day (Bae) - Theatre of War (Jeftanovic) - Convenience Store Woman (Murata) - Elena Knows (Piñeiro) - The Iliac Crest (Garza) - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (Vuong) - Hangsaman (Jackson) - The Fall (Camus)

[readjthompson]

Well, since my novelette Cancel Toby Chalmers! (copyright me, now) has been sitting around, completed, for nearly 16 months, I’ve decided to share it for free, until it’s later released as part of a Toby Chalmers collection.

Here are Chapters 4 and 5.

Chapter 4

Eyeing his laptop as if it were a dog on its deathbed, Toby Chalmers read what he’d just written aloud: “Grandpappy reached deep into Grandmother’s white-maned punani, wherein he’d stored his dentures to keep them warm and fragrant, and retrieved thirty-two porcelain chompers that he popped into his mouth. The pair then beckoned me to sit between them on the couch. ‘Come here, sonny boy. Lemme tell you a story,’ said Grandpappy, ‘about how a simple sheepfucker invented the first condom.’”

Is this supposed to be funny or ghastly? Toby wondered. Have I no shame left within me? He consulted the clock. Well past dinnertime, he thought. I’ve been fleshing out this ridiculous narrative for hours. A tale within a tale within a tale within a tale, how complex. Good thing I had a large breakfast.

He saved what he’d written to a thumb drive and powered off his computer. Well, I’m too tired to have something delivered, but there’s still time to drink, he thought, making his way to the kitchen.

Toby had mostly given up drugs—no more cocaine, seer’s sage, mummy clumps, or opium—though he still enjoyed MDMA and marijuana at concerts. He exercised every morning to combat the effects of middle age. He’d cut caffeine from his life entirely and even given up sweets. Still, he couldn’t go a day without downing some beers.

IPAs were his favorite. Whensoever he went grocery shopping, any untried variety was an instant purchase. When feeling festive, he layered them in mugs beneath Guinness to make black and tans. Currently, his refrigerator housed eleven different options.

His absolute favorite was known as Aetheric IPA. Sadly, the homebrewing geniuses who’d brewed the stuff were now dead—part of a suicidal death cult, allegedly—and once Toby finished off the few he had left, there’d be no more attainable. Its fruity, floral flavor made every meal, even reheated eggs, feel like a royal banquet. When accompanied by no food, it eroded hunger pangs anyway.

“Well, there’s no time like the present,” he muttered, grabbing a cold bottle and uncapping it. He took a swig and wandered into the living room. He’d recently bought a new sectional sofa, replacing one that always smelled like a dog’s bed for some reason, though Toby had never owned a pet. Onto it he plopped, to bring his TV to life.

It was just his luck that a news broadcast awaited him. Current events were dour, as per usual. Four African American cops had killed an unarmed African American motorist, who’d run a stop sign without slowing in a low-income neighborhood. Footage showed them dragging the man from his Hummer H2 and stomping his dreadlocked head, again and again, as he begged them for mercy, for the sake of his children, then for the sake of his parents, spitting teeth shards with each uttered syllable. Bystanders filmed the assault with their iPhones, chanting, “Police brutality!” and, “Stop, you’re killin’ him!” All kept their distance, lest the bloodlust of those badge-toting sadists next target them.

“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Toby muttered. Though he’d been obsessed with horror fiction for as long as he could remember, real life horror always turned his stomach. Occasionally, it found him, and he had to endure it. Other times, it found others, and he could escape it by changing the channel.

On this night, however, a simple channel change couldn’t erase the sight of the brutalized man’s visage from Toby’s mind. Though he drank beer after beer and binged Rick and Morty episodes back-to-back, the man’s fading speech, growing increasingly dreamlike as his death’s certainty burgeoned, echoed through Toby’s noggin, hauntingly. The soil beneath Toby’s home, glutted with the blood of innocents since times immemorial, seemed to pulse, as if the continent was awakening and would soon shake civilization from its back.

To make his night even more depressing, he pulled his cellphone from his pocket and scrolled down his social media feed. Naturally, most of the posts that he encountered were reactions to the murder.

“He shouldn’t have resisted arrest!” wrote Zombifkr42.

“Your momma shouldn’t have resisted abortion,” replied ProudLinny.

“White supremacy at its worst!” wrote Uplizft.

“Everyone involved was black, though,” EqualityWhore replied. “If you wiped your ass too hard, you’d blame Caucasians for that, too, wouldn’t you?”

“Well, I am a Caucasian, so I’d be right if I did,” Uplizft countered.

“That explains the 666 birthmark on your head,” was EqualityWhore’s rejoinder.

Scrolling past an ad for a hat he’d already purchased twice, Toby then encountered SloopJamalB’s “Defund the police!!!!!!!!!” post.

“Then who’ll get your crackhead mother to stop licking my dog’s asshole?” replied NahDawgUTrippin.

“It’s a media hoax,” claimed 62BiscuitsYumYum. “Those aren’t even African Americans, just five Jews wearing masks.”

“I seent it! I seent it!” replied DonBibblestick.

“Crackers aren’t allowed to discuss this!” wrote DieWhitiesDieDie. “Let ’em choke on their forked tongues if they attempt to!”

Toby closed his eyes for a few moments, focusing his thoughts. With a series of deep breaths, he cultivated an inner stillness. Reminding himself that each and every post and reply that he’d read belonged to just one person, he chugged the last of his beer and forced himself to grin. “Let a better world start with me,” he said to himself, hoping that it might become his new mantra.

Now soused optimistic, suddenly sure that he could contribute to rational discourse and help better all of humanity, he began to craft a post of his own.

 

Chapter 5

Kneeling at his backyard’s east-facing edge, Lamonte Achebe pruned dead hydrangeas and branches, reveling in the morning quiet. His wife and daughters were late sleepers on weekends; there’d be plenty of time to fix them breakfast—grits and eggs with toast on the side, perhaps even freshly-squeezed orange juice.

One day, Lamonte would retire from his soul-shriveling insurance adjuster job and devote every morning to his flowers. He’d inherited his green thumb from his mother. The good woman’s ghost yet survived in his garden’s floral ambiance, he believed, shaping its heady perfumes and vibrant colors into something truly angelic.

Suddenly, the morning’s sanctity was shattered by heinous sonance: “Pick that cotton, you dumb nigger! Pick it until I say you can stop!”

Lamonte’s eyes narrowed; his hands squeezed into fists. He’d always been a large African American: nearly seven feet tall even in high school, just over three hundred pounds now. Ergo, even the most racist of racists had kept their words civil in his presence. Every time a cop pulled his car over, they took one look at Lamonte and let him off with a warning, unsure whether they were carrying enough ammunition to put him down, should he decide to attack them. Unasked, Caucasians told him of their favorite black sports stars, as if he was some dark totem come to life, and required oblations.

“Well, what are you waitin’ for, nigger?! I don’t have all day!”

Lamonte realized that the hate speech emanated from the backyard next door. Is that Joseph McCarthy Jr. I’m hearing? he wondered. Just a few weeks ago, he spotted me on the way to the mailbox and assured me that Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror is the best horror anthology film ever made. I guess that the leopard’s showing his spots now!

Well aware that, with his size and strength, he could kill a man like Joe easily, Lamonte attempted to modulate his anger and tune out his neighbor’s bigoted outbursts. Then came, “That’s better, you dirty coon! Be good for your master and I’ll spare you the whip!”

“What the hell’s wrong with that man?” Lamonte muttered, carefully setting his pruning shears down and rising to his feet. I’d better put the fear of God into him right quick, show him that I won’t be bullied, he thought.

Lamonte peered over the fence and his mouth opened, aghast, the retort that he’d planned to unleash dissolving, unvoiced. The surreality of the scene before him made his surroundings seem most fragile, as if they might soon shatter to reveal that he’d been in bed dreaming all along.

There was little Shadrach McCarthy, he of the premature facial hair, now shirtless and shoeless, wearing only a pair of hand-me-down Bugle Boy jeans, which had been cut around the ankles to hang raggedly. Behind him loomed Joseph McCarthy Jr., dressed in a white suit, black tie, and well-polished Oxfords, gripping a replica of Catwoman’s Batman Returns whip.

Cotton balls covered Joe’s entire back lawn. One at a time, carefully, quite terrified, eight-year-old Shadrach picked them up and dropped them into the pillowcase he was carrying. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His lower lip was aquiver. What the hell’s going on here? Lamonte wondered.

“Nigger, nigger, nigger!” Joe shouted, cracking the whip so that the tip of it just missed Shadrach’s trembling buttocks. “Smile while you work, boy! You’re makin’ me nauseous!”

Okay, I’ve seen enough of this madness, thought Lamonte. “Hey, Joe!” he shouted. “Just what do you think you’re doin’?!”

“Keep going,” Joe said to his nephew, before sauntering over to the fence. To Lamonte, he said, “Well, hey there, neighbor. Fantastic weather we’re havin’ today, isn’t it?”

“Sure. A great day for an ass whuppin’, if ever I saw one.”

“Excuse me?”

“You think I’m cool with you shoutin’ the N-word? Next door to my house, where my wife and daughters might hear it? And don’t even get me started on this bizarre slavery reenactment.”

“Oh, come on, neighbor. How else is Shadrach gonna learn?”

“Learn what? How to be a sadistic, racist piece of shit?”

“Quite the opposite, in fact.”

“Is that right?”

“Listen, man. Shadrach isn’t like me. He doesn’t empathize with other races. I even caught him laughin’ at an African American he saw on TV. So I thought to myself, if I make him experience a bit of the struggle that blacks have coped with in America, he’ll learn to love his fellow man as I do.”

“Joe, so help me God, if you hurt that boy…”

“Have no fear, neighbor. He knows that I won’t really strike him. Once this is all over, we’ll go out for dinner, and he can eat whatever he wants to. I respect and value your opinion, though. Please understand that. My ears are always wide open for whatever you have to say.”

“I say stop this atrocity.”

“Just as soon as he’s finished.”

Lamonte’s eyes narrowed to slits. He wanted to hurl himself through the fence and crater Joe’s smirking countenance. This piece of shit probably thinks that he knows more about being African American than I do, he thought, just because he read a few leftist articles.

But as far as he knew, as fucked up as it was, Joe’d committed no actual crime. Sure, Lamonte could film the man’s sickening exhibition with his phone and release the footage on social media. Millions would hurl insults at Joe and scream for his cancellation. But then Joe would post his rationale to the applause of like-minded thinkers, and other Caucasian children would be subjected to cotton ball barbarism. Joe wouldn’t lose his job. He’d pat himself on the back for standing up to “anti-woke bullies” and author a child-raising handbook that’d make him rich. It was always dangerous to give the Joes of the world more attention. Lamonte would have to consider his next move quite carefully.

“Enough of this nonsense,” Lamonte grunted, turning his back on his neighbor and heading inside. As he slid his sliding glass door shut behind him, he heard one last bit of hate speech.

“Did I say you could rest, nigger?! I want a good day’s work outta you!”

 

[cinderella-ish]

Fic Recs: Alternate Universe

A Mandatory Attraction, by cithara0211 E | Kyo/Tohru | WIP | also smut High School/Organized Crime AU Government Quarantine is in effect! For 14 days, Tohru only has two things on her mind: her art and her hot new neighbor, Kyo. And Kyo has only one goal: finally making Tohru his

Always Only You, by cithara0211 E | Kyo/Tohru | WIP | also smut Modern AU - COVID Finally back after being gone from nearly three years, Kyo enters his senior year ready to fix the mistakes he made that one summer. And upon seeing Kyo again, Tohru promised herself she would stop running from her feelings. Are they prepared for the crazy new desire eating at them?

an infinite deal of something, by reconquer T | Kakeru/Kyo/Yuki | WIP Body Swap AU Kakeru wakes up in Yuki's body. Yuki wakes up in Kakeru's. Kyo is also there.

Dreams of Paradise, by Sky_Cloudtide T | Tohru/Kyo | WIP | also angst Time Travel AU The Sohma family's lives are forever changed after summer vacation. Unable to live with the guilt, Kyo and Yuki look to the past, to find a way to fix the treasure they have lost.

End of the Banquet, by AveSolace M | Tohru/Kyo | WIP World War III AU All the geopolitical tension in East Asia has come to a head. China has invaded Taiwan, and Japan is immediately drawn into the conflict. The Sohmas' lives are thrown into chaos, even as the Zodiac curse remains unbroken.

ichigo ichie, by me T | Tohru/Kyo, Akito & Haruhi & Tohru | WIP | also romance Ouran High School Host Club crossover & Your Name AU The Zodiac Curse has trapped members of the Sohma family in a cycle of reincarnation. If Tohru Honda doesn't find a way to break it, she'll lose them forever. The students at Ouran Academy have been stuck in a time loop, never advancing grades or graduating. If Haruhi Fujioka doesn't find a way to break it, she'll never become a lawyer. One morning, Tohru and Haruhi wake up in each other's bodies. Will they be able to break the cycles that keep them and their found families trapped?

I Thank My God Every Time I Think of You, by GioGioStar E | Kyo/Yuki | WIP | also angst &smut Modern Gay Scene AU Yuki Sohma was raised as a young Catholic to hate himself for his "sick feelings" while Kyo is the wild child. But when they cross paths, can they help each other in the important lessons both need or will their attempts have the ability to shatter their lives?

The Last One Cursed, by cithara0211 M | Tohru/Kyo | WIP | also romance & smut Music School AU The life of a college musician is a rough one. Add in a partially broken curse and an unexpected attraction to his new roommate, and this new semester back in Japan might be more than Kyo could have ever expected to find for himself.

of cats and curses, by faerialchemist T | Tohru/Kyo, Adora/Catra | Short Story | also fluff She-Ra and the Princesses of Power crossover “I’ve only seen these cats get so excited about someone sitting outside a pet store with one other person in my entire life,” a warm and almost suffocatingly kind voice said, snapping Catra out of her thoughts. “And he had that same disgruntled expression that you do. Poor kitties try to make friends with the very people who don’t want to be made friends with.”

Of Lost Cats and Half-Shadows, by me T | Tohru/Kyo, Megumi/Yuji | WIP | also drama & romance JuJutsu Kaisen crossover Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara enroll at Kaibara High School to investigate the Zodiac curse and free the souls it binds. Kyo is immediately suspicious of the three new students and rejects their attempts at friendship. Will they be able to break this ancient curse before Kyo is locked up forever?

The Ones Who Walk Away From Sohma House, by Geoduck G | Gen - next gen Zodiac & Akito, Kyo, Kazuma, & Tohru | Short Story | also angst The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (Le Guin) AU Most say there must always be a monster. But there are a few who refuse to accept that.

Tohru and Kyo Both Die at the End, by riceballinthebasket T | Tohru/Kyo | WIP | also angst, hurt/comfort, & romance They Both Die at the End (Silvera) AU Tohru and Kyo spend one last day together after getting their Deathcast notifications. Will either of them have the courage to tell the other how they really feel?

Here's a link to all my bookmarks tagged with Alternate Universe!

Note: I did not include canon divergence or alternate pairings; only "genre" AUs.

Fic Recs Masterpost

[rabbitcruiser]

essories naturally evolved to fulfill necessities, while others were introduced to represent social status and wealth. Early accessories — when humans were dancing around a fire dressed in leaves and animal skin — were made of bones, seeds, feathers, shells, and stones. Crowns, amulets, or badges often depicted the status of the individual in the tribe or town.

Necessity carved the other sets of accessories, such as bags and footwear. Glasses, shades, and watches (often replaced with Fitbit these days) were introduced to the list with newer inventions.

In the last few centuries, it has been observed that wars and economic depressions have impacted fashion more than any major brand or designer. For instance, in the Victorian era, gloves, fans, and extravagant hats were integral to women’s wear, while after the Great Depression, the style became subtle and minimalist with long socks and simple hats.

Accessories are capable of changing the mood of a get-up. Social media is filled with tutorials to style the same dress for different occasions by just changing the accompanying accessories — just changing how a scarf is worn or adding a belt can change the whole vibe of the look.

National Accessory Day timeline

150,000 Years Ago The Most Vintage Necklace

Archeologists find a 150,000-year-old necklace made of perforated beads and seashells at an excavation site in Morocco.

20th CenturyThe Term “Fashion Accessory” Originates

The term ‘‘fashion accessory’ comes into use, attributed to the adornments worn to compliment the main attire.

1837 Hermès is Established

Hermès, the oldest French luxury house that continues to be operational today, is founded.

1995 The Advent of Internet

With the advances in the internet and online transactions, clothes and accessories are sold online, with eBay being one of the first online stores in 1995.

National Accessory Day FAQs

What do accessories do to an outfit?

If you’re tired of your wardrobe, you can switch it up by not emptying your pockets. Some classic additions can breathe new life into your wardrobe.

Which designer bag is the most expensive?

The Guinness World Book of Records notes the most expensive bag to be the 1001 Nights Diamond Purse from the House of Mouawad. It took 8,800 person-hours and 10 artisans to make.

What is the most popular item of jewelry?

Earrings are considered the most popular jewelry among women.

National Accessory Day Activities

Spice it up

Make your own accessories

Spread the love on social media

Rather than picking an attire and styling it with accessories, spice it up a little today and pick some accessories and choose an outfit to match it. You can look up styling tutorials online and experiment with different looks.

Do you remember buying colorful beads and weaving them into a necklace? Well, you can do the same or find something more exquisite to make jewelry with, such as feathers, pearls, silver beads, or flowers.

Tell fellow aficionados about National Accessory Day. Share your love on social media by sharing a picture of yourself in your favorite accessory.

5 Interesting Facts About Accessories

16 love charms

30% of e-commerce

Accessories as a symbol of strength

Symbolism of status

The founder of National Accessory Day

In Hindu culture, married women wear 16 adornments called ‘solah shringarm,’ as a symbol of prosperity.

In the U.S., the apparel and accessories industries account for 30% of the e-commerce business.

Villages in the older period thrived on the prowess of hunters; hence, they wore the teeth and bones of the fearsome animals that they had killed.

Accessories such as amulets, rings, and necklaces often symbolized the social status of individuals in ancient societies.

National Accessory Day was founded by Luxury Next Season in 2019.

Why We Love National Accessory Day

It gives a whole new vibe

This day celebrates fashion

It celebrates art and luxury

Accessories give a new vibe to ordinary outfits and totally transform the look. The hoop earrings are for the days when one doesn’t want to put in an effort. The bold ring with a suit gives the vibe of a classy bad boy.

National Accessory Day gives us an occasion to celebrate the indomitable element of fashion. Fashion is a form of expression worthy of celebration, and this is the perfect day to show our appreciation.

Diamond-studded bags and gold watches are some of the most expensive accessories in the world. Owing to their rich history, vintage accessories are also very expensive owing to their rich history. As accessories are symbols of many things, this day celebrates art, luxury, and history.

Source

[chorusfm]

Riot Fest 2024 Announced

Riot Fest have announced their 2024 lineup and venue change. Full details below. Riot Fest, the iconic annual punk rock and alternative music festival, is excited to announce its 2024 lineup, along with the introduction of an innovative new world, and a venue change, now with parking! This year's festival will take place at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, from September 20-22nd, featuring 90+ bands over 3-days, and will feature RiotLand, an immersive "Choose Your Own Adventure" world that promises to elevate the festival experience to new heights. Introducing RiotLand: A "Choose Your Own Adventure" Experience. RiotLand is set to transform Riot Fest into an interactive, choose your own adventure where attendees can explore and engage with various themed areas and activities. While the activation experiences will change from day to night, RiotLand is a place where you can escape from the real world and be yourself. A fully interactive site will be unveiled in the coming weeks, but here is a sneak peek of what’s to come: Q101 Radio Tower: A nostalgic tribute to an iconic radio station, featuring live broadcasts and unique photo opportunities. At night, there’s a new fiesta in the making as we speak. It’s out at the Moontower, full kegs, everybody’s going to be there, you ought to go. NOFX World: A stage and area dedicated to celebrating the music and legacy of NOFX, joined by their friends and fans alike, led by the ringmaster, named Fat Mike, to take you into the night. Cabaret Metro Stage: A nod to the legendary Chicago venue, Metro, where many Riot Fest alum cut their teeth long before headlining the festival. AAA Stage: If you know, you know, and that means you were probably lucky enough to be there. AAA was a warehouse venue where Riot Fest hosted many secret shows in the earlier days of the festival. You probably weren’t there the first time, but you won't want to miss it again. House of Law: Courthouse by day, OZ nightclub at night. RiotLand’s only gay punk and dance club that only opens at night. Kevin Smith Tribute Zones:  Quick Stop: An immersive re-creation of the famous convenience store from "Clerks."  Cretin Prairie Center: An area inspired by the film "Mallrats," featuring themed activities and surprises. Who knows, you may end up on Truth or Mate on Riot Fest’s #2 channel, RFTV. Casino: Yes, a casino, and it’s real. Are you feeling lucky? Not gambling advice, but I’m guessing if you poll the Riot Fest attendees…most would tell you to just put it all on black. World’s Largest Festival Bar: Fly in Mr. Guinness as Riot Fest attempts to unofficially break the world record Butter Stamos: Is he made out of rubber or is he made out of stone? Did you know there is at least one Butter Stamos tattoo out there? Nihilist Arby’s: We thought about not even including this one because it doesn’t even matter. Nothing matters. Eat Arby’s. Riot Fest will also feature fan-favorites from years past including the Wedding Chapel (You can get legally married at RiotLand), the Riot Pop!! Skate Ramp, free arcade games from Logan Arcade, Professor Pizza, the world's largest touring rock-n-roll circus freak show Hellzapoppin Circus, mini golf, and all of your favorite bands playing at the same time. Riot Fest 2024 Lineup Riot Fest 2024 boasts a stellar lineup of top-tier punk, rock, and alternative artists, including: Headliners:  Friday brings the return of hometown favorites, Fall Out Boy, making their first appearance at the festival since they first reunited at 2013’s edition.  Saturday brings indie rock favorites, Beck and a very rare performance from Pavement. Closing out the festival on Sunday is a force that cannot be reckoned with – a reunion performance by metal legends, Slayer! NOFX will be performing all three days of the festival as Riot Fest bids them a final farewell surrounded by many of their peers and contemporaries like Pennywise, Descendents, and Circle Jerks. Notable Acts: Filling out the stacked lineup is a wide array of bands spanning… https://chorus.fm/news/riot-fest-2024-announced/

[arianamaincoonkittensblog]

How Long Do Maine Coon Cats Live? – arianamaincoonkittens

If you’re a lover of furry, endearing felidae friends, then seeing “Maine coon kittens for sale” is guaranteed to make your heart flutter. These magnificent creatures, with their bushy tails and tufted ears, are known for their rugged good looks. But what’s even more important for potential cat adopters, just like you, is understanding their lifespan. So, how long do Maine Coon cats really live?

Before we delve into the core of this subject, let’s take a moment to appreciate this breed’s history. The Maine Coon, with its unique and distinctive appearance, is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to the state of Maine, where it has remained a beloved symbol of the region. Intriguingly, their actual origins continue to house mystery, with various tales involving seafarers, royal pets, and even crossbreeding with wild animals. Though their past is steeped in lore and speculation, one thing is sure – they’ve been winning hearts over for centuries!

Now, let’s approach the main question: how long do Maine Coon cats live? These felines typically enjoy a lifespan ranging between 10-13 years. Nevertheless, it’s not uncommon to find Maine Coons that have comfortably sauntered past this range, reaching up to 16, even 20 years of age! In fact, the Guinness World Records includes a Maine Coon that lived a staggering 26 years!

Several factors affect this spectrum of lifespan. Nutrition and diet, healthcare, indoor vs. outdoor environment, genetics, and even the love and affection they receive, all play crucial roles. 

Proper nutrition, with a balanced cat diet, is key to ensuring their longevity. Avoid cheap grocery store cat food, choosing instead specifically formulated cat food recommended by your vet or cat breeder. A well-nourished Maine Coon is undeniably a healthier, happier one.

Regular check-ups with your veterinarian are equally important. A yearly examination will keep track of their health and can help detect and treat any emerging health issues sooner, potentially increasing their lifespan.

While these cats can enjoy roaming the great outdoors, it’s still safer for them to be primarily indoor pets. Outdoor elements can pose a risk to their health and well-being, from injury and disease to increased exposure to harmful parasites. 

Genetics also play a considerable role in their lifespan. Investing in Maine Coon kittens from reputable breeders can make huge differences. They perform necessary genetic tests to ensure they are breeding healthy cats, thus significantly reducing the likelihood of inheritable diseases.

Last but not least, love and affection! These cats return tenfold every bit of love they receive. An emotionally nourished cat is a healthy cat!

In conclusion, if what you’re looking for is a long-term furry companion, a healthy and well-cared-for Maine Coon cat can share well over a decade of its life with you, filled with moments of absolute joy and unwavering companionship. So when you see that “Maine coon kittens for sale” sign, remember that it’s not about just owning a cat. It’s about sharing your life and your love with one. The affection and care you provide is its own reward, reflected in a long, happy, and healthy life for your Maine Coon.

info@arianamaincoonkittens.com