#italian shipyard

[carkeyline3]

Hoboken Historical Museum | Preserving the Soul of a City

Located along the scenic Hoboken waterfront, the Hoboken Historical Museum is a small but vibrant institution preserving the city's rich industrial, cultural, and immigrant history. It’s a place where the legacy of Hoboken’s shipyards, music icons like Frank Sinatra, and the daily lives of working-class families come alive in fascinating detail.

Whether you’re a history buff, a first-time visitor, or a lifelong resident wanting to know more about your hometown, the Hoboken Historical Museum offers an intimate look at one of New Jersey’s most dynamic cities.

Historical Significance

Founded in 1986, the Hoboken Historical Museum is housed in the former Shipyard Machine Shop, a remnant of Hoboken’s once-thriving maritime industry. Hoboken was a critical port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, serving as home to Bethlehem Steel's shipbuilding operation, a hub of immigrant labor, and a launching point for U.S. troops in both World Wars.

The museum not only documents the city’s industrial era but also celebrates its contributions to music, transportation, and immigration. Special attention is given to Hoboken’s Italian, Irish, German, and Puerto Rican communities, whose stories form the cultural backbone of the city.

One of the museum’s most beloved features is its Frank Sinatra collection, which highlights the life and career of Hoboken’s most famous son. The museum’s rotating exhibits ensure that each visit offers something new and compelling.

Best Time to Visit

The Hoboken Historical Museum is open year-round, but the best times to visit include:

Spring and Summer (April to September): Combine your museum visit with a walk on the waterfront or time at Pier A Park.

Fall (October–November): Enjoy the crisp air and autumnal charm of Hoboken while exploring indoor exhibits.

During Exhibit Openings or Special Events: The museum frequently hosts panel discussions, film screenings, readings, and neighborhood walking tours that add extra value to your visit.

It’s open from 2 PM to 7 PM on weekdays and 12 PM to 5 PM on weekends, making it easy to fit into an afternoon of exploring the city.

What to Do at the Hoboken Historical Museum

Though compact in size, the museum is packed with engaging displays, interactive programs, and rotating exhibits that make the most of its waterfront location.

1. Explore Permanent and Temporary Exhibits

The museum’s permanent collection includes photographs, artifacts, and written accounts tracing Hoboken's transformation from a Dutch settlement into an industrial powerhouse and, finally, a trendy residential hub. Topics range from shipbuilding and transportation to Hoboken’s impact on pop culture.

Rotating exhibitions explore timely or niche themes like vintage sports teams, urban development, or the immigrant experience.

2. Visit the Frank Sinatra Room

Dedicated to "Ol’ Blue Eyes," the Sinatra exhibit includes rare photos, memorabilia, and music. For fans of the legendary crooner—or music history in general—it’s a must-see.

3. Attend Public Events

The museum regularly hosts storytelling sessions, historical talks, children’s programs, and art exhibits. These events foster a deeper understanding of local culture and often feature residents sharing their personal stories.

4. Walk the Waterfront Afterward

Once you’ve soaked in the history, take a few steps outside for a beautiful walk along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. From here, you’ll see the NYC skyline and perhaps better understand the context in which Hoboken developed.

5. Support the Gift Shop

The museum’s small shop offers books, vintage maps, locally themed souvenirs, and artwork that reflect Hoboken’s eclectic spirit. It’s a great spot to find thoughtful gifts or keepsakes.

Community Connection

The museum is more than a static exhibition space—it's a living archive of Hoboken's evolving identity. Staffed by passionate locals and volunteers, it serves as an anchor for community memory and intergenerational storytelling.

Its outreach programs engage students, newcomers, and longtime residents alike, fostering a sense of pride and belonging in one of New Jersey’s most historically rich urban communities.

Conclusion

The Hoboken Historical Museum is a hidden gem that punches far above its weight. It’s not only a place to learn about shipbuilding and Sinatra, but also a gateway into the everyday lives of the people who built Hoboken into the vibrant city it is today.

Whether you spend an hour or an entire afternoon there, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation of Hoboken's layered past and enduring charm. Pair your visit with a stroll along the river or lunch at a nearby café, and you have the perfect cultural day trip.

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1942 10 24 Daylight over Milan - Graham Turner

After attacks on Genoa on 22/23 and 23/24 October, which were designed to coincide with Montgomery's El Alamein offensive, Harris at the morning conference at HQ Bomber Command on 24 October decided to switch targets to Milan. Unlike Genoa, with its ports and shipyards, or Turin, with its war industries, the attack on Milan - the political and commercial centre of northern Italy - was for morale purposes and the effect on the civilian population. As a result, this attack was unusual in not being one single night raid. Instead, Harris chose to split the attack: 5 Group's Lancasters by day - perhaps to highlight British air superiority over a major Italian city - and the other Groups' 'heavies' at night. This battle scene features the daylight attack, which saw 88 Lancasters take off to bomb the aiming point of 'Milan "A"' - the city centre - though this caused controversy afterwards when it became public that the Duomo had been the aiming point . Seventy-four aircraft dropped 51.8 tons of HE bombs and 81.5 tons of incendiaries on Milan. As cloud over Milan was down to 3,000 ft, and since the bombs dropped included a good number of 4,000-pounders, release from below this height was in some cases avoided so a number of Lancasters stayed above the cloud, bombing at between 8,000 ft and 12,000 ft. A number went below the cloud and down to 2,000ft to identify the aiming point, however, and this is depicted in this battle scene. One Lancaster even got down to 50ft, where, the Italian authorities claimed, it strafed buildings and machine-gunned people in the streets; indeed, the Lancaster of Wg Cdr J. M. Southwell, 9 Squadron's CO, admitted later to having 'used 7,000 rounds machine-gunning two trains on the Milan-Novara railway and strafing what he said was Novara'. Nonetheless, photographic evidence - taken both during the bombing and later on by a reconnaissance aircraft - revealed that a large amount of damage was inflicted - mainly by fire - on industrial premises all over Milan, and the railway lines to Bologna,Genoa and Venice and along the St Gothard route had been severed. The main railway station had been particularly damaged, as were areas around the Porto Novara Station and the Parco Solari and many industrial premises, such asthe GEC Engineering Works, Municipal Tramways and the Caproni aircraft factory. Mussolini publically admitted damage to nearly 2,500 houses, with 450 completely demolished. For the British, the losses were three Lancasters(3.4 per cent), one having crashed over Milan and two others shot down by Luftwaffe night-fighters around Caen in France. These were light considering this had been a risky long-distance run in daylight across Axis-dominated Europe.Damage to aircraft was another matter, however. Several bombers had been damaged either by flak over Milan or enroute, by colliding with a seagull over the target, by a Macchi C.202 Folgore, by hitting high-tension electric cables,or by crash-landing at an emergency airfield in Sussex. A total of ten aircraft (11.45 per cent) were damaged, half ofthem seriously. While the day raiders were landing at their bases in England, another force of 71 aircraft, comprising the Stirlings,Halifaxes and Wellingtons from the PFF, 1, 3 and 4 Groups, was already over Milan. Although thick cloud covered the target, they could see the glow of the fires started by the Lancasters five hours earlier, and proceeded to bomb those. Further destruction to Milan, although not extensive, was caused

[justforbooks]

Italian Navy training ship Amerigo Vespucci

In 1925, the Regia Marina ordered two training ships to a design by General Lieutenant Francesco Rotundi of the Italian Navy Engineering Corps, inspired by the style of large late 18th century 74-cannon ships of the line (like the Neapolitan ship Monarca). The first, the Cristoforo Colombo, was put into service in 1928 and was used by the Italian Navy until 1943. After World War II, this ship was handed over to the USSR as part of the war reparations and was shortly afterwards decommissioned.

The second ship was the Amerigo Vespucci, built in 1930 at the (formerly Royal) Naval Shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia (Naples). She was launched on 22 February 1931, and put into service in July of that year.

The vessel is a full-rigged three-masted steel hull 82.4 m (270 ft) long, with an overall length of 101 m (331 ft) including the bowsprit and a maximum width of 15.5 m (51 ft). She has a draught of about 7 m (23 ft) and a displacement at full load of 4146 tons. Under auxiliary diesel-electric propulsion the Amerigo Vespucci can reach 10 knots (19 km/h) and has a range of 5450 nm at 6.5 knots.

The hull is painted black with two white stripes, harking back to the two gun decks of the ships her design is based on, but she carries only two 6pdr saluting guns in pivot mountings on the deck, forward of the mainmast. The deck planks are of teak wood and must be replaced every three years. Bow and stern are decorated with intricate ornaments; she has a life-size figurehead of Amerigo Vespucci. The stern gallery is accessible only through the Captain's saloon.

Other than during World War II, the Amerigo Vespucci has been continually active. Most of her training cruises are in European waters, but she has also sailed to North and South America, and navigated the Pacific. In 2002, she undertook a voyage around the world.

In 1960, Vespucci carried the Olympic torch from Piraeus to Syracuse for the Summer Olympics in Rome.

While sailing the Mediterranean Sea in 1962, the American aircraft carrier USS Independence flashed the Amerigo Vespucci with the light signal asking: "Who are you?" The full-rigged ship answered: "Training ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy." The Independence replied: "You are the most beautiful ship in the world." In 2022, the Amerigo Vespucci sailed by the American aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, which saluted the ship and commented: "You are still, after 60 years, the most beautiful ship in the world."

On 9 January 2025, archbishop Santo Marcianò of the Military Ordinariate of Italy designated ship as a 2025 Jubilee church and site “for sacred pilgrimages and for pious visits among its missions at sea.”

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[scotianostra]

Scottish actor Russell Hunter was born 18th February 1925 in Glasgow.

Born Russel Ellis in Glasgow, Hunter's childhood was spent with his maternal grandparents in Lanarkshire, until returning to his unemployed father and cleaner mother when he was 12. He went from school to an apprenticeship in a Clydebank shipyard. During this time, he did some amateur acting for the Young Communist League before turning professional in 1946.

He was with the left wing Unity theatre, and due to appear in The Plough And The Stars at the first Edinburgh Festival in 1947. At the last moment, the Arts Council withdrew funding - but the show had to go on. It therefore became part of the inaugural Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and the posters were altered from "Sponsored by the Scottish committee of the Arts Council" to read "Eliminated by ... "

Hunter worked in repertory theatre and Scottish variety before making his film debut in Lilli Marlene (1950). He appeared with Archie Duncan in The Gorbals Story, which was a major London success the same year. Rarely without work, he was particularly thrilled to join Peter Hall's Royal Shakespeare Company, and loved working with Peggy Ashcroft and Dame Edith Evans. Particularly suited to clown roles, he treasured a review by the Sunday Times's Harold Hobson, who wrote that he had "never seen such a lovely little Bottom".

Of course with his comic style Russell was well suited to the Panto circuit and appeared in numerous performances, many with his wife, the Scottish actress Una MacLean, herself a great actor and comedian.

The role of Lonely - the dirty, unkempt character in Callan made Hunter a household name, and he would remain recognised by the public for that part for the rest of his life, but his bread and butter was Scottish Theatre and he was rarely without work.

Although in the advanced stages of cancer, Hunter's last theatrical stint was in the Reginald Rose play 12 Angry Men back where it all started at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2003, he also appeared in the romantic comedy, American Cousins that year, playing an Italian grandfather in a Glasgow chip shop.

Russell Hunter passed away in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital on February 26th 2004.

A wee bit trivia to wrap up this post up, Peter Jackson is said to have remembered the series Callan from his youth and used Hunter's portrayal of Lonely as the model for the look of Gollum, with the bug eyes, the thin wavering lips, and the sniveling personality, I don't know how much credence to give this but they do look a wee bit similar!

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Canary Media:

Three days before President Trump took office, an undersea-cable company abandoned plans to build a plant that would employ up to 350 people in Somerset, Massachusetts. Media outlets were quick to spotlight the loss as a specter of what’s to come for the offshore wind industry that Trump put on ice with the stroke of a pen last week.

It’s a reminder that Trump’s attempts to kill the offshore wind industry threaten not just the decarbonization plans of a few states, but job opportunities for a wide array of Americans. In fact, over 64% of the offshore wind manufacturing and supply-chain investments made or announced are in Republican congressional districts, according to data from industry group Oceantic Network.

The 64% statistic describes mostly private investment into offshore wind but also includes some public investment, including money flowing in from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration’s cornerstone climate law and a favorite target of Trump. In total, $3.4 billion has either been invested in or pledged to Republican districts to build a domestic offshore wind supply chain.

“Who’s benefiting? It’s the entire United States,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the group, which previously went by the name Business Network for Offshore Wind.

But Trump last week signed an executive order that paused the approval of leases, permits, and loans for both offshore and onshore wind energy pending a federal review. The freeze will likely impact projects in earlier stages of development while the nine commercial-scale offshore wind projects that already have federal permits in hand appear safe.

It could also ripple throughout the emerging U.S. offshore wind supply chain. Developers have signed nearly 2,000 supply-chain contracts with manufacturing firms in 40 states, including some that are hundreds of miles from a coastline, like Ohio and Wisconsin.

For example, said Burdock, Italian shipbuilding firm Fincantieri is building customized offshore vessels in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, which is part of a Republican congressional district. And in Houston, Texas — which she called the ​“engine” of offshore wind manufacturing — multiple companies are adapting technologies used for the region’s offshore oil operations to accommodate offshore wind.

America currently has 73 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in various stages of development, according to the latest data collected by the American Clean Power Association. Before Trump returned to office, the industry group estimated that offshore wind would support 56,000 jobs by 2030. About a third of those would be operation and maintenance jobs while the vast majority would be direct construction jobs, at least in these early years of the sector.

Only one commercial-scale U.S. offshore wind project is in operation today, but at least five more are under construction, all off the coastlines of Northeastern states.

In addition to the money flowing to manufacturing projects to support these installations, Oceantic reports that offshore wind has spurred $1.8 billion worth of direct investments into updating 21 shipyards and across 12 states, like the St. John’s Ship Building shipyard in Palatka, Florida, which sits in a district that’s been represented by a Republican since 1989.

Thousands of workers are also helping to update 25 ports across the East, West and Gulf coasts that will store massive wind components and safely load them onto vessels that can then carry them miles out to sea for installation. Oceantic reports that a recent revitalization project at a Connecticut port created 400 construction jobs and sourced components from Texas.

[ginandoldlace]

HMS Liverpool arrives at Alexandria, Egypt, for emergency repairs, after being torpedoed by Italian aircraft two days prior. She would eventually leave for Mare Island Naval Shipyard California and arrive for repairs June 1941, for damage received in the Mediterranean Sea

[rabbitcruiser]

National Hoagie Day

Load up a soft or crispy bread roll with your favorite toppings, like meat, lettuce, tomato, and mustard, and dig in. Just don’t forget the napkins!

Everyone loves food! Which might help to explain why it’s possible to find so many different food-themed days to celebrate throughout the year for anyone who wants to. So it’s not much of a surprise that this very special sandwich would get its own day too!

Whether it is known as a hoagie, a sub, a wedge, a hero, Italian sandwich or a grinder, today is the perfect day to celebrate everything you love about this overstuffed, tasty and savory treat.

History of National Hoagie Day

The humble hoagie first appeared on the plates of Americans around or soon after 1953, when the sandwich was first made in the Philadelphia shipyards from WWI.

At the time, Italians working in the shipyards would make a sandwich by putting meats, cheese and lettuce in a soft baguette-shaped roll and bring it to work with them. The story goes that this easy-to-make but delicious creation would soon be labeled with the nickname of ‘the Hog Island’. Then, maybe because it doesn’t quite roll off the tongue easily, it would soon be shortened to “hoggie” and then eventually would become known affectionately as the ‘hoagie’.

There’s also a second theory of the hoagie’s birth, where the sandwich is said to have been created by street food vendors who were known as ‘hokey-pokey men’ in the early 20th century. Supposedly, these food sellers would slice a long loaf in half and stuff it with antipasto salad before selling it as a filling snack. And perhaps they were also dancing the “hokey-pokey” at the same time?!

Well-known in Philadelphia, the hoagie sandwich is so enjoyed in the city that, in 1992, the mayor Ed Rendell declared that the hoagie should be considered the official sandwich of the city.

National Hoagie Day Timeline

1762 Sandwiches are invented

The Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, asks for roast beef to be served between two slices of bread so he won’t have to get up from his work (or from gambling, depending on how the story goes).

1901 Submarine sandwich is invented

A small Italian grocer in New Jersey sells sandwiches on long bread that he will eventually name “submarine” sandwiches because of the shape.

1950s Hoagie sandwiches make their debut

In Philadelphia, after WWII, Italian immigrants who work on Hog Island bring long roll sandwiches with them. “Hog Island sandwiches” may have been shortened to “hoggies” and then to “hoagies”.

1955 Hoagies are listed on menus

With its growing popularity, restaurants in Philly begin to list hoagie sandwiches on their menus and it spread from there.

1992 Hoagie is made official in Philadelphia

Mayor Ed Rendell declares the Hoagie as the official sandwich of the city of Philadelphia.

How to Celebrate National Hoagie Day

Observing National Hoagie Day can be enjoyable for almost anyone when trying out some of these tips:

Enjoy a Hoagie at a Restaurant or Deli

Hoagies make the perfect lunch! In fact, that was their original purpose as they were used as an easily packable meal by the shipyard workers. So even if there’s not a lot of time for going all out in celebration, it’s easy to give a nod to National Hoagie Day by enjoying a grab-and-go sandwich lunch at a local deli.

Learn About Hoagies

Try out some of these fun facts to impress coworkers or friends for National Hoagie Day:

The perfect hoagie roll was invented when Bucelli’s Bakery joined forces with DePalma to create a delicious 8-inch long roll, which eventually became the standard for hoagies.

Americans eat more than 300 million sandwiches each year, many of which would classify as hoagies!

Premium hoagies can be made with upscale ingredients, such as imported Italian lunch meats, prosciutto, gourmet cheeses and more.

One of the biggest mysteries that seems to surround hoagies is the questions about what makes them different from other sandwiches like subs, heroes and grinders. But honestly, there isn’t much of a difference and they are basically the same sandwich just going by a different name.

Make a Homemade Hoagie Sandwich

It seems only right and good to celebrate hoagie day by fixing up a delightful and delicious homemade hoagie for yourself and those you love!

Start by slicing a soft or crispy long bread roll, throw in some favorite cold cut slices and don’t forget to add the cheese. For those who want to be fully authentic, don’t put mayo on there but, instead, stick with good quality olive oil and some Italian herbs. Finish off with some tomato and lettuce for a bit of extra crunch.

And for those who really want to get serious about National Hoagie Day, why not bake your own bread to craft your artisanal sandwich with? Fresh bread is certainly best.

Visit the Birthplace of Hoagies

Those who are super in love with hoagies might just find that National Hoagie Day is best spent in the city of Philadelphia, the place where hoagie sandwiches were first created. Some of the best and most famous Philly hoagie shops include:

Antonio’s Deli. Located in south Philly, Antonio’s serves its sandwiches on freshly baked bread from Sarcone’s, a fifth generation Italian bakery. They even serve a non-traditional vegetarian option.

Cosmi’s Deli. Operating since 1932, Cosmi’s offers more than a dozen different hoagie options on their menu, as well as cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches.

Liberty Kitchen PHL. With a small but delicious hoagie menu, Liberty in Fishtown offers sandwiches with hand-stretched Caputo mozzarella and other sought after gourmet ingredients.

Datillo’s Delicatessen. For more than 40 years this deli has been offering up tasty hoagies, including their house specialty that includes hot capicola, pepperoni, salami, provolone cheese, artichoke hearts and homemade roasted red peppers.

Share National Hoagie Day

Don’t keep the joy of the hoagie all to yourself. Snap a pic and share that tasty creation on social media, so other observers can join in on the fun. And perhaps it might be fun to invite some friends over for a hoagie making party. Or create a hoagie sandwich making line in the breakroom at work.

Simply line up the ingredients, including artisan bread rolls, gourmet cheese options, lunch meats and veggies, and let people pile them on as high as they like. Add some condiments such as mayo, herbs and spices, or olive oil and everyone can enjoy what they love!

Have a great hoagie day!

National Hoagie Day FAQs

What is National Hoagie Day?

National Hoagie Day celebrates the long bread sandwich filled with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and seasonings.

When is National Hoagie Day?

National Hoagie Day is celebrated annually on the 5th of May.

How to celebrate National Hoagie Day?

On this day, it’s best to eat a hoagie, share one with friends, or even take a trip to Philadelphia to enjoy a hoagie!

Are hoagies Italian?

Hoagies are believed to have originated from Italian immigrants living in Philadelphia.

Source

[ilikethisacompletelynormalamount]

I'm pretty sure there's meant to be an embargo on press discussing Ripley until the 4th, but this Danish reviewer appears to have jumped the gun a bit.

Aesthetically pleasing series with chilling Andrew Scott is a welcome alternative to the summer vacation-ready movie adaptation of Highsmith's thriller.

(English translation below the cut)

By Kristian Ditlev Jensen

Ripley is the title of Steven Zaillian's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's recurring character Tom Ripley, who is the protagonist in five of her psychological thrillers.

The first book is the magnum opus The Talented Mr. Ripley, which has been adapted into several films. Most famously, the 1999 version starred Matt Damon and Jude Law.

The story is about a young conman, Tom Ripley, who hustles his way through life, but one day gets mistaken for someone else. He seizes the opportunity and gets the offer of a lifetime from Mr. Greenleaf, an elderly shipyard owner.

"Go to the stunning Amalfi Coast in Italy and find my son Richard Greenleaf. Persuade him to come home!"

In Italy, Tom quickly finds Dickie, as he is simply called. But instead of bringing him home, he murders the man and assumes his identity.

In a formidable double-cross, he fools everyone by pretending to be both Tom and Dickie when it suits him. All goes well until a police inspector from Rome starts to smell a rat. And soon the hunt is on for the perpetrator.

The journey takes them via Sanremo, Palermo in Sicily, Rome and Venice. But the the criminal is always gone, even though the policeman is actually sitting and talking to him!

Anthony Minghella's feature film is good, but it's also a legitimately summer-holiday-ready, box office-targeted take on the story of a con artist and low-life con man. Now this version finally gets competition from a far more uncompromising, over-aestheticized and visually astonishingly harmonious work, starring Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) with warm charm and icy creepiness.

It's not every day you see such a well-designed series, where everything from the dramatic choice to shoot in black and white, to the typography, to the production design of interiors and costumes is thought out down to the last detail.

"The light. Always the light."

The line comes from a Catholic priest standing just behind Tom Ripley, who is looking at a Caravaggio painting.

Michelangelo Merisi, as the Italian painter was originally known, took his artist name from the village of Caravaggio near Bergamo. And it was he who coined the art term chiaroscuro - or clairobscur in French - in the years around 1600.

The term refers to a painting technique where dark and light are contrasted so that the images almost appear as black and white paintings.

Steven Zaillan - who wrote the screenplays for Schindler's List, Awakenings and Gangs of New York - has just modeled Ripley on the painter Caravaggio, who lived a dramatic life to say the least.

In 1606, Caravaggio stabbed pimp Ranuccio Tomassoni in the thigh with a small sword, causing him to die from the blood loss. The painter lived on the run for years before being pardoned by the Pope, but died immediately afterwards of a fever at the age of 38.

This story is on every level behind the series.

Ripley is shot in black and white, i.e. modern clairobscur, just like Caravaggio's own works. It's also about a criminal on the run and a murderer.

The story goes on and on.

In a key scene, there is a cross-cut between the historical Caravaggio sitting at a table with the murder weapon, a short dagger, and Tom Ripley sitting with a fountain pen in front of him.

In the twentieth century, you could kill with a pen. Today, you'd probably do it over the internet.

The whole analog universe that Steven Zaillian revels in - the series is set in the 1960s, while the novel was published in 1955 - is a stroke of genius. It allows him to work sensually with a wide range of things that seem to have disappeared today.

There are phone booths and people write notes to each other with pens. The typography is almost a tribute to the printed media in the form of newspapers, books, writings, signs, stamps, letterheads, patches of text, forms, checks and so on.

Similarly, shoes are a little story in themselves. And drinks. And ashtrays. At the same time, the declaration of love for the Amalfi Coast is so authentic it makes you dizzy.

The fact that the series is shot as something of an homage to the black-and-white king of them all, director Orson Welles, doesn't make it any less impressive. With a wealth of indirect and direct quotes from, for example, The Third Man, where the play of light and shadows on the walls of the stairwells play a major role.

Ripley is a rare true work of art on Netflix.

[capyphoenix]

Yacht or no yacht

I found the article that I remember from last year.

Translation:

Viareggio, 15 December 2023 – Big surprise today in Viareggio. Formula 1 driver – or rather, three-time world champion with Red Bull – Max Verstappen has arrived at the Overmarine shipyard in the Darsena. Together with him his girlfriend Kelly Piquet and some members of his entourage.

The goal of the visit by the Dutch pilot would be to buy a yacht in which he would be very interested. 

At the moment the purchase seems not to have taken place yet. Today's was a first meeting to open negotiations regarding the luxury boat. 

So the articles today said he ordered the yacht 2 years ago. Unless those morons count 2023 to 2025 as 2 years it is basically 13 months. And the article even says he only shopped around but hasn't made a decision yet. And they attached a picture from above in the instagram page that posted it but not the actual article about it.

And literally by coincidence while searching for this specific article this picture pops up in suggestions.

This was after Monza 2023 when they celebrated the birthday of one of the Thai owners.

And this was from Gazetta today:

The rest of the launch day – Max Verstappen was wearing white trousers and a blue jacket – was a brief meeting with the staff and management of the Overmarine shipyard

I just find it a funny coincidence the very few times he wears white pants it's both in Italy and even gets suggested by Google.

So something weird is going on. Either Italians need to go to math classes and Max wasn't on the jet the past 2 days or I need sleep.

[financieur]

V.01 ━━ M/Y Étoile. Commissioned in 2017 from an Italian Shipyard and delivered during the Summer 2019 in Monaco, the M/Y Étoile is a 6 levels yacht, and the replacement to the 'Nëperke' Yacht, his 2005 Sunseeker Predator 108. It was a much needed [ and desired ] upgrade to make justice to the position Le Chiffre now occupied within Quantum. It remained useful even past the takeover that Spectre went through by his hands in late 2019.

The boat's furniture was bespoke to his necessities, design to reflect little to nothing of his own personality and much of what he was perceived by others, and then crafted by an Italian atelier. As for the ship's internal structure, all finishes, such as the hardwood floors and ceilings, and details, such as the illumination coloring, were carefully chosen by Le Chiffre himself. The decor is nearly monochromatic, with the wood, soft lines and warm indirect lightening being a way to break the coldness of the palette and feign a sense of comfort to make it livable. The hull is painted in a mirror-like coating that uses a special coverage to avoid overheating the surfaces.

Another heavily customized feature of Étoile is the security infrastructure. The decks are all equipped with deck sensory arrays, which give an alert whenever people walk over it, as well as infrared beam sensors , lock-down vessel system, live CCTV and real time tracking by his team of choice. The ship is also equipped with an infirmary and an extremely well stocked armory. The Crew counts with a minimum of 4 security guards and an emergency surgeon in every trip it does.

The main deck is where all guest accommodations can be found, as well as the main lounging and guest entertainment areas. The vessel can comfortably fit 60 guests for events and 10 guests for travels in 5 rooms, divided between a VIP Stateroom, almost as well equipped as the Master Suite, two double cabins and two twin cabins. The upper deck holds the dining rooms and a private kitchen, as well as a sunbathing area and a bar. The fly deck, also known as owner's deck, is where the master suite can be found, equipped with a master bathroom and a walk-in closet, a small office space and a security control room can also be found at this deck. The sun deck holds only a small lounging area with a bar and another sunbathing area.

The lower deck is where the crew is accommodated, as well as most of the functional rooms, such as the laundry room, storage and pantries, can be found. The engine deck is where the technical rooms are found, such as the boat engine room, the infirmary and the armory.

Despite being considered his primary residence for many years, now the yacht spend most of the year docked either at Port Cala del Forte in Italy or the Falmouth Harbour Marina in Antigua, being only used by Le Chiffre when he want to travel in a more secure manner, or to entertain certain guests.

[bluthian90]

The Mulberry Street Cats are the antagonists of the An American Tail fan-series "Fievel's New York Tails". The alley cat gang took their name from the namesake principal thoroughfare in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States.

Mulberry Street is historically associated with Italian-American culture and history, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was the heart of Manhattan's Little Italy.

The Mulberry Street Cats consist of Tommy (or "Too-Tall" Tommy), the leader; Timmy (or Tiny Timmy) who is Tommy's side-kick; the henchman cats Joe, Harry, Charlie and Sampson; and lastly Jasper the British lizard who serves as the minion of the gang.

The Mulberry Street Cats' main goal is to catch mice for their bacon-lettuce-tomato-cheese-mice sandwiches (or BLTCM sandwiches), but the alley cat gang fails repeatedly, thanks to the heroic young boy mouse Fievel Mousekewitz, along with his best friend Tiger (who is a cat).

Let's talk about the backstory on the Mulberry Street Cats, which dates back to around the 1870's.

Tommy was a rebellious cat from the time he was an orphan kitten. Tommy started hanging around alleys in New York City, and his notorious schemes included capturing mice so he can turn them into bacon-lettuce-tomato-cheese-mice sandwiches (or BLTCM sandwiches) as well as stealing fresh fish from the market, so he can make sandwiches out of them too. Tommy was also a master at billiard pool. The sneaky alley cat can do a perfect bank shot and has won several games. Maximus, a tough bulldog, took a huge dislike to Tommy, largely because the alley cat himself has cheated by making the bulldog miss his shots. Maximus did not like that and he would say to the cat in the flat-cap and scarf, “If I ever catch you doing another stunt like you did to me in the last game, I’m gonna spin ya outta your scarf! Now beat it!”

Playing pool wasn't the only pastime that kept the rough-and-tough alley cat busy. Tommy had went through a number of jobs around New York City, including one at at the harbor where he worked as a shipyard mate who’d keep an eye out on stowaway mice. It is here where a German rat named Maximilian Ratfunick, who treated the mice poorly, was playing a game of craps with the other rats, when Tommy caught them and lunged at them. Ratfunick was swallowed up by Tommy just like that, and so both Ratfunick and his ghost fell into legend.

Another job Tommy did was as the human station agent’s "helper cat" on the New York Central Railroad’s freight train lines, located on Tenth and Eleventh Avenues, which are on the west side of Manhattan. The street-level tracks there were used by New York Central Railroad’s freight trains, which shipped commodities such as coal, dairy products and beef. More info can be found here at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Avenue.

Then, one January evening in 1885 (which was months before the Mousekewitz family moved from Shostka, Russia to America), Tommy (after working there for nearly three years) soon met Timmy after work. Timmy, who was a mutual of a gang member of Warren T. Rat’s gang The Mott Street Maulers, often hung out at Tenth and Eleventh Avenue to watch the freight trains at work. Timmy approached Tommy and asked if he could find work. This gave Tommy an idea. He suggested that they should go meet Warren about a job, which would lead to them joining his gang. 

Warren T. Rat trusted his newly-hired goons at first, and both Tommy and Timmy did every job the boss told them to do. But one night, on November 21st, 1885, Warren had found some of his possessions stolen and eventually Tommy and Tommy were caught for doing this act of double-crossing. The duo got kicked out of The Mott Street Maulers, and they were on their own. After being tossed out of Warren T. Rat’s gang, Too-Tall Tommy and Tiny Timmy acted bitterly towards their ex-boss and would do anything in rebellion, but to no avail. Not long after, Tommy and Timmy felt that it was time to form their own gang.

Enter Joe, Harry and Charlie, who were three hobo cats originally from a small town in Ohio. They often hung out together in train yards, hopped freight trains and entertained the other hobo cats (and dogs) who would ride in the boxcars with them before they soon arrived in New York City. Little did Joe, Harry and Charlie know that Too-Tall Tommy would hire them to join him at his and Tiny Timmy’s side.

Jasper was a lizard who had arrived in New York on board a cargo ship from London, England, and he was looking for a job to take on. Upon his arrival, the lizard got off the ship before roaming around New York City before running into the four cats. Joe, Harry and Charlie tell him to watch where he’s going before the four cats get into their “Three Stooges” style antics before they and Jasper get discovered by Too-Tall Tommy and Tiny Timmy.

Sampson was a scruffy skinny cat who hung out with the other alley cats in New York City, until he was eventually recruited by Too-Tall Tommy by early 1886.

Together, all seven formed the Mulberry Street Cats gang, and set up their goal to make their BLTCM sandwiches. The gang set up their hideout in the basement of a building on 59 1/2 Mulberry Street (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandits%27_Roost,_59_1/2_Mulberry_Street), and the rest is history.

You can check out more on Fievel's New York Tails here at my DeviantArt page:

[ask-the-becile-boys]

What can you tell us about the bots before they died? I’m interested in their lives before being robots

Not a lot of information was initially set in stone by the AU's original creator Surge, and I was always a little hesitant to expand on their previous lives. But I have some ideas, and hey, no time like the present?

-

We'll start with Frank, because he had the least info on him of the original three as far as I can recollect. Frank Saddler was an African American man who grew up in southern Appalachia. His father was a preacher for a small church. Frank was a good student as a child and his father tried to get him as much access to an education as possible. Unfortunately, their church was the target of arson when Frank was about twelve. Frank got out by smashing through a window, though he was left with some scarring from the glass. He lost his faith after that, and his relationship with his father became strained. The rest of his childhood, he lived with a few different branches of his extended family, mostly going where extra hands were needed. He was older than Tony by maybe 7-8 years; he was about twenty-four when the flyers for the Dandy Candy mines caught his attention and he took the jobs overseas and twenty-six when he met Tony and Jack. He worked in the processing factories more than the mines, though he did both. He was killed when a Copper Elephant collapsed a smokestack.

Tony Sapienti was the first born States-side to an Italian immigrant family in Chicago, who grew up to be a trans man. His deadname was something very American/English sounding, a pattern that would be later repeated with Jack; even though his family didn't cut their children (Tony, Jack, and a middle sister named Patience) off from learning Italian (which would've been hard in their community) they were pretty adamant about their children being 'successful Americans.' Tony chose his name to sort of snub that. He went to school until he was thirteen, but as he dealt with the one-two punch of puberty and realizing he was transgender, he dropped out to try and recreate himself. His parents were not accepting of his new identity, and he drifted in and out of his family's life. He wanted more than anything to be a singer, but never found an opportunity. He took the Dandy Candy mining job when he was eighteen, hoping for both a legitimate job and a clean slate among people who didn't know him. He suffocated after a cave-in during the Weekend War.

Jack Sapienti was Tony's younger brother by three years. His parents held him to high expectations as their "first son," so much so that they doomed him from the start. He was frail and nervous from a young age, and the ADHD that plagued his schooling hadn't even started to be defined by Western medicine. However, he did stay in school until he was fifteen. Tensions then came to a head with Jack and his father, and Jack fled from home. He went looking for Tony, who he'd always admired and considered safe, only to learn he'd just missed him-- Tony was headed to the shipyard to go overseas to the Dandy Candy mines. Terrified to return home, Jack rashly lied about his age and got on the ship after Tony, only revealing himself to the dismayed Tony after the ship had left port. When they got to the mines, it was obvious Jack was not cut out for the general work, so the foreman assigned him to be Tony's assistant. This is how they came to be in the same area when they died; Jack was crushed by the cave-in.

"Locke Smith," or Balthazar Ash, was a born and bred English businessman-- not aristocracy, but pretty damn close. Born in the 1860s, he had full schooling, including higher education, and had a successful early career organizing mundane goods trading. By chance, he discovered the true magical nature of one of his client's dealings, and being both discrete and shrewd, he began to ingratiate himself in the hushed world of magic trade, creating the alias "Locke Smith." He was no magician himself, but he soon became a popular figure in European magic circles for his ability to connect resources to patrons. Demand grew, and he unscrupulously dipped into darker and darker artifacts. This got him into enough trouble that he fled to the United States, eventually settling in San Diego specifically to supply the more "discerning" members of the Cavalcadium-- which eventually included Thadeus Becile. Locke provided the materials for Dee's construction, and then later volunteered himself to Thadeus to become a Rock Candy powered robot when he became terminally ill.

Dee was once Della Stanek. Della lived in the Everglades, south of Lake Okeechobee, the daughter of farmers who grew up on the cultural cusp between early agricultural developers and the Gladesmen, with some Seminole heritage. She grew up wild, an only child with little schooling and little care for ambition. As she grew older she became a talented wood-crafter, handy-woman, and hunter, her skills refined through the necessary self-reliance of living in a remote area. She tended to go barefoot whenever possible, though this was mostly at home due to the dangers of snakes and sawgrass. She had a daughter, Hannah, with her Gladesman beau Cliff out-of-wedlock when she was twenty-two. She never traveled far beyond her home region during her life. Both Della and Hannah perished in the Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928, when Della was twenty-eight and Hannah was six. Della had no connection to Thadeus before becoming Dee; it was simply bad luck that his spell, when it couldn't find Delilah Morreo's soul, plucked Della's from the beyond.

*Fun Fact: Hare's New York accent and The Jack's English accent are the result of cross-contamination with other Rock Candy!

[heavenlyhorses]

italian shipyard winter

[radiobigworld]

Italian superyacht Akula entering Bristol waters

Akula is described as “a luxury private expedition yacht designed with cutting-edge technologies, ensuring unparalleled safety and exceptional seakeeping performance”.

The boat is believed to be owned by Jonathan Faiman, the co-founder of Ocado and a former banker at Goldman Sachs.

Built at the Rossinavi shipyard in Viareggio on Italy’s northern Tuscany coast and launched in 2024, Akula is 59.4 metres in length, has a top speed of 15.5 knots, with a capacity for 10 guests and 13 crew and can spend up to 30 days at sea with a range of more than 8,000 nautical miles.

B24/7

[scotianostra]

Scottish actor Russell Hunter was born 18th February 1925 in Glasgow.

Born Russel Ellis in Glasgow, Hunter's childhood was spent with his maternal grandparents in Lanarkshire, until returning to his unemployed father and cleaner mother when he was 12. He went from school to an apprenticeship in a Clydebank shipyard. During this time, he did some amateur acting for the Young Communist League before turning professional in 1946.

He was with the left wing Unity theatre, and due to appear in The Plough And The Stars at the first Edinburgh Festival in 1947. At the last moment, the Arts Council withdrew funding - but the show had to go on. It therefore became part of the inaugural Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and the posters were altered from "Sponsored by the Scottish committee of the Arts Council" to read "Eliminated by ... "

Hunter worked in repertory theatre and Scottish variety before making his film debut in Lilli Marlene (1950). He appeared with Archie Duncan in The Gorbals Story, which was a major London success the same year. Rarely without work, he was particularly thrilled to join Peter Hall's Royal Shakespeare Company, and loved working with Peggy Ashcroft and Dame Edith Evans. Particularly suited to clown roles, he treasured a review by the Sunday Times's Harold Hobson, who wrote that he had "never seen such a lovely little Bottom".

Of course with his comic style Russell was well suited to the Panto circuit and appeared in numerous performances, many with his wife, the Scottish actress Una MacLean, herself a great actor and comedian.

The role of Lonely - the dirty, unkempt character in Callan made Hunter a household name, and he would remain recognised by the public for that part for the rest of his life, but his bread and butter was Scottish Theatre and he was rarely without work.

Although in the advanced stages of cancer, Hunter's last theatrical stint was in the Reginald Rose play 12 Angry Men back where it all started at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2003, he also appeared in the romantic comedy, American Cousins that year, playing an Italian grandfather in a Glasgow chip shop.

Russell Hunter passed away in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital on February 26th 2004.

A wee bit trivia to wrap up this post up, Peter Jackson is said to have remembered the series Callan from his youth and used Hunter's portrayal of Lonely as the model for the look of Gollum, with the bug eyes, the thin wavering lips, and the sniveling personality, I don't know how much credence to give this but they do look a wee bit similar!

[rickchung]

School's Out: June 2025

Metro Vancouver Events Calendar:

Now-June 7: Meeting @ Pacific Theatre

Now-June 29: The Perfect Bite @ Glowbal Restaurant

Now-Aug. 15: Playland @ PNE

Now-Sept. 12: Shipyards Night Market (Fridays)

Now-Sept. 28: Junction Public Market @ Granville Square

Now-Oct. 13: Richmond Night Market

Now-Oct. 25: Riley Park Farmers Market / Trout Lake Farmers Market (Saturdays) / West End Farmers Market (Saturdays)

Now-Oct. 26: Mount Pleasant Famers Market @ Dude Chilling Park (Sundays)

June 1: Whitecaps FC Concacaf Final Watch Party @ Terry Fox Plaza

June 5: Just Kidding Comedy @ Fable Diner

June 6: Peach Pit @ Deer Lake Park

June 6-7: West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest @ Ambleside Park

June 6-8: Tremors Festival @ Progress Lab 1422

June 6-28: Queer Arts Festival

June 7: BC Lions: Snoop Dogg Concert Kickoff @ BC Place / Firehall Gala @ Firehall Arts Centre

June 8: Italian Day @ Commercial Drive / The Three Amigos and Friends: A Fundraiser @ Tojo's Restaurant / Weirdos Market: The Spring Weirdening @ The Birdhouse

June 8 & 22: Ladner Village Market / Varietopia with Paul F. Tompkins @ Commodore Ballroom

June 10-15: Riverdance @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

June 10-Sept. 20: Much Ado About Nothing @ Bard on the Beach

June 12-13: Finn Wolfhard @ Rickshaw Theatre

June 12-21: Dancing on the Edge Festival

June 13-Sept. 19: The Two Gentlemen of Varona @ Bard on the Beach

June 14: Strathcona Block Party @ 800 East Hastings

June 14-15: Summer Japan Market @ VAG North Plaza

June 20: Vancouver Firefighters' Hall of Flame Selection Party @ Roxy Cabaret

June 20-July 1: Vancouver International Jazz Festival

June 22: Greek Day @ West Broadway

June 26: After Dark: Lift-Off Lego Bricks Edition @ Science World

June 26-27: Pixies @ The Orpheum

June 26-Apr. 7: Artemis Space Adventure @ Science World

June 27-Aug. 15: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory @ Malkin Bowl

June 29-Aug. 16: Legally Blonde @ Malkin Bowl

June 30: Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber @ Rogers Arena