#nicolas carr

[spongebobsoundtrack]

Nicolas Carr - Suspense Vibe Plays in:

44a. "Nasty Patty"

[devoted-to-colin-farrell]

They discuss watching themselves on screen.

[elipheleh]

mary & george feature in tv & satellite magazine. airs in the uk on tuesday (5th) at 9pm on sky atlantic & sky showcase. boxset will be available on sky boxsets/NOW.

text under the cut

Hollywood star Julianne Moore adopts her best English accent this week when she plays Mary Villiers, a mother-of-four determined to secure her family's future, in Sky's seven-part drama Mary & George.

When she learns that King James (Tony Curran) is in a sexual relationship with his adviser, the Earl of Somerset (Laurie Davidson), Mary realises she could gain considerable power and influence if her son George (Nicholas Galitzine) becomes the King's new favourite.

'Mary is from a kind of middling aristocratic family,’ explains Moore, 'She's living in less-than-ideal circumstances, looking for a way to educate her children and keep herself alive. The only way she's really able to do that is through her relationships with powerful men.’

After sending George to France to learn refinement, Mary endeavours to get him noticed - and King James is soon enamoured with the handsome young man.

'At the beginning, the relationship is very transactional for George’, explains Galitzine, 29. 'I don't think he develops feelings for James until a few months, perhaps years, into the relationship. George definitely has something to gain, but the love is very much real between them.'

Although the King is aware of the power games being played around him, he finds it refreshing that George comes from outside the usual circles of the royal court.

‘James is comfortable when hes in the company of his lovers - he wants to forget about being a king,’ says Curran, 54. ‘He wants that distraction of feeling safe with another person, as opposed to lords and politicians constantly grabbing at him, wanting him to make decisions about affairs of state.’

OUTRAGEOUS TRUESTORY

The series is based on the nonfiction book The King's Assassin by Benjamin Woolley, and Moore was drawn to the project by the way Mary seemed ahead of her time.

‘There was something outrageous and direct about her’, says Moore, who won a Best Actress Oscar in 2015 for her role as an early onset Alzheimer's patient in Still Alice. 'She seemed to have her own desire for power and agency in a situation where she might possibly have none. It's interesting what she achieved at a time when women couldn't even own property.’

The cast also includes Trine Dyrholm as Queen Anne of Denmark, Niamh Algar as Mary's confidante, prostitute Sandie, and Nicola Walker as the Queen's lady-in-waiting Lady Hatton.

Mary & George's salty language and revealing sex scenes may surprise some viewers, but the stars believe it reflects the earthy instincts of its characters as they grapple for power.

"The sensuality in the show isn't crass in any way, says Curran. 'It was certainly interesting for me. I'd ask the producers, "What am I wearing today?" and theyd reply, “Your birthday suit, pal!"’

'It's not a typical period drama because of the licence it takes with behaviours and sexuality,’ agrees Moore. 'It's beautiful and opulent and a wildly entertaining romp through history.’

Who’s Who (top right of image)

Mary Villiers

Julianne Moore

The deeply ambitious mother lives on her wits and wants to create a lasting legacy for her family.

George Villiers

Nicholas Galitzine

Mary's second son gains new-found confidence and charm after an educational visit to France.

King James

Tony Curran

The first joint ruler of Scotland and England, the King is seldom seen without an entourage of male companions.

Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset

Laurie Davidson

The King's current favourite is determined to stop George from usurping him.

Queen Anne of Denmark

Trine Dynolm

The Queen would prefer her husband's favourite to be someone she can control.

Sandie

Niamh Algar

Mary's confidante is a prostitute in a high-end brothel, making her privy to the secrets of the rich and powerful.

[coochiequeens]

The TQ+ love to shout "Just be Kind" until a lesbian states her belief in the importance of biological sex. Even though she didn't say anything mean to her TQ+ coworkers.

Prof Jo Phoenix was hounded out of the Open University for being gender critical

A group of academics who harassed her were blasted in an employment tribunal 

By STEWART CARR PUBLISHED:  3 February 2024 

These are the academics who were blasted in a stinging judgment by an employment tribunal after they hounded a lesbian lecturer out of her job.

Criminology expert Prof Jo Phoenix, 59, saw her name dragged through the mud at the Open University once her views on the importance of biological sex became known.

Despite assuring colleagues she was not transphobic, a small group of trans activist lecturers refused to set aside their personal politics to allow freedom of opinion.

Instead, ringleader Dr Leigh Downes, a female who identifies as non-binary, led a campaign against Prof Phoenix - publishing an open letter 'in order to create a pile-on', which amassed 368 staff signatures

Last week, in an extraordinary judgment, the participants were criticised for their vindictive motives; as well as their evidence, which a judge described as 'evasive' and 'not credible'.

Employment Judge Jennifer Young said: 'On multiple occasions, whenever gender critical views were expressed at the Open University, Dr Downes complained or tried to get the view suppressed. 

'The claimant's gender critical beliefs made Dr Downes feel palpably uncomfortable.'

The judge went on: 'The purpose of signing the open letter was to create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for Prof Phoenix. 

'We conclude that having 368 of your colleagues sign a public letter saying that you are part of a group that is fundamentally transphobic, is stigmatising and damaging.'

Besides Dr Downes, other signatories in the open letter - Dr Helen Bowes-Catton, Dr Nicola Snarey, Prof Peter Keogh, Natalie Starkey and Dr Chris Williams - were found to have contributed to the hostility, despite their claims that they were expressing academic freedom.

The judge dismissed this reasoning and wrote: '[It] was not an exercise in academic freedom. There is nothing scholastic about the open letter, it stigmatised the claimant and damaged her reputation.'

Rather than stamp out the febrile atmosphere on campus, departmental leaders at the university left Prof Phoenix to face the onslaught alone and even blamed her for having spoken out in the first place.

Prof Louise Westmarland, a former friend who had unsuccessfully competed for the same job, likened the under-fire professor to 'a racist uncle at a dinner party'.

The head of the department, Dr Deborah Drake, caused huge distress by comparing Prof Phoenix to controversial US political scientist Charles Murray, whose views have been likened to a racist.  

Despite both of their denials, Judge Young found that on balance, they had indeed made the comments and both had contributed to the harassment of Prof Phoenix. 

Judge Young noted: 'We find that Dr Drake disliked the claimant expressing her gender critical position. 

'This was evident in her efforts to silence the claimant speaking about her research, comparing her to a prominent sociologist Charles Murray (perceived as being racist), and her frustration in her emails to various members... in particular Dr Downes.

'We consider that this was pivotal in creating and maintaining the hostile work environment."

'Dr Drake's role as head of department meant that she set the tone for the department. Professor Westmarland's behaviour towards the Claimant likening her to a racist uncle also contributed to the hostile atmosphere.'

The tribunal at Watford heard that Prof Phoenix, an expert in criminology, had began her academic career at the Open University 30 years earlier where she studied for her PhD. 

Having held senior posts at Durham University and the University of Leicester, she returned to the Open University in 2016, taking a £18,000 pay cut in order to enjoy a 'homecoming' for the final phase of her career.

Prof Phoenix's problems began in October 2018, when she signed a letter alongside 53 other academics, which appeared in The Guardian, criticising proposals for the introduction of self-identification in gender reassignment.

The tribunal heard the Guardian letter was met with dismay from Prof Phoenix's colleagues. One of them, history lecturer Dr Chris A Williams, wrote to his colleague Dr Helen Bowes-Catton and expressed deep concern about Prof Phoenix carrying out research into the area and even discussed getting an injunction against her.

The tribunal noted: 'Dr Williams was displaying an irrational fear and was hostile to the Claimant because she had gender critical beliefs.'

On March 6 2019, a planned conference into prison abolition was axed after several academics objected to Dr Richard Garside speaking at the event. He had previously written a critique against placing transgender prisoners in the women's estate.

On April 16, 2019, Prof Phoenix spoke up for women's sex-based rights at an event hosted by campaign group Women's Place UK and she criticised the university for cancelling its prison abolition conference.

A video of Prof Phoenix's speech was shared among colleagues.

Prof Louise Westmarland wrote, 'I can hardly bear to watch it' while Dr Downes claimed to have been reduced to tears, writing back to her: 'I watched it yesterday and had to take a walk. I found it very upsetting. Been a while since I cried at work.'

The panel read through a transcript of Prof Phoenix speech and noted: 'There is nothing in the talk that we find that would be upsetting.'

Prof Phoenix faced wrath from her colleagues again in June 2019, when she signed another letter, this time in The Sunday Times, criticising the closeness of UK universities with the LGBTQ charity Stonewall.

In September of that year, Prof Phoenix attempted to reach out to Dr Leigh Downes, to discuss carrying out research into trans prisoners, but her attempts were rebuffed.

In May 2021, Prof Phoenix was interviewed on a podcast called Savage Minds by the presenter Julian Vigo, where she discussed her gender critical beliefs. 

The following month, she launched the Open University's Gender Critical Research Network alongside Dr Jon Pike and Laura McGrath.

Giving evidence, Prof Phoenix told the tribunal she could never have imagined the level of backlash she would receive. 

Almost immediately, a WhatsApp group was set up by Open University staff. 

Among those involved in this WhatsApp group were Dr Leigh Downes, Dr Avi Boukli, Dr Chris Williams and Dr Helen Bowes-Catton, but they all denied before the tribunal that the group's purpose was to create a campaign against Prof Phoenix.

But the tribunal noted: 'We simply did not believe Dr Downes, Dr Boukli, Dr Bowes-Catton or Dr Williams' evidence on this point and find that the WhatsApp group was set up to counter gender critical beliefs at the OU and was being used to set up the open letter.'

On June 17, 2019, the 'open letter' blasting Prof Phoenix and the new Gender Critical Research Network was published on Google documents and was signed by 368 Open University staff. 

It stated: 'We call on the OU Vice Chancellor's Executive Team to take the following actions: 

'To withdraw its public support for and affiliation with the Gender Critical Research Network 

'To affirm their position as a trans inclusive employer 

'To commit to developing a concrete plan of action for supporting and affirming trans students and staff in this trans-hostile external and internal environment.'

Dr Downes, who published the document and was its first signatory, was unable to explain in court who drafted it, neither were fellow contributors Dr Williams and Dr Bowes-Catton.

On June 24, 2021, one of the open letter's signatories, Professor Peter Keogh, sent an email to the LGBT+ staff network email list blasting Prof Phoenix's gender critical network for 'sharing transphobic views and materials on their website'.

The tribunal noted: 'The purpose of the conduct was to violate the claimant's dignity. The claimant's email response the same day to Professor Keogh's email indicates that Professor Keogh's email affected her deeply.'

The 'punishing' backlash eventually led Prof Phoenix to leave the university in December 2021.

Last week, the court upheld almost 20 of her claims. A remedies hearing will take place to decide the damages owed to her.

It also ruled that the abuse Phoenix endured was harassment and the university's failure to protect her from it made it complicit in this treatment.

Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor at the Open University, released this statement: 'This judgment made for difficult reading for all of us. In several areas we fell very short. We apologise unreservedly to Professor Phoenix for the hurt and distress this has caused. This is not The Open University we want to be.

'The University has supported and continues to support the work of the Gender Critical Research Network (GCRN) as part of the many important research activities that take place at the OU. But our understanding of academic freedom and freedom of speech at the time meant we did not intervene about the open letter, statements and social media posts that followed the GCRN's launch. The tribunal ruling makes it clear that we should have acted differently to address the impact of this reaction on Professor Phoenix and the working environment that she experienced. 

'We are sorry that this has been a painful episode for many colleagues. Research and academic debate are the life blood of universities. They are not at odds with inclusion, and we will find a path that encourages diversity of thought and views in the inclusive environment we all want to see at the OU. We have learned from the judgment and there is now more we need to do. The experience and outcome of this case will guide us with this important and essential work.

'We will be initiating a major independent review of our internal working environment. This will include addressing the challenge we and the sector face balancing the complexities of upholding academic freedom, freedom of speech, and equality and employment rights. It will help us to work together to ensure those with differing views are safe and free to express their opinions within the law.  

'Achieving our mission to be open to people, places, methods, and ideas depends on us all at the OU committing to take forward this learning and to treat each other with civility and respect however profoundly we may disagree.'

This is why I don't trust most libfems and non-binary or trans identified females over a certain age. Those women were willing to smear her reputation and cost another woman her job because she spoke against a movement that benefits men.

[dear-indies]

full list of biden letter 2:

Aaron Bay-Schuck Aaron Sorkin Adam & Jackie Sandler Adam Goodman Adam Levine Alan Grubman Alex Aja Alex Edelman Alexandra Shiva Ali Wentworth Alison Statter Allan Loeb Alona Tal Amy Chozick Amy Pascal Amy Schumer Amy Sherman Palladino Andrew Singer Andy Cohen Angela Robinson Anthony Russo Antonio Campos Ari Dayan Ari Greenburg Arik Kneller Aron Coleite Ashley Levinson Asif Satchu Aubrey Plaza Barbara Hershey Barry Diller Barry Levinson Barry Rosenstein Beau Flynn Behati Prinsloo Bella Thorne Ben Stiller Ben Turner Ben Winston Ben Younger Billy Crystal Blair Kohan Bob Odenkirk Bobbi Brown Bobby Kotick Brad Falchuk Brad Slater Bradley Cooper Bradley Fischer Brett Gelman Brian Grazer Bridget Everett Brooke Shields Bruna Papandrea Cameron Curtis Casey Neistat Cazzie David

Charles Roven Chelsea Handler Chloe Fineman Chris Fischer Chris Jericho Chris Rock Christian Carino Cindi Berger Claire Coffee Colleen Camp Constance Wu Courteney Cox Craig Silverstein Dame Maureen Lipman Dan Aloni Dan Rosenweig Dana Goldberg Dana Klein Daniel Palladino Danielle Bernstein Danny Cohen Danny Strong Daphne Kastner David Alan Grier David Baddiel David Bernad David Chang David Ellison David Geffen David Gilmour & David Goodman David Joseph David Kohan David Lowery David Oyelowo David Schwimmer Dawn Porter Dean Cain Deborah Lee Furness Deborah Snyder Debra Messing Diane Von Furstenberg Donny Deutsch Doug Liman Douglas Chabbott Eddy Kitsis Edgar Ramirez Eli Roth Elisabeth Shue Elizabeth Himelstein Embeth Davidtz Emma Seligman Emmanuelle Chriqui Eric Andre Erik Feig Erin Foster Eugene Levy Evan Jonigkeit Evan Winiker Ewan McGregor Francis Benhamou Francis Lawrence Fred Raskin Gabe Turner Gail Berman Gal Gadot Gary Barber Gene Stupinski Genevieve Angelson Gideon Raff Gina Gershon Grant Singer Greg Berlanti Guy Nattiv Guy Oseary Gwyneth Paltrow Hannah Fidell Hannah Graf Harlan Coben Harold Brown Harvey Keitel Henrietta Conrad Henry Winkler Holland Taylor Howard Gordon Iain Morris Imran Ahmed Inbar Lavi Isla Fisher Jack Black Jackie Sandler Jake Graf Jake Kasdan James Brolin James Corden Jamie Ray Newman Jaron Varsano Jason Biggs & Jenny Mollen Biggs Jason Blum Jason Fuchs Jason Reitman Jason Segel Jason Sudeikis JD Lifshitz Jeff Goldblum Jeff Rake Jen Joel Jeremy Piven Jerry Seinfeld Jesse Itzler Jesse Plemons Jesse Sisgold Jessica Biel Jessica Elbaum Jessica Seinfeld Jill Littman Jimmy Carr Jody Gerson

Joe Hipps Joe Quinn Joe Russo Joe Tippett Joel Fields Joey King John Landgraf John Slattery Jon Bernthal Jon Glickman Jon Hamm Jon Liebman Jonathan Baruch Jonathan Groff Jonathan Marc Sherman Jonathan Ross Jonathan Steinberg Jonathan Tisch Jonathan Tropper Jordan Peele Josh Brolin Josh Charles Josh Goldstine Josh Greenstein Josh Grode Judd Apatow Judge Judy Sheindlin Julia Garner Julia Lester Julianna Margulies Julie Greenwald Julie Rudd Juliette Lewis Justin Theroux Justin Timberlake Karen Pollock Karlie Kloss Katy Perry Kelley Lynch Kevin Kane Kevin Zegers Kirsten Dunst Kitao Sakurai KJ Steinberg Kristen Schaal Kristin Chenoweth Lana Del Rey Laura Dern Laura Pradelska Lauren Schuker Blum Laurence Mark Laurie David Lea Michele Lee Eisenberg Leo Pearlman Leslie Siebert Liev Schreiber Limor Gott Lina Esco Liz Garbus Lizanne Rosenstein Lizzie Tisch Lorraine Schwartz Lynn Harris Lyor Cohen Madonna Mandana Dayani Mara Buxbaum Marc Webb Marco Perego Maria Dizzia Mark Feuerstein Mark Foster Mark Scheinberg Mark Shedletsky Martin Short Mary Elizabeth Winstead Mathew Rosengart Matt Lucas Matt Miller Matthew Bronfman Matthew Hiltzik Matthew Weiner Matti Leshem Max Mutchnik Maya Lasry Meaghan Oppenheimer Melissa Zukerman Michael Aloni Michael Ellenberg Michael Green Michael Rapino Michael Rappaport Michael Weber Michelle Williams Mike Medavoy Mila Kunis Mimi Leder Modi Wiczyk Molly Shannon Nancy Josephson Natasha Leggero

Neil Blair Neil Druckmann Nicola Peltz Nicole Avant Nina Jacobson Noa Kirel Noa Tishby Noah Oppenheim Noah Schnapp Noreena Hertz Odeya Rush Olivia Wilde Oran Zegman Orlando Bloom Pasha Kovalev Pattie LuPone Paul & Julie Rudd Paul Haas Paul Pflug Peter Traugott Polly Sampson Rachel Riley Rafi Marmor Ram Bergman Raphael Margulies Rebecca Angelo Rebecca Mall Regina Spektor Reinaldo Marcus Green Rich Statter Richard Jenkins Richard Kind Rick Hoffman Rick Rosen Rita Ora Rob Rinder Robert Newman Roger Birnbaum Roger Green Rosie O’Donnell Ross Duffer Ryan Feldman Sacha Baron Cohen Sam Levinson Sam Trammell Sara Foster Sarah Baker Sarah Bremner Sarah Cooper Sarah Paulson Sarah Treem Scott Braun Scott Braun Scott Neustadter Scott Tenley Sean Combs Seth Meyers Seth Oster Shannon Watts Shari Redstone Sharon Jackson Sharon Stone Shauna Perlman Shawn Levy Sheila Nevins Shira Haas Simon Sebag Montefiore Simon Tikhman Skylar Astin Stacey Snider Stephen Fry Steve Agee Steve Rifkind Sting & Trudie Styler Susanna Felleman Susie Arons Taika Waititi Thomas Kail Tiffany Haddish Todd Lieberman Todd Moscowitz Todd Waldman Tom Freston Tom Werner Tomer Capone Tracy Ann Oberman Trudie Styler Tyler James Williams Tyler Perry Vanessa Bayer Veronica Grazer Veronica Smiley Whitney Wolfe Herd

Will Ferrell Will Graham Yamanieka Saunders Yariv Milchan Ynon Kreiz Zack Snyder Zoe Saldana Zoey Deutch Zosia Mamet

[beautifulbizarremagazine]

🌟 10th Anniversary Issue on sale now 🌟

Shop today 👉 https://store.beautifulbizarre.net/product/issue-41/

INSIDE ISSUE 41

Exclusive In-Depth Interviews:

Michael Parkes [cover artist], Tamura Yoshiyasu, Tania Rivilis, Andrew Hem.

Articles:

Roxanne Sauriol Hauenherm, Paolo Puck, Known as Myself, Yuki T Photography, Ilya Zomb.

10 Years of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine:

Interview with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief who speaks to us about how the magazine began, how it has grown and evolved over the last decade. Her challenges, successes, learning, and her journey thus far.

Curator’s Wishlist:

Martin & Louise McIntosh, Directors of Outre Gallery in Melbourne, Australia share what they would like to add to their personal collection.

Collectors Profile:

Kim Larson & Bradley Platz, Directors of Modern Eden Gallery speak to us about their personal collection and what motivates them to collect contemporary art.

Lookbook:

Full page reproductions of Nona Limmen’s dark surreal photography.

Quick Q&A:

Lou Benesch, Loputyn, Petite Doll, Karen Turner, and Win Wallace [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Honourable Mention], all respond to the same 4 questions which delve into their artistic practice.

Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory:

Discover exceptional, innovative and skilled artists from around the world with Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory – the leading platform for connecting with top talent.

Inside this issue: Jon Ching, Adrian Cox, Iness Rychlik, Elizabeth Winnel, Ransom & Mitchell, Dawid Planeta, El Gato Chimney, Tran Nguyen, Daantje Bons, Troy Brooks, Hannah Yata, Mothmeister, Josh Dykgraaf, Reuben Negron, Amahi Mori, Stephanie Rew, Jeff Echevarria, Bill Mayer, Akishi Ueda, Adam Matano, Brian Viveros, Annie Stegg Gerard, Eunpyon, Marcela Bolivar, Lindsey Carr, Ebony Russell, Hannah Flowers, Theodora Capat, Erik Mark Sandberg, Sara Gallagher, Brittany Markert, Adrian Cox, Bill Mayer, Beth Mitchell, Aaron Mcpolin, Nicolas Bruno, Steven Kenny, Allison Reimold, Adam Matano, Hiroshi Hayakawa, Lexi Laine, Hannah Flowers, Ema Shin, Heidi Taillefer.

Some of our Favourite Things:

We share some of our favourite artisan fashion designers including: Louise Gardiner Embroidery, Ellen Rococo, Yu Tanaka, Jingyi Xiexie, and Sandra Mansour.

Our Community:

Our Instagram #beautifulbizarre community feature including: @candiceghaiphotography, @christina.ridgeway.art, @julyhendrix, @marieeve_proteau, @petulantpretty, @vasilisa.romanenko, @margosimms, @thisiscraves

#beautifulbizarre #artmagazine #art #painting #drawing #photography #sculpture #digitalart #fashion #artinspiration #artist

[pers-books]

Nicola Walker's appearing in another historical (for the first time in what seems like ages!)

Everything We Know About Mary & George

BY EMILY BURACK PUBLISHED: NOV 16, 2023

Mary & George, a new period drama which will chronicle the affair between King James I and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, promises to be one of the most highly anticipated shows of 2024.

In fact, the romance between the two is referenced in Casey McQuiston's Red, White, & Royal Blue novel, wherein the fictional Prince Henry writes, "I feel that James I, who fell madly in love with a very fit and exceptionally dim knight at a tilting match and immediately made him a gentleman of the bedchamber (a real title), would take mercy upon my particular plight." In a fun turn of events, actor Nicholas Galitzine stars as both Henry in Red, White, and Royal Blue and as the "very fit knight," a.k.a. George, Duke of Buckingham.

Here's everything we know about Mary & George so far:

It's based on a true story.

Mary & George is adapted from The King's Assassin by Benjamin Woolley, a nonfiction book that details "the conspiracy to kill King James I by his handsome lover, the Duke of Buckingham."

Per Sky Atlantic, "Mary & George is inspired by the unbelievable true story of Mary Villiers, who moulded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James VI of Scotland and I of England and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King’s most trusted advisors. And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from a Spanish invasion and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher."

Galitzine is also set to star in Red, White, and Royal Blue this year.SKY AND AMC

The plot continues: "Prepared to stop at nothing and armed with her ruthless political steel, Mary married her way up the ranks, bribed politicians, colluded with criminals and clawed her way into the heart of the Establishment, making it her own.  Mary & George is a dangerously daring historical psychodrama about an outrageous mother and son who schemed, seduced, and killed to conquer the court of England and the bed of King James."

Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine lead the cast.

Moore and Galitzine as the mother-son duo.SKY AND AMC

Julianne Moore stars as Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham

Nicholas Galitzine stars as George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham

Tony Curran as King James I

Laurie Davidson as Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset

Trine Dyrholm as Queen Anne

Tom Victor as John Villers, 1st Viscount Purbeck

Amelia Gething as Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck

Sean Gilder as Sir Thomas Compton

Jacob McCarthy as Christopher "Kit" Villers, 1st Earl of Anglese

Alice Grant as Susan Villers, a.k.a Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh

Niamh Algar as Sandie

Nicola Walker as Elizabeth Hatton

Samuel Blenkin as King Charles I

Mirren Mack as Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham

Rina Mahoney as Laura Ashcattle

Adrian Rawlins as Sir Edward Coke

Simon Russell Beale as Sir George Villiers

There will be seven episodes in the limited series.

Davidson as Earl Somerset, Curran as King James, and Dyrholm as Queen Anne.SKY AND AMC

No premiere date has been set yet, but it will air in 2024 on Sky Atlantic in the UK and Starz in the US. Watch a teaser trailer here:

It was originally supposed to air on AMC Networks, but now it will air on Starz.

[hpowellsmith]

Books of 2023

I was pleased to read lots of books this year! I greatly enjoyed the majority of these - the only one I wouldn't really recommend was Rated M for Mature - and the favourites are bolded. There were quite a lot of others that I didn't end up finishing, which were mostly memoirs of people who I felt interested in but didn't find their writing very compelling, and some second-world fantasy novels that didn't grab me. Most of this year's reading was historical, contemporary, memoirs, or horror: it was only towards the end of the year that I got some fantasy in there, which is funny as I've always thought of myself as a big fantasy fan - if anyone has any queer non-YA fantasy recommendations, I'd love to have them. The most recent new-to-me fantasy I loved was The Sacred Dark series by May Peterson, if that helps!

I was really happy to read Alison Rumfitt, Torrey Peters, Maya Deane, Lee Mandelo, EE Ottoman, and Brandon Taylor for the first time in particular, and look forward to reading more of them in the future; Ducks by Kate Beaton hit hard and stuck with me; Passion and Play is a massively illuminating read for anyone interested in writing intimate scenes in games and made me feel a ton more confident and intentional in doing so; I loved returning to and crying over old favourites Elizabeth Wein and Terry Pratchett after a very long time.

Detransition, Baby - Torrey Peters

A Perfect Spy - John le Carre

Felix Ever After - Kacen Callender

Lark and Kasim Start a Revolution - Kacen Callender

Youngman - Lou Sullivan

The Ministry of Unladylike Activity - Robin Stevens

Winterkeep - Kristin Cashore

Rated M for Mature: Sex and Sexuality in Video Games - Matthew Wysocki (ed.), Evan W. Lauteria (ed.)

Passion and Play: A Guide to Designing Sexual Content in Games - Michelle Clough

How Games Move Us: Emotions by Design - Katherine Isbister

Tell Me I'm Worthless - Alison Rumfitt

The Companion - EE Ottoman

The Pearl Thief - Elizabeth Wein

Real Life - Brandon Taylor

The Autistic Trans Guide to Life - Yenn Purkis, Wenn Lawson

The Enigma Game - Elizabeth Wein

Filthy Animals - Brandon Taylor

Gender Queer - Maia Kobabe

Ten Steps to Nanette - Hannah Gadsby

Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes - Rob Wilkins

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands - Kate Beaton

The Late Americans - Brandon Taylor

Wrath Goddess Sing - Maya Deane

Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend - Lizzie Huxley-Jones

Summer Sons - Lee Mandelo

Slow River - Nicola Griffith (reread)

The Others of Edenwell - Verity Hollowell

Pageboy - Elliot Page

Brainwyrms - Alison Rumfitt

Uncomfortable Labels - Laura Kate Dale

The Easternmost House - Juliet Blaxland

The Two Doctors Górski - Isaac Fellman

Dark Matter: A Ghost Story - Michelle Paver

Charmed Life - Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

A Trans Man Walks Into A Gay Bar - Harry Nicholas

Going Postal - Terry Pratchett

Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett (reread)

In Strictest Confidence - Craig Revel Horwood

[thetrueparanormal]

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped support The True Paranormal grow over the year! 😄 Without you, none of the articles pictured in the video would have been possible 😄 I hope you've enjoyed the articles so far, and that you'll enjoy the ones yet to come 🥳

A special thank you goes to Damain, Nicolette, Kerry, GD, Sharon Carr, Rye Voss, Glen Hunt, Chris Willcx, Nicola Jada, Nita Raveling-Hamilton, davidleejones, The Cornish Ghost Whisperers, Beardo Gets Scared, Starlight Phoenix Paranormal, Paranormal Penny Pinchers, the Australian Paranormal Society, Codegas Codex of Curiousity, Phantom Detectives LLC, Shadow Walkers Paranormal Investigators, South Of Spooky, and Don't Scare Claire for your continued support of The True Paranormal. If you want to be thanked in an article, or in the monthly appreciation post, then please share my articles across social media and tag 'The True Paranormal'. If I see that you've shared, then I will thank you in the following article 😄

[ukrfeminism]

TW: child sexual abuse

Seven people sexually abused and raped children as part of a child sex abuse ring in a drugs den in Glasgow.

Iain Owens, 45, Elaine Lannery, 39, Lesley Williams, 41, Paul Brannan, 41, Barry Watson, 47, Scott Forbes, 50 and John Clark, 46, were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of rape and sexual assault on Tuesday.

The charges against them included making children perform sex acts on each other, serious sexual assault, rape and neglect.

An eighth accused, Marianne Gallagher, was found guilty of assault.

'Harrowing trial' with the 'most distressing evidence'

Owens, Lannery, Brannan, Williams and Clark were found guilty of attempting to murder a baby girl, who was put in a microwave, forced to eat dog food and hung by her clothes from a nail, as well as being chased by people wearing a devil mask on occasions between December 2015 and June 2019.

Two of the accused were found guilty of neglect - wilfully exposing children to harm by failing to give them clean clothing, adequate food or sanitary living conditions, and not treating chronic head lice infestations.

Four children suffered at the hands of the group. Three made allegations including gang rape and sexual abuse committed in a Glasgow drugs den.

They are due to be sentenced on January 4.

The trial is believed to have been the largest prosecution of a child sex abuse ring in Scotland.

Judge Lord Beckett excused the jurors from ever serving on a jury again and thanked them for serving on such a long, "harrowing trial" and listening to the "most distressing of evidence".

Jurors are also being offered counselling if they wish.

Three of the accused were acquitted of all charges - Mark Carr, 49, Richard Gachagan, 45 and Leona Laing, 50.

Detective superintendent Nicola Kilbane said: “This has been a horrific ordeal for the young victims who were subjected to years of unimaginable abuse. Our thoughts are with them today and I hope this outcome can help them in moving forward.

“The levels of depravity shown in this case are extremely rare in Scotland and the courage of the victims was essential in securing this conviction.

“This was a long, complex and challenging investigation for a team of officers and staff who had to work through the most harrowing evidence to bring those responsible for these despicable crimes to justice.

“We remain committed to supporting victims of sexual crime and protecting children from harm and abuse. We will use all available resources to find and arrest the abusers, no matter how much time has passed. I would urge anyone who is a victim of abuse to speak to police in the knowledge you will be listened to, taken seriously and fully supported.

“Since the investigation began we’ve worked closely with a range of partners in Social Work, Health, Education, Crown Office and the third-sector to protect and support the victims.”

Colin Anderson, independent chair of Glasgow’s Child Protection Committee, said: “This has been a highly complex case.

"The circumstances of the children involved will be subject to a Case Learning Review, in accordance with the Scottish Government National Guidance for Child Protection Committees Undertaking Learning Reviews.

"It is therefore inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

[are-they-z]

Supporters of #NoHostageLeftBehind Open Letter to Joe Biden - Part 1/2

The letter consists of lies, no mention of Palestinian genocides, and a call for ceasefire.

Read the full letter:

Dear President Biden,

We are heartened by Friday's release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan [Raanan] and by today's release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity.

But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death. They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered—women raped, families burned alive, and infants beheaded.

Thank you for your unshakable moral conviction, leadership, and support for the Jewish people, who have been terrorized by Hamas since the group's founding over 35 years ago, and for the Palestinians, who have also been terrorized, oppressed, and victimized by Hamas for the last 17 years that the group has been governing Gaza.

We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently, in this moment, freedom for the hostages.

We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind. Whether American, Argentinian, Australian, Azerbaijani, Brazilian, British, Canadian, Chilean, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Eritrean, Filipino, French, German, Indian, Israeli, Italian, Kazakh, Mexican, Panamanian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, South African, Spanish, Sri Lankan, Thai, Ukrainian, Uzbekistani or otherwise, we need to bring them home.

Supporters:

Adam & Jackie Sandler

Amy Schumer

Aaron Sorkin

Barry Diller

Behati Prinsloo

Bella Thorne

Ben Stiller

Bob Odenkirk

Bobbi Brown

Bradley Cooper

Brett Gelman

Chris Rock

Constance Wu

Courteney Cox

David Alan Grier

David Chang

David Geffen

David Oyelowo

Diane Von Furstenberg

Eli Roth

Emma Seligman

Eric Andre

Ewan McGregor

Gal Gadot

Gwyneth Paltrow

Harvey Keitel

Isla Fisher

Jack Black

James Brolin

Jason Blum

Jason Sudeikis

Jeff Goldblum

Jerry Seinfeld

Jesse Plemons

Jessica Biel

Jessica Seinfeld

Joey King

John Slattery

Jon Hamm

Jordan Peele

Josh Brolin

Judd Apatow

Judge Judy Sheindlin

Julia Garner

Julianna Margulies

Julie Rudd

Justin Theroux

Justin Timberlake

Karlie Kloss

Katy Perry

Kirsten Dunst

Lana Del Rey

Laura Dern

Liev Schreiber

Madonna

Martin Short

Michelle Williams

Mila Kunis

Nicola Peltz

Noa Tishby

Olivia Wilde

Orlando Bloom

Paul & Julie Rudd

Richard Jenkins

Rita Ora

Ross Duffer

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sam Levinson

Sarah Paulson

Sean Combs

Shira Haas

Sting & Trudie Styler

Taika Waititi

Thomas Kail

Tiffany Haddish

Tyler Perry

Will Ferrell

Andy Cohen

Alex Edelman

Amy Sherman Palladino

Aubrey Plaza

Barry Levinson

Billy Crystal

Brad Falchuk

Brian Grazer

Bridget Everett

Brooke Shields

Chelsea Handler

Chloe Fineman

Chris Jericho

Colleen Camp

David Schwimmer

Dawn Porter

Dean Cain

Debra Messing

Elisabeth Shue

Erin Foster

Eugene Levy

Gene Stupinski

Gina Gershon

Guy Oseary

Henry Winkler

Holland Taylor

James Corden

Jason Reitman

Jessica Elbaum

Jimmy Carr

Jonathan Ross

Josh Charles

Juliette Lewis

Kristen Schaal

Kristin Chenoweth

Lea Michele

Mark Foster

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Matthew Weiner

Michael Rappaport

Molly Shannon

Noah Schnapp

Pattie LuPone

Regina Spektor

Sara Foster

Sarah Cooper

Scott Braun

Seth Meyers

Sharon Stone

Zack Snyder

Zoey Deutch

Zosia Mamet

Zoe Saldana

Alex Aja

Aaron Bay-Schuck

Amy Chozick

Aron Coleite

Adam Goodman

Alan Grubman

Adam Levine

Allan Loeb

Amy Pascal

Angela Robinson

Antonio Campos

Anthony Russo

Alexandra Shiva

Andrew Singer

Alison Statter

Alona Tal

Ali Wentworth

Ari Dayan

Ari Greenburg

Arik Kneller

Ashley Levinson

Asif Satchu

Barbara Hershey

Barry Rosenstein

Beau Flynn

Ben Turner

Ben Winston

Ben Younger

Blair Kohan

Bobby Kotick

Brad Slater

Bradley Fischer

Bruna Papandrea

Cameron Curtis

Casey Neistat

Cazzie David

Charles Roven

Chris Fischer

Christian Carino

Cindi Berger

Claire Coffee

Craig Silverstein

Dan Aloni

Dan Rosenweig

Dana Goldberg

Dana Klein

Danny Strong

Daniel Palladino

Danielle Bernstein

Danny Cohen

Daphne Kastner

David Bernad

David Baddiel

David Ellison

David Gilmour &

Polly Sampson

David Goodman

David Joseph

David Kohan

David Lowery

Deborah Lee Furness

Deborah Snyder

Donny Deutsch

Doug Liman

Douglas Chabbott

Eddy Kitsis

Edgar Ramirez

Elizabeth Himelstein

Embeth Davidtz

Emmanuelle Chriqui

Erik Feig

Evan Jonigkeit

Evan Winiker

Francis Benhamou

Francis Lawrence

Fred Raskin

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"SLAYERS Held In OAKALLA," Vancouver Sun. July 3, 1934. Page 1 & 2. --- INDIANS ARE FOUND GUILTY ---- EXECUTION DATE SET --- Arrival in Vancouver Sunday of the three Indian brothers condemned to die on the gallows on October 26 for the murder of Dominion Constable Frank Gisborne, was marked by the traditional stoicism of their race. They are Eneas, Richardson and Alex George.

Under heavy guard, they were taken to Oakalla Prison Farm to await their execution.

A fourth brother, Joseph George, still is at Oakalla also charged with the slaying. Joseph was wounded in the melee at Canford Reserve near Merritt on May 23 and has been un- der medical supervision in Vancouver for some time in an endeavor to ascertain whether his deafness is likely to be permanent.

THE VERDICT The three Indian brothers, Richardson, Eneas and Alex George, were found guilty at Vernon on Saturday night of the murder of Dominion Indian Department Constable F. H. Gisborne and were sentenced by Mr. Justice Denis Murphy to hang on October 26.

Gisborne and British Columbia Police Constable Percy Carr were slain on May 23 at Canford Reserve, near Merritt, when they went to apprehend Eneas in Alex George connection with the stabbing of his wife.

According to testimony the bodies of both were thrown into the Nicola river, but only that of Gisborne has been found. Gisborne was battered to death, while, according to witnesses, Carr was still groaning when he disappeared into the fast-running stream.

Alex, the younger brother, who, it is stated, is in an advanced stage of tuberculosis, seemed to deepen in pallor, but Richardson and Eneas displayed no emotion.

From the gallery, how ever, came a hushed cry as the aged mother-in-law of Richarson and Eneas heard the sentence. Her eyes streaming with tears, she later visited the trio in Richardson George the cells, took the hand of each through the heavy bars and, in soft Indian dialect, asked a blessing on them.

EXECUTION HERE Unless an appeal, which is expected, is successful, or executive clemency is shown, the mother-in-law and her husband must now care for the 10 children of Eneas and Richardson.

The execution is scheduled to take place in Oakalla prison, Vancouver.

Mrs. Carr wife of Constable Carr, who maintained a stoic calm while the story of the slaying of her husband and his fellow officer was unfolded in court, Eneas George let loose her repressed emotions after the verdict, and wept. She embraced one of the officers who has been working tirelessly in the investigation of her husband's death.

DEFENSE PLEA Mr. Justice Murphy gave a summing up lasting three hours. The defense called no witnesses. Stuart Henderson, chief defense counsel, pleaded for a reduced verdict and declared there "was not a shred" of evidence to show premeditation. He declared that if Gisborne's gun had not jammed in the fight which ended in the slayings, then he, and not the Indians, would be facing the charge of murder.

"I ask you gentlemen to put yourselves in the place of the Indians," he pleaded, "and see if you would have done anything different than they did when they were under the belief that their brother was dead and that their own lives were in peril."

(Joseph George, a fourth brother, suffered a fractured skull in the fatal fight.)

THE PROSECUTION Attorney General Gordon Sloan declared "Society in general and police officers in particular must be protected from those who would endanger human lives and the structure which society has erected for its own defense." He described the slaying as a cold-blooded murder of a peace officer in discharge of his duty, and asked the extreme penalty.

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 6.14

Beer Birthdays

George Schmitt (1833)

John Seiler (1833)

Bob Brown (1886)

Warren Pawsey (1963)

John Bryant (1966)

Rick Kempen (1969)

James Costa (1972)

Five Favorite Birthdays

John Bartlett; quotation collector (1820)

Margaret Bourke-White; photographer (1904)

Diablo Cody; writer (1978)

Che Guevara; physician, Argentine revolutionary (1928)

Jerzy Kosinski; writer (1933)

Famous Birthdays

May Allison; actress (1890)

Rod Argent; rock keyboardist (1945)

Gene Barry; actor (1919)

John Bartlett; author & publisher (1820)

Nicolas Bentley; English author & illustrator (1907)

James Black; Scottish pharmacologist (1924)

Yasmine Bleeth; model, actor (1968)

Alan Carr; English comedian, actor & screenwriter (1976)

René Char; French poet & author (1907)

Cy Coleman; pianist, songwriter (1929)

Laurie Colwin; novelist & short story writer (1944)

Arthur Davis; animator & director (1904)

Ben Davidson; Oakland Raiders DE (1940)

Julie Felix; American-English singer-songwriter(1938)

Theobald Wolfe Tone FitzGerald; Irish Army Officer & painter (1898)

Boy George; pop singer (1961)

Marla Gibbs; actor (1931)

Giglio Gregorio Giraldi; Italian poet (1479)

Steffi Graf; tennis player (1969)

James Gurney; artist and author (1958)

Lucy Hale; actress & singer-songwriter (1989)

Eric Heiden; speed skater (1958)

James Hutton; Scottish naturalist (1726)

Johann Abraham Ihle; German astronomer (1627)

Burl Ives; singer (1909)

Rudolf Kempe; German pianist & conductor (1910)

Judith Kerr; German-English author & illustrator (1923)

Karl Landsteiner; Austrian biologist & physician (1868)

Irmelin Sandman Lilius; Finnish author & poet (1936)

Ida MacLean; British biochemist (1877)

Peter Mayle; English author and screenwriter (1939)

Heather McDonald; comedian, actress & author (1970)

Dorothy McGuire; actor (1916)

Kevin McHale; actor (1988)

Marcus Miller; bass player & composer (1959)

Lise Nørgaard; Danish journalist, author & screenwriter (1917)

Will Patton; actor (1954)

Thomas Pennant; Welsh ornithologist and historian (1726)

Kevin Roche; architect (1922)

W. W. E. Ross; Canadian geophysicist and poet (1894)

Pierre Salinger; journalist (1925)

Nilakantha Somayaji; Indian astronomer & mathematician (1444)

Harriet Beecher Stowe; writer (1811)

Superman; comic book character (1938)

Donald Trump; gazillionaire blowhard (1946)

Harry Turtledove; writer (1949)

June Walker; stage & film actress (1900)

Junior Walker; singer, saxophonist (1931)

Sam Wanamaker; actor (1919)

Harold Wheeler; composer (1943)

Alan White; rock drummer (1949)

Laurence Yep; author & playwright (1948)

[gregorpetri]

IT's Finally Chefsache

Remember the days of “IT Doesn’t Matter”? Nicolas Carr’s infamous Harvard Business Review article from 2003 captured the frustrating reality for many CIOs: business leaders just weren’t interested. Back then, the prevailing thought was to outsource IT like the company cars and the canteen. But a seismic shift is happening – finally, business leaders are taking their seats at the IT table. Thank…

[beautifulbizarremagazine]

undefined

🌟10th Anniversary Issue 41 Pre-Orders now open! 🌟https://store.beautifulbizarre.net/product/issue-41-pre-order/

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is a leading publication for contemporary art lovers, featuring in-depth interviews and profiles of leading and emerging visual and wearable artists from around the world. Each issue offers informative, inspiring, and thought-provoking content, perfect for artists, artisan fashion designers, collectors, curators, galleries, and anyone looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the contemporary art world.   Inside Issue 41

Exclusive In-Depth Interviews: Michael Parkes [cover artist], Tamura Yoshiyasu, Tania Rivilis, Andrew Hem.

Articles: Roxanne Sauriol Hauenherm, Paolo Puck, Known as Myself, Yuki T Photography, Ilya Zomb.

10 Year’s of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: Interview with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief who speaks to us about how the magazine began, how it has grown and evolved over the last decade. Her challenges, successes, learning, and her journey thus far.

Curator’s Wishlist: Martin & Louise McIntosh, Directors of Outre Gallery in Melbourne, Australia share what they would like to add to their personal collection.

Collectors Profile: Kim Larson & Bradley Platz, Directors of Modern Eden Gallery speak to us about their personal collection and what motivates them to collect contemporary art.

Lookbook: Full page reproductions of Nona Limmen’s dark surreal photography.

Quick Q&A: Lou Benesch, Loputyn, Petite Doll, Karen Turner, and Win Wallace [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Honourable Mention], all respond to the same 4 questions which delve into their artistic practice:

How do you maintain your individuality as an artist and avoid being influenced by others in your field?

Tell us about your earliest memories of creating art and when you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?

How do you balance your personal life with your art career while ensuring a healthy work/life balance?

How do experimentation and risk-taking play a role in your creative process?

Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory: Discover exceptional, innovative and skilled artists from around the world with Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory – the leading platform for connecting with top talent.

Inside this issue: Jon Ching, Adrian Cox, Iness Rychlik, Elizabeth Winnel, Ransom & Mitchell, Dawid Planeta, El Gato Chimney, Tran Nguyen, Daantje Bons, Troy Brooks, Hannah Yata, Mothmeister, Josh Dykgraaf, Reuben Negron, Amahi Mori, Stephanie Rew, Jeff Echevarria, Bill Mayer, Akishi Ueda, Adam Matano, Brian Viveros, Annie Stegg Gerard, Eunpyon, Marcela Bolivar, Lindsey Carr, Ebony Russell, Hannah Flowers, Theodora Capat, Erik Mark Sandberg, Sara Gallagher, Brittany Markert, Adrian Cox, Bill Mayer, Beth Mitchell, Aaron Mcpolin, Nicolas Bruno, Steven Kenny, Allison Reimold, Adam Matano, Hiroshi Hayakawa, Lexi Laine, Hannah Flowers, Ema Shin, Heidi Taillefer.

Some of our Favourite Things: We share some of our favourite artisan fashion designers including: Louise Gardiner Embroidery, Ellen Rococo, Yu Tanaka, Jingyi Xiexie, and Sandra Mansour.

Our Community: Our Instagram #beautifulbizarre community feature including: @candiceghaiphotography, @christina.ridgeway.art, @julyhendrix, @marieeve_proteau, @petulantpretty, @vasilisa.romanenko, @margosimms, @thisiscraves

—

#beautifulbizarre #artmagazine #art #photography #sculpture #digitalart #artisanfashion #couture #artinspiration

[qnewsau]

The war of the dick togs: our Greatest Moral Battle

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/the-war-of-the-dick-togs-our-greatest-moral-battle/

The war of the dick togs: our Greatest Moral Battle

Australia’s greatest moral battle was fought on the beaches as churches sought to enforce who could swim — when they could swim — and what they could wear — the war of the dick togs.

Going to the beach only emerged as a popular leisure activity around the time of federation.

Changing into a bathing suit and plunging into the waves might seem as natural as riding a horse or kicking a ball. But in the early 1900s, Australians risked arrest for a daylight dip and ‘surf bathing’ remained a contentious issue across much of the country.

Mixed bathing

It was all about sex. A great moral battle raged across the nation.

“An abomination,” thundered Melbourne’s Archbishop Carr.

“The thin end of the wedge,” agreed Archbishop Duhig.

Not wanting to be outdone by papists, Reverend Adamson of the Methodist Conference chimed in: “Hideously immoral.”

“Cutting at the very taproot of national life,” wrote a correspondent to the Adelaide Register.

Doomsayers predicted the end of civilisation as we knew it, a descent into Sodom and Gomorrah, the destruction of traditional Christian marriage, and the wrath of a vengeful God. It’s a very slippery slope. Won’t someone think of the children!

The issue? Gender-neutral beaches, or in the parlance of the day, mixed bathing.

When the Australian colonies federated on 1 January 1901, municipal laws across much of the country prohibited swimming in the ocean during daylight hours. Numerous jurisdictions echoed section 77 of the New South Wales Police Act.

“Whosoever bathes in any part of Sydney Cove, or in any waters exposed to view from any wharf, street, public place, dwelling house in or near the said city or towns between the hours of six o’clock in the morning and eight in the evening shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one pound.”

Men monopolised municipal beaches, bathing naked during the hours of darkness.

Increasing numbers of swimmers saw the morning session extended to 8 am. But that failed to satisfy the growing population of surf bathers. Other councils followed suit after Randwick Council legalised all-day surf bathing in December 1902. However, numerous new regulations replaced the old prohibition. Towns with big enough beaches segregated them — men here, women over there. Otherwise, councils stipulated separate times for male and female bathing.

The erections on Cottesloe Beach

Most local government authorities also banned wearing swimming costumes on the beach. Bathers had to change from daywear into swimsuits in bathing sheds, walk directly to the water with no loitering and, when they exited the waves, stride briskly back to the change rooms to change into streetwear before they sat on the sand.

In 1906, Freemantle’s Councillor Nicolas demanded: “The works committee go and look at the erections on Cottesloe beach.”

He did not refer to proud, blood-swollen penises sprouting on the sand like so many rampant sea slugs.

He spoke, of course, of dressing sheds.

Mr Nicolas thought the existing structures sufficient. However, Councillor Stevens desired the construction of mobile sheds that could be wheeled to the water’s edge. That would preclude bathers emerging from the surf and promenading across the beach with their scanty neck-to-knee bathing costumes clinging indecently to their bodies.

Predictions of a slippery slope proved prescient. Once swimmers achieved the right to bathe during daylight hours, they then agitated for gender-neutral beaches. Families wished to visit the beach as a group. They wanted to have picnics. They yearned to dip their toes in the shallows and frolic on the sand together. Few Australian women could swim, so men wished to teach their wives and daughters how to ensure their safety.

‘We told you so’, wailed the wowsers. But no one listened, so they then claimed religious discrimination. If men and women gathered willy-nilly on the shore, they whined; it would prevent good, decent, God-fearing Christians opposed to such debauchery from enjoying a day at the beach.

(And there’d be floods, fire, famine, locust plagues etc.)

No good — councils eventually surrendered to popular sentiment and desegregated the beaches, sometimes jolted into action by a spate of female drownings.

Dick togs

But wowsers, as we all know, never give up attempting to impose their beliefs on everyone else. So, they moved on to dictating dick togs. But without the dicks. Because Australia’s moral guardians insisted on swimwear designed to deny the existence of genitalia.

No camel toes or visible penis lines on Australian beaches.

Male and female swimsuits needed to cover the body from neck to knee with shoulders shrouded to the elbow and necklines no lower than two inches below the throat. A skirt of between six to twenty-four inches in length should encircle the entire waist of both men and women. Loincloths would not suffice. A belt should be worn to prevent mischievous ocean currents from dacking unsuspecting swimmers. The fabric should be black or dark blue and thick enough to avoid accentuating the outlines of the body. Not tight-fitting.

Brisbane Council, among others, required housewives to visit City Hall and take a copy of the approved pattern.

Even when Brisbane eventually allowed unskirted swimsuits, it required males 14 and over to wear a ‘V’ underneath their one-piece — a sturdy jock-style garment designed to compress the male genitalia and visually desex the male swimmer. Tucking underwear. Damn your dick togs to a fiery hell.

Beach inspectors and police checked that: “bathing costumes were not indecent or inadequate or that the material thereof was not too thin or in a proper state of repair or is, for any reason, unsuitable.”

Surf lifesaving associations, then in their infancy, complained the skirted swimsuits cost lives. Both swimmers and their rescuers risked becoming entangled in the skirts.

Scores of men rocked up to the beach in drag. They borrowed dresses and skirts from their wives, mums and sisters and camped it up to the horror of municipal authorities.

The dragged-up swimmers intimidated the wowsers en masse, but cops, clergymen and council beach inspectors waited for quieter days and picked off the dick-tog wearers one by one, fining them a shilling here and a shilling there.

Female surf bathers 

However, eventually, wowsers found easier targets. Women became enamoured of the beach, and male officialdom transferred their attention to harassing them. Until well into the 1960s, beach inspectors patrolled city beaches across Australia, armed with tape measures to check women’s bikinis complied with civic requirements.

NSFW!!! Vintage photographs of Aussie male swimmers.

NSFW! Can you explain this vintage Aussie beach pic?

Support in Noosa to finally legalise unofficial nude beach.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.