#nyd icons

[ssaalexblake]

Happy eve of the daleksaversary!

[neometalmadness]

A message was sent to the robot's... visor??? Did he even have a phone???

Whatever. He got the message either way.

wildcatofgreen: Sup. You're invited to Carol Tea's wedding. Feel free to come by. It's on New Year's day. Bring two guests. Here's the location.

And a location was somewhere on another planet entirely. Felt like this was automated in someway. But hey it's the thought that counts, right?

When the notification flashes up on their internal screen, they almost instantly dismiss it, but they suddenly halt before they do so--

How on Mobius did that cat get his information, first of all.

And... Second of all, a wedding? Neo, at a wedding?

Well. It's a surprise, even to themselves, but they do find themselves a little flattered by the message! They could corner Carol about how the Hell she managed to send a message to them another time (not at the wedding, obviously, they weren't that rude)... Two guests, though? Neo barely knew two other people that could tolerate them!

Actually, no. There was one. They'd have to get back in contact with her and drag her along... Mint was a chatty cat, she'd get along with Carol just fine, surely.

... So it's a date.

They'll be there!

[womanexile]

twitter.com/taylorslavender/status/1678849640790216706?t=HlsJGp_TkgdjQ-dgxO0e4g&s=19

Have you seen this tweet? She would be so crazy if she released or maybe announced 1989tv on news year's day, like so haylor of her to do it omg

(idk if the link will pass but the tweet is saying that the number in the i can see you mv could be countdown and not a date)

I saw this. The only thing is NYD is on a Monday. Would she release something on a Monday? This could be an Easter egg for New Years Day on Reputation. Or she could be telling us we’ll have all the rereleases by the end of the year. It would be iconic though if she did that on new years. That would be so Taylor.

[intheshadowofwar]

29 June 2023

The Monstrous Anger

Ypres 29 June 2023

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical doctor, is probably one of, if the not the most misunderstood of the so-called ‘war poets.’ He is the author of the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields,’ which might be the single most prolific piece of war poetry ever written. He penned it on the back of a field ambulance the day after he’d had to bury a close friend. He himself died of pnumonia in 1918, which only adds to the poignancy of the poem. It has been read in memorial services, in schools, at war memorials and museums and cemetaries.

His words are iconic - that stanza, ‘we are the dead,’ etched itself into the minds of generations. Those first two verses are so powerful that they have blinded people from the poem’s true meaning, expressed in the final verse.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

There you have it. This most iconic and powerful pieces of prose, repeated by the mournful generations that followed that First World War, was intended to inspire men to go to war.

I do not consider John McCrae to be an evil man - he was of his time, and sincerely believed in the justice of his cause - hell, had I lived in his time, I might have agreed with him (and even today, I have very little sympathy for the German cause.) But I do consider In Flanders Fields to be an evil poem, a profoundly evil poem, because it not only inspired men to go to their deaths in Flanders and France, but it was used as a potent tool in the Borden government’s campaign to introduce conscription to Canada. I am not saying we should not recite this poem, but I am saying that we should think more carefully about what it really says.

McCrea isn’t buried in Flanders, but he’s commemorated here at Essex Farm Casualty Clearing Station, where the men he treated were buried. This was where we began today - the bunker in which the Canadian-run station was run remains on the site, and tributes are still left inside. Yet it’s not only the Canadians who have claim to this land - the 49th West Riding Division has its memorial obelisk here, and the cemetery is littered with the dead of the Yorkshire regiments that formed it. It’s a reminder that men often didn’t die instantly on the front line - they lingered, in ‘casualty clearing stations’ like this, often for days, until death finally claimed them. Some of them even suffered the final indignity of being looted by some of the more unscrupulous oderlies - the acronym of the Royal Army Medical Corps, RAMC, was sardinically corrupted by British troops into ‘Rob All My Comrades.’ (The British had a knack for this - NYD (‘Not Yet Diagnosed’) signs above medical cases became ‘Not Yet Dead.’)

After Essex Farm, we entered Poperinge, which is a lovely town which I absolutely do not recommend visiting until they find out where that open sewer smell is coming from. (Perhaps they are trying to emulate the smell of frontline latrines?) Odour aside, there’s a fine Belgian memorial outside the cathedral there, but we were most interested in the Execution Post. There were dozens of these on all fronts - the Italians in particular were very profligate when it came to shooting their own men. In Poperinge, the execution site was outside the town hall, and today is a memorial to the men killed by their own side.

Men were, of course, shot for serious crimes - murder and rape were capital offenses. For the most part, however, they were shot for desertion, for refusing to fight, for dropping their weapons in the line of duty - essentially, for cowardice. Today, we know that soldiers can and do reach their limit, and that they need to be treated in compassion, but in 1917, PTSD wasn’t understood, and a man having a trauma induced panic attack could find himself judicially murdered by unsympathetic courts martial. Elsewhere, particularly in Italy, executable offensives could be truly absurd. One man was shot for failing to remove his pipe from his mouth when saluting. Other men from ‘underperforming’ units were shot at random to encourage the others - a revival of the Roman practice of decimation. It was not only the battlefield that could be pitiless.

We departed Poperinge and headed to Hill 60. Hill 60 was actually one of two points on one hill - the north was called ‘Hill 60’ while the southern portion was called ‘the Caterpillar.’ I say it ‘was’ one of these points, because Hill 60 and the Caterpillar are no longer there. Although this portion of the line was not on the Messines Ridge, it was attacked as part of General Herbert Plumer’s attack on the ridge in June 1917. Prior to the attack, tunnellers - famously the 1st Australian Tunneling Company, but also Canadian and British miners at various points - dug beneath German lines and planted massive mines beneath their strongpoints. On the 7th of June 1917, they were detonated. Hill 60, the Caterpillar and ten thousand German lives were extinguished in a pair of colossal explosions - just two of nineteen exploded that day. The assault that followed was a example of an unqualified British success - but the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres shortly after prevented much exploitation.

The craters remain, covered in grass, trees and water, but clearly visible as a scar upon the land. To see the sheer size of the crater at the Caterpillar, and to contemplate the sheer destructive power that caused it, is truly a sobering thing. This, effectively, is the grave of thousands of men - not that anything remained to be found after the mines went off. At very least, I suppose, it would have been quick.

We returned to Ypres for a quick lunch, and then headed back out to Tyne Cot Cemetery, where lie the dead of the late stages of the Passchendaele battles. This is the largest Commonwealth cemetery anywhere in the world, with 13,000 men interred within - a smaller number than Langemarck, but it must be remembered that the vast majority of them have individual graves or headstones. We were guided through by a CWGC intern, shown a few particular graves, and talked through the process of maintaining a cemetery and working for the CWGC.

Tyne Cot is so large that it is numbing. I remember staring at the endless rows of dead - 8000 of them are unknowns, and whole rows can consist of ‘Known Unto God’ repeated ad nauseum. The numberless dehumanised ‘blank’ graves, broken occasionally by one with a name and an epitaph, put me in the mind of old pictures of units before and after major battles - a full parade ground before, a few dozen men afterwards. It made me think of one of those dark trench songs - ‘if you want the old battalion, I know where they are. They’re hanging on the old barbed wire.’

We moved on from Tyne Cot to the Flanders Field American Cemetery. In the last few months of the war, two American divisions - initially the 27th and 30th Divisions, then the 37th and 91st Divisions - fought under British and Belgian command in the last battles around Ypres and the Lys. This was contrary to General John Pershing, the American commander’s, belief that Americans ought to fight under their own command in their own units (a policy that, alongside Pershing’s complete refusal to take advice from the British and the French, led to proportionately higher casualties amongst US forces.) I’m not quite sure why the Americans let these divisions fight with the other Allies, but my guess is that they politically felt they ought to be shown to be fighting in Belgium.

We were guided around the cemetery by the superintendent there, and it reminded me of how differently the United States thinks of the First World War (if they do at all of course.) The Americans frame their involvement in the war as a sacrifice for freedom - the freedom of the Belgians in particular being emphasised here. They’re not so much on the mud and blood as they are on the duty and heroism. I don’t think they’re necessarily wrong - Belgium was absolutely fighting for it’s freedom from the Germans - but I think their outlook reflects the limited amount of time they spent fighting in the war. The Americans didn’t really experience disillusionment with modern war until Vietnam - they were only in the tail end of the First World War, and the Second was fought against such an unambiguously evil opponent that it would be hard to form a pacifistic argument against it.) Add that to the current attitude towards soldiers and veterans in America today, which is in itself a reaction to how Vietnam veterans were treated, and the US attitude to it’s First World War isn’t surprising at all.

It’s unsurprising, but the way the superintendent danced around anything that might have come off as critical of the US war effort was a little bit troubling. One doesn’t have to be a pacifist to say that attacks launched hours or minutes before the armistice were probably pointless - and yet he seemed almost to justify them. I’m sure that’s just the line he’s been told to say, but just because these doughboys were still ‘on the clock’ didn’t mean they had to die on the altar of Pershing’s vanity.

Can you tell I don’t think much of Pershing?

We went back to Ypres again, had a little break, and met beside (what we could see of) the Menin Gate for a discussion of that. I had volunteered to read Siegfried Sassoon’s ‘On Passing the New Menin Gate,’ which is one of Sassoon’s angrier works, and I quickly regretted it as the park we were standing in was soon occupied by a lot of old men in Royal British Legion suits and guys with tattoos who looked like they could steamroll me in a fight - but they’d all gone by the time it came to speak, and I managed to read it without having my arse ripped out through my mouth by an angry ex-serviceman.

We headed down to the Last Post ceremony. Ken Inglis once said that rituals are most interesting when they go wrong, so he’d have loved this one. First of all, the entire Menin Gate was covered in scaffolding, so it was like half of Ypres had congregated in front of a construction site. The crowd was such that nobody could see, so a sea of arms holding phones emerged from the mass of people. Then the ceremony began, and silence fell, save for the ringing of bicycle chains as a band of cyclists for Prostrate Cancer UK, wearing form-fitting, neon blue bike suits, rolled up to see what was happening. The Last Post was sounded, and then ‘quiet’ as dignitaries and school children lay wreaths. I say ‘quiet’ because one motorist drove past the barrier and nudged his way through the crowd to get home a little more quickly, and a few kids down the road were miming guns and shouting ‘Pew! Pew! Pew!’ One kid in a red shirt was either miming being shot or dancing, I’m still not certain which. Halfway through, the Prostrate Cancer guys got bored and cycled away. A man from the Royal British Legion stood behind me, and I noticed him die a little more inside at every absurdity. A piper began to play, and immediately hit a bum note. All the while, Belgian pedestrians walked past, some still talking or whistling as they did. The ceremony didn’t so much end as it petered out - the bugle stopped, silence turned to confused mumbling and then speaking, and then a great wave of people stumbled forwards, through the scaffolding and into town - the vast majority headed for pubs and bars.

It wasn’t a very solemn or moving occasion, but it was sure as hell entertaining.

I would like to end on a little indulgence. All day, I have wanted to read a poem as a sort of rebuttal to In Flanders Fields, but time simply wasn’t on my side. As a result, I’m just going to print it here. This is Wilfred Owen’s Anthem for Doomed Youth - the spiritual antithesis, in my opinion, to John McCrae.

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

— Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

[lanternburning19]

[doe-tho]

my fav holiday is new years

like you make it what you want it to be, the energy is impeccable, and i always like wake up feeling great on nyd. also it being a like 2 day holiday? amazing iconic, she is that girl

[whatsonmedia]

Thursday Thrills: The Week’s Most Exciting Events!

WhatsOn editor, Nicole Newman has come up again with fantastic events for the week and upcoming. However, the events are started and before it gets over get your shoes for having some fun this week. Here are some of the great events for the week. The WHP21 Closing Party 31 DecThe biggest night out of year to end all parties. And celebrating like it’s the last night out of your life on earth. Dancing goodbye to this year, with dance music royalty Annie Mac is bringing her finest set to the dance floor. Together with one of the best line-ups of DJs who know how to keep you dancing all night long. Taking place all under one roof at Manchester best loved dance music and live music venues, The Warehouse Project. Including Annie Mac, DJ Ez, Lf System, Eliza Rose, Kilimanjaro, Meg WardKrysko, Ben Hemsley, Low Steppa, Arielle Free, Hannah Laing, Mark Blair, Joe Motion, Dusky, Interplanetary Criminal, Adelphi Music Factory, Bklava, Tommy Farrow thewarehouseproject.com NYE Jurassic Party31 DecIts last night of the year! And this party is taking a stride on the wild side at one very special venue in London, which will go down in natural history (museum) style. Dancing the night away alongside dinosaurs of all kinds. Ross from Friends would be living his dream here. So gather your ‘friends’ to see the year out in Jurassic style with epic live bands, musical bingo, a silent disco, a fancy dress competition and loads more for the best celebrations and to welcome the new year in with unforgettable memories.nhm.ac.uk Music On31 Dec Finishing one mammoth season for 2022, on the white Isle. And it is time to celebrate the finest end of the year shindig. Pacha, Ibiza opens its doors for this special house music dance party on New Years Eve. In its rarity it will be thrilling for the loyal Pacha clubbing squad from around the globe who maybe experiencing an Ibiza withdrawal. Music On Master of Ceremony, Marco Carola jets in especially for this one off party alongside Andrea Oliva and others. Throw your hands up in the air and party like its 1999, for the non-stop dance floor filler of one of the most iconic Ibiza party’s Glas New Years Day1 Jan Kick off your new years day off with the biggest street party of the year at Lab11. Glas annual legendary NYD party has become the illustrious event throughout the Midlands… welcoming the New Year celebrations in epic proportions! With a plan for putting on the best production, staggering entertainment and a stellar line-up that adds to the vibe like nowhere else!lab11.co.uk Read the full article

[functionalechoes]

so some updates on things that have happened since that failed attempt to return in July:

health problems! I was hospitalized for a bit with "NYD Abdo", which just means "not yet determined abdomen pain", but in doctor speak.

it has still not been determined, but it's faded from excruciating unable to move pain to mostly manageable with tylenol pain.

I have other fun health problems that trying to figure that one out has brought to light.

I have returned to gainful employment! this is despite the health problems. I was at the new job maybe two weeks when I had to be hospitalized and they still wanted me to work there

I'm back in inventory management, which amusingly is what I was working in when I started this blog. I like this job a lot more than that one.

I have spent so much time daydreaming about MCU AUs while picking and issuing parts and while driving to the city I work in, since it's not the same as the one I live in.

I've been RPing as NPCs in FFXIV! it's made me realize how much I miss some of the old ways I used to RP online. Icons and gifs and tag conversations

I've been away from tumblr rp for so long that I don't know what the current trends are, but I'm interested in finding out.

So what does this mean for thearcherprotocol?

I'm not actually sure. I want to roleplay, but my previous attempts have not really lead anywhere.

But I do want to share the AU I've been tinkering with for the last month. So at the very least I'll be writing again. I have a vague plan to try to get at least one drabble or thought piece out every week, though that may be a bit ambitious of me lol

[queen-paladin]

1-25 jkjk.

1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25.

Sorry if that's too many I just love hearing about books!

I love hearing about books too! So no need to apologize!!

One- How many books did you read this year? I read 26 books! Not all were finished, but you know. 21 were completely finished!

Three-What were your top five books of the year?

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, Ahab's Wife or The Star Gazer by Sena Jester Naslund, Claim Your Power by Mastin Kipp, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, and The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

8. Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

My goals were 1) to read six books, 2) to Read Sense and Sensibility since I learned Elinor's monologue from the play (the one in context when she confesses that she knew Edward was engaged) and I wanted to learn about her character and situation, and 3) to Begin the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series, all of which I have accomplished!

12. Any books that disappointed you?

It was Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys! Although I LOVE the concept of it being Bertha Mason Rochester's story and exploring the more ableist and racist implications of Jane Eyre and seeing her in a more sympathetic light, it was very, very, hard to read, especially in the middle and latter parts. I hardly knew what was going on. If certain dramatic points weren't so juicy and it wasn't written so beautifully, I would have not finished it. But I...it's just hard to read and get into starting in the middle. Why is almost every Post Colonial Literary work I read so darn hard to read or know what the heck is going on??? Heart of Darkness and Salamin Rushdie I'm looking at you!

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

I want to finish Tyrant by Stephen Greenblatt. It's about how Shakespeare wrote about politics and how his works comment on how tyrants rise to power and keep it and how they can be stopped or ended. It's fascinating and very short and I only have 30-50 pages to go, so it's a realistic finish!

19. Did you use your library?

Hell yes, I did! I spend most of the time and get most of my books from there! And it's where I get my audiobooks via Libby!

22. What’s the longest book you read?

This year? Definitely Ahab's Wife or The Star Gazer (had an audiobook to help me read some of it!). It's worth it though since it's so well-written and interesting!

23. What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?

It took me about two weeks (I think) to finish the first volume of Lore Olympus!

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

Yes, I did! Ironic considering my icon is from Crimson Peak as of this posting, but I Didn't finish Guilmero del Toro by Ian Nathan bc I had too many books checked out at once and it was a library book that had reached its due date. The other one was Find A Way by Diana Nyd bc I lost interest in it and got further into other books (and lately I read like 7 books at a time)

25. What reading goals do you have for next year?

I've yet to pick a number, but it might be 12. And I want to finish A Court of Mist and Fury AND go to a bookstore and buy and read Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I have fallen in love with the myth of Ariadne (and even used it in my fanfic, Stella of Essex, or The Vicar's Wife Betrayed which became a light retelling of the myth. Oops). I read the first chapter and fell in love with it so much that I wanted to buy it and support the author. It is on my Christmas list, so maybe it'll be my gift this year! Who knows

[belaedits]

ash costello 💖

[rckstuff]

new years day at loudwire music awards

credits (c) whofold

[lilac-raven]

Ash Costello!! ❤️🖤

~No photos are mine~

[meaningtotellyou]

i like these theme 🤧

[r0zewater-blog]

In honor of pre spooky time, here’s some Ash Costello icons without watermarks.

Reblog if used.

[mystarsareametaphor]

girls!!!! carrying!!!!! their!!!!!!! shoes!!!!!!! down!!!!!!!! in!!!!!!!!! the!!!!!!!!!! lobby!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steppedoffaflight]

van doing a cover of new years day would simply kill me, there's no coming back from that! but yes, i see your point of van liking folklore, even if it is only because of how pretty the songs sound when y/n is humming them while she cooks

Okay omg yes or also Van hearing Taylor songs for the first time because y/ns learning them on guitar and he's curious about what she's playing (I know you guys haven't gotten the part where she gets her guitar yet, do with that spoiler what you will!)