#photos by kate garner

[flowersofnaivete]

[sunkissedfawn]

Kate Moss, Coffee, 1990 by Kate Garner

[rimunagenius]

Hi, I saw your writing for the famous Popstar x Caitlin Clark I was wondering if you could do her dating an actress version?

REMINDER THAT REQUESTS ARE CLOSED!! UNTIL I GET A HANDLE ON THE MANY REQUESTS I HAVENT GOTTEN TO!! IM SO GRATEFUL YOU LOVE MY WRITING, THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING!! *this is also not proofread*

hi anon!! i love this idea! these are so much fun to write, so ofc!! sorry it took so long!! 💕

(HC) Caitlin Clark x actress!reader

Caitlin first noticed you when your hit debut movie came out in your sophomore year of college, 13 going on 30 (pretend reader is jennifer garner)

You made it big, still attending louisville to finish out school, you had noticed Caitlin Clark

You played basketball, a walk on your freshman year, where you played with emily engstler, one of your closest friends and that’s why you noticed caitlin

You kept up with basketball after you dropped it for acting and after emily graduated, so you were exposed to the coverage caitlin clark was getting

you had the biggest crush on her

it started off as a small attraction because of the love for the game you both shared and just because her ambition and confidence was just so attractive you couldn’t stop watching

you attended multiple games of hers after that

if you were close on a shoot whether it was modeling to promote a movie or press tours or just shooting location, you were there

you even took time off to fly out to iowa

she saw you more when you started to appear with jason sudeikis, your costar

you eventually ended up on the court with them, taking pictures with him and the team

you took that as your moment to tell Caitlin how big of a fan you were, and how you played at Louisville

you two hit it OFF

that night you posted a boomerang of you swinging your fuzzy sock clad feet, with a replay of the mystics game that night, with the caption “pov: my celebrity crush followed me back (i still love you @/em_engstler )”

for months you two hyped eachother up on your stories “omg @/youruser’s movie is so good!!” or “growing the game one clark at a time”

you both were getting bolder, your stories soon started to look like a caitlin clark fan page

that night at the game, you got Kate, Gabbie, Jada, and Caitlin’s phone numbers, so like friends do, you guys hung out all the time

Whenever you had free time from shooting, you were with them, your schedules somehow always aligning

people didn’t start to suspect a thing until you were getting photos taken by paparazzi more frequently, the pictures being you and Caitlin alone

the group hangouts happened whenever, but you and caitlin hangouts get your mind out of the gutter started to happen more frequently

it started off with paparazzi spotting you two laughing, making the best candid pics

and then you were spotted at more iowa games, home or away

and then she started to go to events with you

the other girls tagged alone to some, Caitlin being your main date

Caitlin had fallen hard

her teammates knew when you guys created a group chat and caitlin was a lot more flirtatious than the average behavior

heart emojis and very endearing compliments that friends don’t make about other friends

so that’s why when you invited her to your The Last of Us premiere, she had her lands lingering on the small of your back

standing so close to be just friends

you following along

it could be defendable if you two weren’t caught seriously get your mind out of the gutter

you two were a little drunk, stumbling infront of your hotel room, where you happened to be sharing, you couldn’t find the key in your purse

you fumbled around, the alcohol in your system making your center of gravity shift

unbalanced, you stumble a little, caitlin’s hands on your waist catching you

you looked up, your faces inches apart, and that when she leaned in and kissed you

it was so perfect until you heard a camera click, and a bright light past your closed eyelids

someone spotted you and took a picture of the whole ordeal

that’s when you two hurried up and grabbed the key, letting yourselves into the room

it only took two hours for your phones to be pinging with messages from the girls and friends and family asking about the articles and leaks

you two were relived but nervous at the amount of attention you two had been getting so quickly…

your and actress and she’s a college basketball player…how would people react or agree with this

you couldn’t care less, and apparently caitlin’s didn’t either bc she pushed you back on to the bed and just kissed you like her life depended on it

you two didn’t have to hide

maybe there’s perks in being the best collegiate player in the world…

[timeagainreviews]

Dust and Darkness Prevail

Panspermia is the theory that human life was seeded by comets, asteroids, meteoroids, and space dust falling to Earth. Directed panspermia is the idea that an unknown third party purposely seeded life onto this planet through similar means. These are perhaps the most ancient of aliens. For whatever reason, be it propagation, a future food source, or simply contamination from an explorer’s boot, somehow, we were created.  It’s easy to see why mankind looked to the stars for parentage- we are made of star stuff, after all. As our understanding of the stars grew, so did our desire to understand them in relation to ourselves. Staring down the concept of being a mere dust mote floating within sunbeams, some of us began to wonder if the Gods we abandoned weren’t actually a different form of sky daddy. In the words of Giorgio A. Tsoukalos- “Aliens.”

Science fiction has a rich history of depicting ancient Gods as alien lifeforms. Doctor Who is no different. Sometimes these extra-terrestrial visitors are used to explain odd phenomena, and other times, they’ve been used to outright undermine the achievements of ancient civilisations. One of the most popular ancient alien theories is that aliens helped build the pyramids. Some Egyptian-themed polyhedron-obsessed aliens influenced ancient Egyptian culture. You can see it in movies like Stargate, or in television stories like the 1975 Doctor Who serial “Pyramids of Mars.” Recent books like Erich Von Daniken’s scientifically dubious “Chariots of the Gods,” or numerous documentaries narrated by Rod Serling had garnered interest in ancient astronauts. A year after “Pyramids of Mars,” aired, NASA released photos from their Viking 1 orbiter that would only feed these theories. The black and white photos of the Cydonia region appeared to depict a carved facelike structure and gigantic pyramids on the planet’s surface. Needless to say, some people let their imaginations run wild.

While many of the concepts explored in the History Channel’s “Ancient Aliens,” have been labelled pseudo-science or even racist, some of these concepts still crop up in popular media. A more benign example would be Marvel’s own Thor and Loki. Sure, they call them Gods, but they are very clearly from advanced alien civilisations. It feels appropriate then that Doctor Who returning with Disney money might also explore one of its own ancient aliens in Sutekh the Destroyer. Considering the build-up with the Toymaker and the Maestro, it all seems fairly obvious in hindsight. But what does this have to do with Ruby Sunday? In seeking out her own parentage, might she also benefit from looking to the stars?

One aspect to this season of Doctor Who that I feel has actually fallen a bit flat is the question of Ruby Sunday’s parents. Considering that the fandom has been interacting more with the question of the identity of Susan Twist’s character, it’s safe to say I’m not alone in this. It’s just not a very interesting question, and I think it’s partly because we already know the answer. Doctor Who’s official Twitter recently asked fans who they think Ruby’s mother really is, and only a few people actually got the answer right. It’s Carla Sunday, obviously. I find this whole question to be as flawed as the conversation around it. Ruby uses words like “abandoned,” to describe herself. And while I can understand the desire to know your roots, I know my adopted siblings were never abandoned. They were found. They have a family who love them. My mother who was also adopted had a mother in my grandma. My greatest hope with this storyline is that this is what Russell T Davies has been leading up to all along. Ruby’s real mother is the one who changed her diapers and cleaned up scraped knees.

Speaking of family, “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” begins like a bit of a family reunion. Yasmin Finney is back as “Rose.” As are Gemma Redgrave as “Kate Lethbridge-Stewart,” Bonnie Langford as “Mel,” and Alexander Devrient as “Colonel Christofer Ibrahim.” Also returning is the Vlinx, with a shiny new chassis. Strangely absent is Ruth Madeley as UNIT’s scientific advisor “Shirley Anne Bingham." In her place is Lenny Rush as “Morris Gibbons,” a boy genius with a taste for excitement. We’re also introduced to Harriet, UNIT’s newest lead archivist. More on her later. The light tone of this family reunion is much needed as the majority of this episode is Doctor Who at its most bleak.

Something I have completely failed to mention this season has been the TARDIS’ weird groaning. It’s not as though I hadn’t noticed, there have just been so many things to talk about lately. I had meant to bring it up last week when the Doctor told Rogue the TARDIS doesn’t like bounty hunters. I figured then that it was the Doctor ignoring a bigger problem. Speaking of which, it does strike me as a bit odd that the Doctor hadn’t addressed the issue for such a long time. The TARDIS has been groaning and sliding into landings like a football tackle. I understand that the Doctor has a lot on his mind, but it would have been nice if they could have shown the Doctor showing any kind of concern for the TARDIS. He’s been flying her for thousands of years, he would notice any slight change. This isn’t a huge issue for me, though it does feel a bit out of character. But who am I to complain? Even I forgot to bring it up.

The Doctor does have a lot on his mind, which is what brings him to UNIT HQ. It was nice to see the Doctor lay all of his cards on the table for a change. You don’t often see the Doctor outright asking for help. Luckily, UNIT was already on the case. The woman the Doctor keeps seeing also exists in modern-day London as Susan Triad. I found it a bit odd that the Doctor would know a politician from an aborted timeline like Roger ap Gwilliam, but not a tech industry giant with her name on a skyscraper. Even Colonel Ibrahim recognised it as an anagram of TARDIS, so what gives, Doctor? 

Part of their gathering intelligence on Susan Triad has been using Mel to infiltrate her organisation. When I had heard they were bringing back Mel, I was excited. Mel has never been a fan favourite, and even I took a lot of time to warm up to her in classic Doctor Who. But bringing her back feels like a no-brainer. She’s a tech whiz and Bonnie Langford is a great actress. There is only room to grow with her character, and grow she does. Not only have they given her a bit more backstory with losing her family, but we also get to see her acting as a double agent and puttering about on her scooter. Seeing Mel in this capacity is a delight. I am really enjoying how they have built up UNIT to be more like the ‘70s (or was it the ‘80s?) with recurring characters. Instead of Yates and Benton, we’ll now have Ibrahim and Sullivan. I really hope they continue this trend, though I would appreciate it if they stopped haemorrhaging scientific advisors.

Despite around-the-clock surveillance, the most UNIT has managed to gather on Susan Triad is that she’s a seemingly nice human woman with no underlying alien traits. Her company’s upcoming event will announce that she is making the Triad OS free to the world, which seems like a weird flex. Ubuntu and Fedora are both free operating systems, so this is nothing new. What’s even more perplexing is that UNIT would integrate Triad into their own systems. Call me crazy, but if I were a government organisation spying on a tech giant because their name is an anagram of an alien time machine, I might opt to use Windows or Mac. The whole storyline was giving shades of “The Sontaran Strategem/The Poison Sky,” or even “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” wherein miracle technologies are secretly deadly. We still don’t know the ramifications of the Triad system’s worldwide rollout, but I imagine we’ll find out next week.

Something a friend pointed out to me that feels important happens during the Mrs Flood scene. According to Kate, the Triad press conference was scheduled for fifteen hundred hours, or 3 pm. What’s odd is that when Ruby and Rose show up to Ruby’s home, Cherry’s digital clock reads 15:08. At first, I had misremembered this scene and figured it must take place during the events at UNIT HQ, but the inclusion of Ruby and Rose implies that it’s not. I can think of three possible explanations for this. One explanation is that it was a continuity error. The production crew simply goofed. It happens. Another explanation is that Cherry’s radio is like my coffee machine in that the digital time display is incorrect. That’s possibly the most human answer. But television doesn’t often allow for such realistic discrepancies as they can confuse audiences. Seriously, how often do you see fictional stories where two characters share the name John? One of my closest friends is also named Natalie, but that wouldn’t usually work in fiction. This leaves us with a third explanation which is that it was done on purpose. Either something wibbly wobbly is happening, or they goofed.

As expected, Mrs Flood appears to be someone. With the reveal of Susan Triad being Sutekh, my hopes of the Rani have been dashed against the rocks of reality. Or have they? In explaining regeneration to Ruby, the Doctor describes it as a way to hide away with a new face. When Ruby fetches Mrs Flood to mind Cherry while Carla joins them back at UNIT, Mrs Flood mentions hiding herself away. While Mrs Flood was a bit rude to Ruby and downright hostile toward Cherry, these could be the actions of a bitter Susan Foreman, aka the Doctor’s granddaughter. However, I am reticent to call her Susan for a couple or reasons. For starters, Carole Ann Ford was present at the premiere for the 60th anniversary specials. Sure this could have simply been due to her history with the show, but it could also imply she’s been filming things for the RTD2 era. You could speculate that the only thing she actually filmed was a flashback regeneration scene into Mrs Flood, but that feels like a waste of a much-needed reunion. My money is on the Rani, but mostly because I want her to be and because Carole Ann Ford deserves her moment. If they bring Susan back, there’s only one person I want to see play her.

Ruby and Rose fetch the surveillance tape from the night Ruby was left on that church stoop. I loved that Carla joined them the moment she learned that Donna was involved with UNIT. It’s nice to see that at least one character hasn’t forgotten who Ruby’s real mother is. This also gave rise to one of my favourite Doctor moments of the episode when he says "Yeah but it’s Carla. Come on," in response to the claim that not even the prime minister has access to UNIT HQ. I loved the exchange between the Doctor and Kate about their possession of a time window. They claim they don’t have one, the Doctor knows they do. Classic. It’s the Doctor knowing of the existence of the Black Archive all over again. Even further, I loved the Doctor laughing at the way UNIT has “lashed together,” the time window. I doubt he really feels that way, but the Doctor needs to remind UNIT not to get too comfortable. Undercutting their achievement is a reminder that these items aren’t toys. It’s a subtle way to establish himself as an authority while also reminding UNIT of their limitations. The Doctor’s aim isn’t to belittle UNIT, but to instill a healthy fear of these technologies. As it turns out, the Doctor’s fears were well-founded.

The time window is a large room capable of viewing moments in time. The Doctor refers to time as a memory which is a bigger Whoiverse change than people are giving it credit. I always thought of the TARDIS as a supercomputer that stores moments throughout time in its memory like files. It makes sense that time and memory mingle like this. The effect of the VHS degradation on memory is one of the coolest visual effects in Doctor Who. It’s nice to see that Disney money coming into play. I also have to tip my hat to Lenny Rush for his performance as Morris here. Lots of UNIT characters were given little moments to shine in this episode like Harriet and Colonel Chidozie. The latter of whom we’re given a bit of background information about so that when he meets his demise, we care a little bit more. He’s just a Manchester lad with a cheery disposition. It would be a shame if something were to happen to him.

In an almost cruel twist of fate, the visual of Ruby’s mother is obscured. Not just obscured, but seemingly darkened as if on purpose. The moment she walks close to the Doctor and Ruby, she glitches past them. It’s sad for Ruby, but I feel it’s important that Carla is there to witness this moment. She needs to see that the mystery of Ruby’s life isn’t just one of being an orphan, but that something is deeply and darkly wrong. I feel as though Carla’s involvement in this storyline is due a rather big payoff next week, and I am looking forward to that. The Doctor notices that the TARDIS appears more corporeal than a simple image from a video. He asks the tanatalising question “If time is memory and memory is time, then what is the memory of a time machine?” It’s a question I have been mulling in my head ever since, and I still don’t have a great answer.

Colonel Chidozie disappears around the same time a swarm of dark energy begins to incircle the memory TARDIS (omg I think I just figured it out). The MEMORY TARDIS! Ok. I see what you’re putting down, Russell. Carla refers to the dark energy as “the Beast,” as in, the devil. But who among us didn’t automatically think of the Beast from “The Satan Pit”? Hell, it’s not as though it would break the show if Sutekh and the Beast were one in the same. They’re both voiced by Gabriel Woolf. Furthermore, we know Sutekh takes on multiple forms like the doggo or Susan Triad. There are plenty of examples of gods taking on multiple forms. Christianity has the Holy Trinity of God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hindu gods often have multiple forms such as Vishnu manifesting as Krishna, Rama, or even Buddha. It’s fully within the realm of possibility that the Beast is yet one more aspect to Sutekh. After all, the Fourth Doctor did refer to him as Satan at one point. Why not?

Possibly the most interesting aspect of the scene is when Chidozie’s speaks out from the darkness. It’s not so much the fact that he’s in Hell or that his consciousness feels like it’s been hijacked like Angel Bob’s was, but rather the fact that he only seems to respond to Ruby. The Doctor tries to commune with the entity and gets nothing. Kate commands Chidozie to report and comes up equally empty-handed. It’s not until Ruby attempts to communicate with the entity that it responds. If Christianity has the Trinity and Hinduism has the Trimurti, perhaps Sutekh has the Triad. Perhaps there’s Sutekh, his doggo form, and Ruby Sunday. This might explain why Ruby’s birth mother has been obscured- she never existed. Whoever left Ruby at the church that day could have been a servant of Sutekh, or even Susan Triad herself.

The tone of the episode by this point is very gloomy. I think the last time Doctor Who gave me the creeps to this degree was “The Impossible Astronaut.” As a fan of dark and disturbing movies, I consider myself rather resilient to horror and dread in media. But there is something about turning the TARDIS into a malevolent force that chills me to my core. Bad Wolf Girl once said “You know the sound the TARDIS makes? That wheezing, groaning. That sound brings hope wherever it goes.” But here, the TARDIS offers no comfort. It goes beyond seeing our beloved symbol of hope twisted and perverted. We have seen what the TARDIS is capable of doing. We know how powerful it can be. We can also imagine what that power can do in the wrong hands. My dear late friend Quinn and I used to say that the cloister bell was the scariest sound the TARDIS could make. But this howling groan and sinister energy turning into a hound of Hell is like the cloister bell on steroids.

The Doctor and Mel head off to S Triad Technologies in the vain hope that Susan might be the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan. It’s a last-ditch effort to gain insight into what is happening. Earlier in the episode, we see Kate telling the Doctor that he brings joy, but after Chidozie’s death, you get the impression that her view has sobered up a bit. The Doctor sees the fear in Kates eyes. He sees the fear in Carla’s eyes. He even let down his best friend Ruby. But it’s Mel who picks him back up. Mel who has seen him at his worst and knows who the Doctor is underneath it all. Only she can give him the tough love he needs in this moment and I loved that they gave this opportunity to Bonnie Langford.

The Doctor makes contact with Susan Triad but there is no Time Lord recognition on either end. However, we’ve been here before. Maybe she has a fob watch she doesn’t like to look at. Maybe she’s hiding away. With her press conference due to begin, Susan is whisked away. But as she leaves the Doctor calls out asking if she’s ever dreamed of a girl named Lindy. Has she ever dreamed about a place called Pacifico Del Rio? Has she ever dreamed about being an ambulance? Out of context, he sounds insane. I mean, sure, I dream of being a sail barge, but that’s my special time. It’s enough to set things into motion.

At this point, we still don’t know the true identity of Susan Triad. She very well could still be the Doctor’s granddaughter. But the moment she walked onstage doing that awkward Theresa May arm thing, I knew she had to be evil. Historically speaking, if you want someone to appear evil in Doctor Who, compare them to a Tory. It worked in “The Happiness Patrol,” and it still works now. Could you imagine being the person who milkshakes Sutekh? I feel like throwing a sweet banana dairy concoction into the face of a terrible god would only resort in eternal suffering. While Susan Triad is having her public meltdown for all to see, UNIT’s own Harriet Arbinger is doing one as well. Once again we get another Harbinger. I’ll be honest, the H. Arbinger joke isn’t nearly as strong as RTD seems to think it is. But then again, Batman is the “world’s greatest detective,” and it took him a while to learn that E. Nigma was the Riddler.

I had begun to fully suspect Sutekh by this point, but part of me was starting to wonder if Harriet wasn’t going to turn out to be Sutekh instead. It would have been a very effective misdirect. I was really liking Harriet up to this point too, so I was a bit sad she just turned out to be a servant of the God of Death. Her “I was born for this,” line had me a little hot under the collar. But it looks like she’s gonna get a lot to do in the next episode, so that softens the blow a little bit. As she names off the various gods of the Pantheon, I was very happy to see them reference the Mara as I am a big fan of both “Kinda,” and “Snakedance.” Some have also speculated that the threefold deity of malice, mischief and misery could be a reference to the Gods of Ragnarok. I really hope this is true because I’ve always thought they were cool.

I’ve seen some people complain that they seem to have somewhat retconned Sutekh. People have said it makes no sense to make him the god of gods. He’s an Osiran, not the most powerful god of them all, right? Well, if you think about it, in many ways, death is the ultimate power. If a god like the Toymaker can die, then of course he would run from Sutekh. Also, he’s a god, of course he’s going to claim to be the best. That’s kind of their whole deal. They’re quite full of themselves, gods. Sutekh’s whole deal is that he believes himself the only being worthy of life. Thus all living creatures are an affront to him. Where he treads, he leaves only dust and darkness. Sutekh demonstrates this by reducing Susan Triad’s poor assistant to dust much like he did to Chidozie. With the TARDIS commandeered by evil Anubis and the Doctor being next in line to receive Sutekh’s gift, things have never looked darker for our Time Lord and saviour.

So who was Susan Triad? Was she always Sutekh? Harriet referred to Sutekh as “the mother, father, and other of them all.” I suppose I should start using they/them pronouns for Sutekh. But who were they? Did every incarnation of Sutekh know they were Sutekh? You could wager that they had a hand in a lot of what was happening, and a lot of what was happening could lead to death. The Space Babies were forced into existence and left to die. Roger ap Gwilliam and the Maestro were set on nuclear annihilation. Lindy and her lot were racists which often leads to death. And let's not forget the cold algorithm of the capitalistic war machines from Villengard. What’s even more interesting then is that if these are all aspects of Sutekh and death, then we know Sutekh is stoppable. In “73 Yards,” we’re shown that whatever Ruby’s follower said to Sutekh was enough to send them scurrying. Sadly, Ruby has no memory of this aborted timeline.

With a new episode of “Tales from the TARDIS,” in the pipeline, I expect we’ll see the return of the memory TARDIS in a big way. According to news sources, the new episode will feature the Doctor and Ruby discussing the events of “Pyramids of Mars,” so make sure to watch that if you need a refresher or have never seen the original. One aspect you might find interesting is that Sutekh initially manifests at a priory on the site of the original UNIT HQ. I have no idea if that will come into play, but it’s interesting that both stories are focused around UNIT, if nothing else. Even more interesting is the fact that in both stories, Sutekh is intent on possessing the TARDIS. I wonder if the Doctor will be forced to use the memory TARDIS to stop Sutekh since the regular TARDIS is compromised. We see Ruby’s memory begin to manifest once more when she and Sullivan enter the time window again. It’s entirely plausible.

I’ll be watching the finale like many others in the UK this weekend, at the movie theatre. The last time I got to see a Doctor Who episode in the theatre was in Kansas City when they simulcast “The Day of the Doctor,” at a local indie-theatre. I’ll never forget the feeling of a theatre packed with nerds cheering over Peter Capaldi’s attack eyebrows. I’m also going to see it in the theatre because, evidently, this is a big enough episode to merit a cinematic experience. I bought nine tickets, so it’s going to be a bit of an event for me. I’ll try not and let that colour my experience too much. All in all, I loved this episode, but we’re still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I loved “Fugitive of the Judoon,” but the lacklustre finale left me retroactively disappointed. But for the time being, RTD has my full attention. I can’t remember the last time Doctor Who left me this excited for what’s to come.

[houseofbrat]

Is there actually a #Wales Kid Number Four or is that a metaphor for something else? What am I missing here? I don’t understand. Stephen Colbert jokes on live TV that William knocked up her mistress. Is that it? Does Wales kid number 4 have a different mother? And is that what caused Kate’s nervous breakdown? What wrong decision did William make that he can’t admit to?

As I posted a few things on William's past this weekend, let's remember that William a) has a temper, b) has a big ego, and c) is thin-skinned.

William's reputation as being a "good" king-in-waiting solely rests on statements and pr games his mother played thirty years ago during the War of the Waleses. His cult of fans love him because he was hot twenty years ago; although, some still think he's hot now. I'll leave it to you to decide.

Anyhow, cut to September 2022 when William became the heir to the throne, The Duke of Cornwall, and The Prince of Wales. After that, William no longer had to depend on his father to bankroll him and his office. Before September 2022, William's (& Kate's) office reported up to Clarence House, office of the previous Prince of Wales, Charles.

Since then, William has proceeded to fuck plenty of things up, even though his über fans view everything with rose-colored glasses. Let's review some of those fuckups & weird shit:

There was the fuckup at Boston in 2022 when William issued a statement throwing his godmother under the bus when all he had to say was “This is an issue for Buckingham Palace.” Except he didn’t.

No foreign tours since becoming The Prince & Princess of Wales.

There was the bizarre photo op of Andrew being driven to church by William last August (2023), when everyone with a functional, long-term memory knows that William has never kowtowed to his father.

Kate’s stretch of wearing thirteen pantsuits in a row, ‘cause she was all about “the work.” Somehow, she didn’t go on a crusade about wearing pantsuits when she was only The Duchess of Cambridge.

Announcing Kate had “planned abdominal surgery” the day after said planned abdominal surgery. If it was “planned,” then wouldn’t they have said something at least the day of rather than the day after?

The entire pr fuck up of not having Kate photographed leaving The London Clinic after being discharged, which in turn led to more fuckups.

Then there’s the timeline of fuckery that’s happened from Christmas until 09 March 2024 that I collated before The 2024 Mother’s Day Photo Disaster.

William is an emotionally damaged, thin skinned, control freak with a privacy fetish.

Due to his natural, control-freak-plus-privacy-fetish state, he fucked up Kate's whole pr when she left the hospital. The entire controversy regarding "Where is Kate?" would never have even happened had he handled it properly.

All he had to do was allow her to be photographed leaving the hospital. She didn't even have to walk out of the hospital. He could have just driven her out the same way he himself was photographed leaving The London Clinic.

Except he didn't do that.

Because he's an emotionally damaged, thin skinned, control freak with a privacy fetish. Again, his über fans who view everything he does with rose-colored glasses because they're parked up his rectum, will write odes and songs as to how William "protected" Kate's "privacy."

Ah, yes, the same "privacy protecting" moves that have garnered comments like this from the UK press:

“I think the thing we’ve actually seen pretty consistently about Kensington Palace since the Prince of Wales took over as it were, isn’t actually–they aren’t very good at communicating with the public. They had that visit which didn’t go very well. They’re doing whatever’s going on with here. I think clearly there’s a problem.”

“The pr machine that can handle Megxit can surely handle the princess getting surgery, and it has–just as Stephen says–spun out into these wild, wild rumors. Most of which are pretty crazy, ultimately stemming from the fact that something doesn’t feel quite right about this in a story with multiple witnesses and no photos. But, you know, let’s see, maybe, in the next 12 hours some photos do emerge. That would be a fascinating development.”

Note that these two comments recognize the before and after William became the heir to the throne. For some reason, the Kensington Palace press office could handle the shitshow of Megxit in 2020 when they were under the auspices of Clarence House. Except today that is no longer the case.

Because the Kensington Palace of today is the one that helps The Daily Show write their script for the evening.

Because they've become an INTERNATIONAL JOKE!

And it's the current Kensington Palace that picked a fight with the British Army over Kate's picture at The Colonel's Review almost two weeks ago.

Because, again, William is an emotionally damaged, thin skinned, control freak with a privacy fetish.

William is a few fries short of a Happy Meal, one beer short of a six-pack, one egg short of an omlet, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, etc.

And yes, there is unquestionably more crazy shit coming our way after William goes on vacation for several weeks.

Again.

[bm-blog01]

Why Kanthony is loved: The acting

This was originally going to be one post looking at the reasons that the popularity of Kanthony has endured for so long, however, due to some incredibly well thought out responses, and the in depth explanations I received, this is now a series of posts, beginning with the acting.

It is fair to say that going into Season 2 Kate and Anthony were one of the most anticipated couples in Bridgerton, if not the most anticipated, with The Viscount Who Loved Me being one of the most popular books in the Bridgerton series. After the release of Season 2 it became clear very early on that Kanthony would be a hard pairing to beat in terms of popularity within the fandom, from Social Media posts to YouTube videos many viewers who had never read the books, and weren't keen on Anthony in Season 1, were posting that they were obsessed with Kanthony. Over a year after the Season 2 release and Kanthony is still garnering high levels of engagement, and many fans and viewers are still talking about them, and engaging with Social Media posts about them.

When the official Bridgerton Social Media pages released a video to announce the beginning of filming for Season 3, for the first few days the conversation online was not as much about Season 3 or Polin, as it was about Simone Ashley being noticeably absent from the video. About a week after the video dropped Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey both posted a picture on their Instagram Stories of them holding hands, with a simple caption 'Kanthony reunited', Simone also posted a picture of herself with a plushie corgi. These pictures went viral, and as with the absence of Simone from the filming video, the confirmation that Kanthony were reunited became the conversation online, including in online entertainment (and non-entertainment) publications.

But what is it about Kate and Anthony that makes them so popular, and keeps their popularity enduring? I know why I like them, but I was wondering what it was about them that had other people obsessed, so I decided to ask, and the results were, in general, unsurprising.

Overwhelming one of the main reasons cited was Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley who brought these characters to life onscreen for us, so what is it about Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley that has people obsessed with Kate and Anthony? Two things were raised by everyone who responded, the chemistry and the acting.

The chemistry between Jonathan and Simone is electric, it is something that is undeniable, and one of the things that makes watching them onscreen together a complete joy. Right from the first moment that we see Kate and Anthony onscreen interacting (the horse ride in Hyde Park) we can feel the chemistry that these two have, but even before that many fans were commenting on their chemistry. A photo posted to IG mid 2021, the Tudum event 2021, and the date announcement were all early looks at how Jonathan and Simone were with each other, and on each of these occasions the chemistry between them was noticeable. For many fans these glimpses just whetted the appetite for more of what we were seeing.

But the chemistry is only a part of the equation, their ability to understand their characters and bring their emotion to the forefront without big speeches, or over dramatic acting, is something that really is a skill. Both Jonathan and Simone are able to use the nuances of their expressions to convey the emotions of Anthony and Kate, and make the viewers feel that emotion with them, but three things specifically really came through when people discussed the acting.

The subtlety of Simone's acting in the bee scene, as well as Jonathan's, how they both shifted their expressions - and the tone of the scene - so quickly. Jonathan accurately portrayed a man having a panic attack, whilst Simone's expression went from irritated, to confused, to understanding in quick succession. For many this scene showcased their understated and nuanced acting.

The 'YATBOME' scene came up as another instance in showcasing the nuances of Simone's expressions, but also the voice control that Jonathan Bailey has. One respondent stated that a friend who is an actor said that Simone's part in that scene was one of the hardest things to do because she is mostly reacting to what is said, and for the majority of the scene the camera is on her reactions. That her expressions displayed Kate's emotions shows a skill that many actors do not express. But it is not just Simone's nuanced expressions in this scene that gets a mention, but also Jonathan's voice control during the scene, how his voice, tone, inflection and volume changes in a very controlled manner.

The overall way that they were both able to convey the angst, longing and passion of Kate and Anthony, and build the tension through their body language and acting, without touching was another aspect of their acting that had some fans enthralled with their performance. One person pointed out that it was different to a lot of media today, which is very physical and sex driven.

For so many, the acting of Jonathan and Simone is the overriding factor of why they love Kate and Anthony onscreen, their ability to portray the emotions of the characters, to be believable with their own struggles of duty vs desire, and their ability to be able to bring these characters to life as multifaceted people and not make them caricatures of the uptight English Lord and fiesty, angry woman that he 'tames'.

For me personally, so much of why I love the acting is expressed here, the nuances of their expressions, the chemistry, their ability to bring these characters to us and make us feel their emotions, and the way they compliment each other in terms of their acting. The casting was spot on for them, and that Simone Ashley is tall is an added bonus because for me, this was a visual/physical representation of the characters equality in the story.

Feel free to leave a comment and say why you love Kanthony. Part 2 of this series will be out later today (AEST) or tomorrow morning (AEST).

[zot3-flopped]

https://www.tumblr.com/pop-punklouis/744672035070951424

What ahistorical nonsense! Larries, like all conspiracy theorists, want to believe they're special and unique in the way they think. They want to believe they actually engaged in "detective work" in 2016 lmfao. 9/11 truthers, moon landing deniers, JFK conspiracies existed long before the larries or social media. The only thing we can garner from the recent Kate photo speculation, is that all conspiracy theorists think exactly the same. What came of all the larrie "bg masterposts"?? Freddie Tomlinson is still a real child (never was a doll or a photoshopped illusion) and he is still Louis Tomlinson's son.

With the existence of AI, yes, AI photos can be used now. Like magazine covers have always been photoshopped. It becomes a conspiracy when people start to believe the existence of an altered photo means that an evil authority figure is trying to brainwash them. Larries, already mired in this conspiracy mindset, see other people engaging in conspiratorial thinking as confirmation that their delusions have been correct all along. The opposite of evidence-based reasoning.

This is ridiculous. After the 2020 US election, people loathe conspiracy theorists in a way they didn't back in 2016, and that includes Larries.

[dreamofstarlight]

Oh the PR was shambolic!!!! And people can feel empathy and compassion for Kate’s Cancer and preventative treatment- I really like H&M’s statement- and also be horrified on her account . Like her cancer announcement should not be the end of journalists- not the tabloids who are going to get sooooooo many briefs and sympathetic pieces this weekend- but reporters in the AP and Reuters who were left on read about requesting the original photo from Mother’s Day , from figuring out where it all went wrong (but respecting medical privacy obvi) and the future of the monarchy. KP’s PR was shambolic and while it’s screw up of the situation has garnered a lot of sympathy for Kate, we shouldn’t also stop questioning whyyyy it was so bad. And why they can’t protect the women who marry in😭😭 nothing seems to be modernizing and the women are taking the brunt of it. The one thing that social media, the BRF and the tabloids have in common is their surface level understanding and solidarity with women. And all this during women’s history month🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

This was honestly the worst PR I've ever seen. I'm no PR or comms expert but if the point of good PR is making your clients look good and protect them then KP PR failed at their jobs. Them having Kate take the blame for the photo was the moment I knew they completely lost the plot. Even if Kate did edit that photo (which I doubt she did) she shouldn't have publicly taken the blame and now knowing that they had her do that after she was given the cancer news is horrible. The women in the monarchy are the age old scapegoat, from the blood princesses to the wives. I think it is interesting to look at how the aristocracy/high society in the UK breeds competition between women and an inability to see each other as equals and be in solidarity with one another. There are some things you just can't modernize out of the monarchy and one of them is the treatment of women especially with the BRF. They love fucking over the women and using them as shields for the criticism of the men. In this case it certainly doesn't look good on William that he let his comms team make his wife who was diagnosed with cancer and is recovering from surgery take the fall for a shitty photoshop job, he should be ashamed for how he let his wife look like a goddamn fool for the whole world.

[silverhallow]

Homeward bound

Benedict Bridgerton x Sophie Beckett

With a hint of Kate Sharma x Anthony Bridgerton

Modern Spies AU

Rated: G

Word count: 1.1k

Summary: a little follow on from A Spies Honour. Benedict (and Anthony) waiting patiently(ish) at the airport for their girlfriends to return from a mission that had gone a little array.

Author's Note: this is a little fluffy towards the end and it’s not really angsty just a fun little Drabble

Again thanks @ambitionspassionscoffee for the photo inspiration

Enjoy

Benedict stood frantically waiting for her, his legs and his entire body jingling with nerves as he waited at the airport terminal.

He both loved and hated their jobs, he loved it when they got to do jobs together but when they had to do jobs apart he honest to God, spent the time they were apart stressed out.

This time he wasn’t alone in his stress, Kate had been sent with Sophie on a mission. It required a pairing but as they had to infiltrate a female gang, he knew there was no way he’d be able to pull it off, even if he did look good in Drag.

But things hadn’t quite gone to plan, both he and Anthony had known there wouldn’t be much contact, but they would get some details, some information from their handlers, Lady Danbury, as the girls missions went on.

After saving the world from the deadly supervirus, they had all been recruited to be part of an elite team, doing off the book missions to help keep the country safe. Benedict and Anthony had done a few missions for Danbury before but never permanently but after seeing how they all handled Araminta’s terror organisation, Danbury wanted them all as a team.

They usually went as a foursome, or if they had to go in teams, it was Kate and Anthony and Sophie and Benedict, depending on what needed to be done.

But this time, it was Kate and Sophie for the first time working as a pair. They’d been confident, they used to run griffs as kids and had loads of little scenarios and between them they were unstoppable but something this time had gone wrong.

The girls lost contact with Lady Danbury and the team, they had no idea if they were safe, alive or kidnapped…

Anthony and Benedict had been frantic and had wanted to be sent over to find their girls but Lady Danbury denied them access, locking them out of all the classified material, the mission could not be compromised for their safety.

Their hacking skills left a lot to be desired and they’d asked Eloise and Hyacinth who’s skills rivalled Kate’s and Sophie’s but Lady Danbury had bribed them pretty good to keep them from helping their older brother, they’d been tasked with trying to aid Lady Danbury and just kept reassuring their brother’s that everything would be okay.

But two weeks turned into a month with no word on the girl’s safety and Benedict was growing frantic, Anthony was trying to demand updates as often as he could get them but it wasn’t forthcoming.

They had no idea if the girls were alive still, if the mission had been a success or not.

They knew the plan had changed, from the intel they been able to gather the gang had changed their targets and were looking to hit somewhere in the US but other than that they’d been unable to garner any additional information.

But after 6 long weeks, they finally got an update. Kate’s location tracker was back online, Sophie’s never came back on and Benedict was terrified it had meant she was gone forever but Kate managed to get an encrypted message through to Anthony, the details of the final attack, that Sophie was alive but was nursing a broken arm after they’d been ambushed by a war lord trying to get their hands on the very device they were trying to seize, which is why her tracker was gone, she’d had to cut it out of her arm when the leader of the gang had sent for the medics to set her bone, if they’d found it, she and Kate would have been executed immediately.

Danbury was able to send in a local team to prevent the attack from happening, the entire crew was caught and “arrested”, or least it seemed to be the case, Kate and Sophie were shown to be arrested along with the rest of the crew so not to give away their identities and put them in danger.

Both girls were transferred to a military hospital to undergo checks before they would be allowed to board a flight home.

Which is where Benedict and Anthony were now waiting, not so patiently, for the plane to come in.

It had been nearly 8 weeks since they’d seen their girlfriends, they had been sent on a last minute mission and their flight had landed an hour before they were due to land, Lady Danbury had offered them the chance to go and change as they were still in some of their military gear from their mission.

They watched as the American C-17 plane appeared in the air and started it’s descent towards the ground and Benedict grabbed Anthony’s arm “they’re here!”

“I know, get off me will you” he said, shoving his brother off him as he tried to make himself look smarter.

It took all of their patience not to go hurtling towards the plane the moment in came to a stop, they’d been warned not to get in the way and let them open the cargo hatch for the girls to disembark before making their way onto the tarmac but the moment the cargo ramp hit the floor they could see two figures making their way down the ramps, running at full speed.

Benedict didn’t even hear the resigned yells of “wait!” from the man behind him, he saw that streak of blonde hair and his feet took off.

He ran faster than he’d ever run in his life, “BEN!!!” He heard Sophie screech, he didn’t even see his brother and Kate collide next to him as he carried on running, Sophie wasn’t able to run as fast with her arm in a sling so Benedict got to her before she got him but she wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could as she felt the tears burst forth as Benedict wrapped her in as tight but as gentle a hug as he could manage.

When they’d spoken before she left, both she and Kate had sustained bruised ribs, and a multitude of other bruises and wounds from the fights but her arm was what had fared worse off. “Never scare me like that again. I thought I’d lost you” he whispered into her ear as he clung to her, she was real, she was home.

“Never,” she whispered as she held onto him. “You’ll never lose me, it’ll take more than a gang of terrorists to take me away from you. It’s you and me forever remember”

Benedict just held onto her, revelling in the fact she was real, breathing her in, the scent he had missed for the last 8 weeks, she was home and she was safe and unable to help himself, unable to stop the question bubbling to the surface he placed a hand on her bruised cheek, kissed her temple and said the words that would make it all permanent, that would mean, forever…

“marry me”

[theshipsfirstmate]

hate to be lame (but i might love you) - a kathony hollywood au (rated M, AO3)

Two years ago, up-and-coming starlet Edwina Sharma had her breakout role opposite A-list bad boy and Tinseltown legacy Anthony Bridgerton in the sexy period drama ‘The Viscount.’ Rumors of an on-set romance sparked, and after a damning paparazzi photo of Anthony sneaking out of Edwina’s trailer was leaked to the press, the pair went public, becoming the It Couple of the moment for a few months as their film topped the box office and garnered awards buzz.

Now it’s time to start production on the sequel, ‘The Viscountess,’ and there’s plenty to reckon with. The press are speculating about how the exes will fare, working together again. But only a handful of people behind the scenes – Edwina’s sister-slash-manager, Kate, included – know the truth of the matter: that the relationship was a stunt, and that it wasn’t Edwina in her trailer that night.

(Chapter 2/5? is up now on AO3!!)

[teamnefarious]

Is Glass Onion About Elon Musk?

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

So Netflix dropped the new film Glass Onion during the holiday season and it's garnering some critical acclaim already.

Rian Johnson returns to direct and this is the second film in the Knives Out trilogy that Netflix ordered.

Daniel Craig returns to investigate a murder mystery involving some familiar faces. Kate Hudson and Edward Norton make an appearance as well.

Edward Norton plays a tech billionaire who is a horrible person and many have pointed out the similarities to Elon Musk, who just purchased Twitter for $44 billion and is driving the company and the rest of his companies into the ground by exposing how horrible he is for the world to see.

We have been extremely critical of Musk, even deleting our own personal and business Twitter accounts due to his actions.

Edward Norton nails the character.

Overall, we didn't hate this one! This is the age of ensemble filled movies and we think this is one of the better ones!

[popentertainmentmusic]

NOTHING COMPARES (2022)

Featuring Sinéad O’Connor, Jeannette Byrne, Paul Byrne, Mike Clowes, Bill Coleman, Chuck D, Fr. Brian D’Arcy, John Grant, Kate Garner, Margo Harkin, Roisin Ingle, Dr. Sinéad Kennedy, Clodagh Latimer, Claire Lewis, John Maybury, Peaches, Marco Pirroni, John Reynolds, Elaine Schock, Skin and Jerry Stafford.

Written by Eleanor Emptage, Kathryn Ferguson and Michael Mallie.

Directed by Kathryn Ferguson.

Distributed by Showtime. 96 minutes. Not Rated.

The Sinéad O’Connor documentary Nothing Compares starts with one of the more horrific moments in an often-tragic life.

It took place soon after the Irish vocalist started a media firestorm while performing on Saturday Night Live, where after doing a passionate a capella rendition of Bob Marley’s protest song “War,” O’Connor said to the camera, “Fight the real enemy” and ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II. (At the time of the incident, SNL head honcho Lorne Michaels banned O’Connor from the show and swore that the footage of the performance would never be seen again, however it has been trotted out often over the years – and is included yet again in this documentary.)

Anyway, soon afterwards, O’Connor had been invited to an all-star celebration of Bob Dylan’s 30 years in music. All of the guest singers were performing Dylan songs in honor of the show’s host. Kris Kristofferson introduced O’Connor, “I’m real proud to introduce this next artist whose name became synonymous with courage and integrity. Ladies and gentlemen, Sinéad O’Connor.” and the New York crowd turned on her – booing her lustily to the point that she could not even get her song (which was supposed to be Dylan’s 1979 tune “I Believe in You”) out. She stood silently at the microphone for a while, but the booing just got worse. Finally she spat out another angry rendition of Marley’s “War” and stalked offstage.

What was it about O’Connor – a woman who was smart, principled, passionate, giving, progressive, professional and both fierce and damaged at the same time – which brought out these intense reactions?

Nothing Compares tries, mostly successfully, to explain this. It also does a good job of showing how O’Connor was ahead of her time – both as a musician and as a human rights activist. It also shows that beyond all other things, she was a scared former victim of abuse who was in way over her head in a world she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be a part of.

Nothing Compares mostly focuses on the years 1987 to 1993, the supernova part of O’Connor’s early career when she released her first three albums – The Lion and the Cobra (1987), I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990) and the all-covers album Am I Not Your Girl? It was also the period of time when – for better or worse (and sometimes both) – O’Connor was a regular in the rock and tabloid press.

If you lived through the 1980s and 90s, you probably remember it well. O'Connor went from a talented, sensitive alt-rock chick to a superstar who had had to deal with a million-selling single and the apparent inability to follow it up. Then she had to deal with the “Star-Spangled Banner” incident, the bald chick jokes, the Pope controversy, getting lustily booed off the stage at the Garden, a failed suicide attempt and even the threat of an ass-kicking from Ol’ Blue Eyes. (And, this documentary shows, also the threat of a beatdown from Joe Pesci.)

O’Connor, speaking now with years of hindsight, acknowledges that she never got into music for money and stardom. In fact, she considered it a form of therapy, and if no one ever heard it, she was fine with that. Early on, when she got critical acclaim and a certain amount of notice for her debut album and her first single “Mandinka,” her life was mostly in control. She married young, had a baby, toyed with acting and was able to mostly live her own life. Even her dramatic fashion sense and look was not to get attention, it was just an expression of her individuality.

Of course, all this changed when O’Connor recorded a fairly obscure song by musical icon Prince called “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which the songwriter had written for the debut album of a short-lived group on his label called The Family, which was a spinoff of The Time. “Nothing Compares” wasn’t even the single from The Family album, it was a song called “The Screams of Passion.” It was an album track on a barely noticed record. And O’Connor’s sparse and emotional cover made the song her own – and became a number one single internationally.

It seemed odd that throughout the film they have lots of O’Connor’s music throughout the film, with the exception of her one huge hit single, the one song she is known best for. Then a chyron over the end credits explains ‘The Prince Estate denied use of Sinéad’s recording of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ in this film.” In fact, O’Connor’s entire, somewhat fraught relationship with the late music superstar who wrote her biggest hit is completely ignored, to the point that the film never even mentions that it was Prince who wrote the song until that quick disclaimer at the end of the film.

Other tragedies in her life were also skirted over or not mentioned, like her attempted suicide attempt and her son’s later problems with mental illness and drugs which led to his death. This last thing happened years after the thrust of the film, however at the end Nothing Compares does flash forward to the present day for a performance and also to celebrate the large part O’Connor played in getting abortion legalized in her home of Ireland – and her difficulties with her son was certainly a defining part of her life.

However, I can see why O’Connor would not want to discuss these horrible situations and I cannot totally blame director Kathryn Ferguson for not pushing these subjects. Nothing Compares is more of a celebration of a quirky, groundbreaking career and a woman’s principled (if sometimes a little exasperating) refusal to be what the machine wanted from her.  

And it is good to see that despite all of the hardships she has had through her life – whether self-caused or through wild fate – Sinéad O’Connor seems to have become a rather well-grounded and somewhat content adult. Also, Nothing Compares proves that she was never just a one-hit-wonder. Even without her biggest hit, there is some fantastic music here that still feels groundbreaking 30 years on.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2022 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: September 30, 2022.

[lovedetlost]

What do you think of Madelyn’s new role in Knives out? I was actually really surprised at how overtly sexual her character seems to be and also a little disappointed.

Granted I’ve not seen the film yet and maybe I am judging too harshly by first appearances and her character is a lot more nuanced and complex than what meets the eye. Although, when I first saw the photos I was disappointed that such a female character was written into this franchise when in the first film there were great female characters that weren’t necessarily overly sexualised. Every clip or shot I have seen of her character, she is either wearing gym gear, cut out dresses or crop top and shorts.

Madelyn is such a talented actress and I hope she falls into roles that showcase her range and talent rather than just the hyper fixation/sexualisation of her body/looks. While Sarah Cameron, isn’t a hypersexualised character as she is a literal minor, I thought rushing into a sex scene with John B after just a few days was unnecessary. Along with some of the outfits Sarah and Kie wear. They are both outdoorsy sporty girls, especially Kiara, that I just feel some of their tops and outfits seemed unnecessary. Just my opinion so far, maybe that will change when the film is actually released.

oooooh interesting question.

i totally know what you mean from the dribs and drabs we’ve been given. from the look of the role and what i’ve garnered from the trailer, she’s playing a young sexy gf or something of that ilk, who has an affair. a woman who is transacting on her sexual appeal.

but i’m hoping that’s just the trailer, in which all of the characters do seem to be playing caricatures of a personality type, in madelyns defence. janelle is wearing a suit the whole time, while on a private island. kate hudson playing the older sexy woman. jessica henwick is looking like she’s playing the ‘never looked at by men’ ditzy PA, etc etc. there’s not much room for nuance in 2.5 minutes, so i reserve my judgement.

i think madelyn is incredibly talented. i think her and drew have significant acting abilities. i love the show and the whole gang, but it’s those two who i believe have the acting X factor.

i understand that you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. this is madelyn’s first major role in a movie. to star alongside these actors would be a dream come true. and i know that she’ll put her entire soul into it.

and we must remember, the sexualisation of females is rarely the fault of the female herself. the onus must be placed on the director or producer, enacted through writing and wardrobe and casting. dialogue and sex scenes and outfits are not the fault of the actor, and as much as i wasn’t a massive fan of the sexualisation of any of the characters, i think each and every one of them have done amazingly with the role they have been given.

i think the aspiration of every person is to have the freedom to choose, the freedom to say yes or no. and sadly, as an aspiring actor, and unluckily an aspiring good looking female actor, i don’t think madelyn has yet the franchise to make these calls. but i know that whatever she does, she will do well. and i will watch it willingly x

[dustedmagazine]

Chris Cohen — Paint a Room (Hardly Art)

Photo by Kate Garner

At this stage in their respective careers, it’s hard to imagine Chris Cohen once played in Deerhoof. His last album with the band, 2005’s The Runners Four, still stands among their best, perhaps because Cohen’s gentle, whimsical aesthetic counterbalanced his bandmates’ tendency towards intense, scattershot garage-rock. Cohen’s fourth album, Paint a Room, contrasts markedly with Deerhoof’s recent prolific output. Rather than labor solely over his vision, as he’s done with the preceding records, Cohen enlisted his live band — bassist Davin Givhan, drummer Josh da Costa, and keyboardist Jay Israelson — to execute these subtle, finely grained songs. The result is perhaps Cohen’s best album since his solo debut, 2012’s Overgrown Path.

Cohen’s musical evolution is immediately evident in the brooding, noir-inspired jazz of opener “Damage,” which features rich horn arrangements by Jeff Parker. As a scene-setter it’s introspective but sophisticated, inviting the listener to kick off their shoes and settle in. While the primary lyrical thread in Cohen’s 2019 eponymous album was his relationship with his father, here he pans out to address societal inequity: “At the hospital and the middle school / Anywhere you look / Someone’s power over someone else / Protecting property / But only life is precious.” This melding of jazz and guitar-pop is beautifully rendered on the title track, with its snaking flute lines, swirling phaser effects, and wistful yet hopeful chorus. Flutes and saxophone also reappear on “Physical Address,” an earlier version of which was released by Looking Glass back in 2020.

“Sunever” is almost a country tune with its singalong vocal melody, bouncing gait, and jaunty fiddle solo, the lyrics offering a message of hope to young people navigating the tricky transition of adolescence: “Now, as childhood ends / Take a message to my friend / You’re gonna find a way.” “Cobb Estate” musters a shimmering, anti-gravity vibe by aping Andy Summers’ echoing guitar tone from “Walking on the Moon,” and “Wishing Well” shifts gears by opening side B with some breakneck jangle-pop. It’s a welcome change of pace, and it’s these unexpected change-ups that prevent the album from drifting into mid-tempo malaise. For a musician so fastidious about production, it’s fascinating to witness Cohen’s continued employment of such a brittle electric guitar tone, which contrasts with the warm timbre of all the other instruments. The comically off-key slide guitar line that bursts forth from the loping swing of “Dog’s Face” is a surprise delight, sounding almost like a trumpet.

Though there are no weak links in the 10-song, 30-minute track list, Cohen tucks the album’s finest moment midway into the second half. “Night or Day” is such a catchy, perfectly executed song that it deftly snaps everything into focus, prompting the realization of just how odd and sneakily exploratory Paint a Room can be.

Tim Clarke

[savefilescomng12]

Gwyneth Paltrow Wore a Crossbody Bag, and We Found a $15 Lookalike

Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece. Gwyneth Paltrow knows just what to do to help me get out of a fashion slump. On June 28, the Goop founder gave us a peek into her June fashion lookbook by sharing a roundup of stylish OOTDs on Instagram. While there was no shortage of stellar looks to pull inspiration from in the photo dump, it was the post’s seventh snap, in which Paltrow sported a plunging black bodysuit, breezy white pants, black sandals, and a spacious crossbody bag, that instantly caught my eye. Although Paltrow wasn’t the first star to break out any of her outfit’s components — stars like Lindsay Lohan, Reese Witherspoon, and Taylor Swift have all reached for bodysuits, white pants, and crossbody purses so far this summer — her look served as a prime example of how important it is to have classic closet staples on hand. Not only are they versatile enough to style on their own, but they can easily be thrown on together to create cute and comfy outfits in a pinch. 

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Outfit Blueprint

Hkcluf Crossbody Bag

Amazon Paltrow isn’t the only celebrity who’s turning to bigger crossbody bags for summer: Jennifer Garner and Kate Hudson have both broken out the roomy style in recent weeks, too. Copy their looks by snagging this spacious carryall that’s racked up an impressive 3,900 perfect ratings from Amazon shoppers thanks to its “perfect mix of style and functionality” while it’s on sale. “ by far the best work bag I have ever owned,” one reviewer enthused. “It's roomy and holds all my stuff (tablet, two notebooks, wallet, pouch with pens and keys, and other small items) with ease without being too big and floppy.”

Anrabess Linen Palazzo Pants

Amazon Breezy white pants have become my go-to this summer — and for good reason. They’re lightweight enough to wear comfortably in sweltering temperatures, versatile to style, and feel like a more polished version of pajama pants. This pair from Amazon looks so similar to Paltrow’s, and they come in 22 additional vibrant and neutral colors, should you want to join shoppers in grabbing multiples.  “These are beautiful, lightweight, flowy, comfortable, and wonderful,” one reviewer wrote. “Perfect for these hot summer days.”

Cupshe V-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit

Amazon I’m always looking for closet staples that can work for multiple occasions, and this one-piece swimsuit is a prime example of sartorial versatility. While its thick, supportive straps and full-coverage cut make it a great option to reach for during pool days or beach trips, its sleek design would look equally as great styled with shorts, maxi skirts, or white pants, like Paltrow. Snag it in black, or choose from 28 colors and patterns. “This is, hands down, the cutest and most flattering and comfortable swimsuit I have ever owned,” one reviewer shared. “I get self-conscious on the beach, but this swimsuit fits beautifully.”   Keep scrolling to shop more pants, crossbody bags, and bodysuits inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow below.

Huwzder Vegan Leather Crossbody Bag

Amazon

Westbronco Crossbody Bag

Amazon

Iwollence Wide-Leg Pants

Amazon

Chartou Drawstring Wide-Leg Pants

Amazon

Shaperx Shapewear Bodysuit

Amazon

Saungkuai V-Neck Bodysuit

Amazon Source link Read the full article

[gepetordi1]

Kate Moss, photo by Kate Garner, 1991