#pippa toole

[banafanax]

New favorite vibe: Pentecostal pastor who's fed up that people won't stop dancing and that the band won't stop playing. The rich religious man just wants to go home.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Have you read HR with the hero or heroine wearing glasses?

Yeah for sure!

Never Seduce a Duke by Vivienne Lorret--I think this one actually has a little poem about how the duke wears glasses lol.

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas--Catherine Marks wears glasses and Leo naturally wants to fuck her constantly. In Tempt Me at Twilight there's a moment when he fantasizes about her spread out naked and wearing her glasses after he's railed her. Then of course it goes "he decided to bother her" because it's them.

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas--Sara wears glasses, and Derek Craven steals them because he's a freak like that.

(Also.... I need people to get reading comprehension because while I don't expect everyone to love this book, I recently brought this moment of as an example of how Derek is clearly stuck on Sara and doesn't understand the feeling and takes the glasses because he's obsessed and wants something of hers... And someone goes "I just thought he did that to be a tool". Jesus Christ people. Read between the lines, I fucking beg. Again, you don't have to like him, but for the sake of writers please try to understand subtlety and nuance lol.)

Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt. Godric wears glasses, and also wears a sleeping outfit that sounds like he's Ebeneezer Scrooge.

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean. Pippa wears glasses and is a general scientist type. I think Adelaide may wear glasses at points in Heartbreaker as well?

The Truth About Cads and Dukes by Elisa Braden. I'm not 10000% certain, but I think Jane wears glasses. Either way, dude, Harrison is ready to bend her over a table at any given moment.

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare. I can't remember if Minerva wears glasses or is just a massive nerd, but I think she does wear them.

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian. I think Kit wears glasses.

[functionalmoron]

Pippa Toole

Rowland S Howard

#pippatoole #rowlandshoward #crownedprinceofthecryingjag #arttochokehearts

[purplerakath]

Dissecting an Adaptation - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Adaptation is one of those weird topics. It's 'bad' because it changes things. But if it doesn't change things, its still bad. A no win scenario as you turn one thing into itself from a new angle. And a lot of the time people don't look at why it made changes, or what those changes do. Or how those changes play into the nature of the story.

TV, Film, Books, Comics, and Video Games have different tools, different rules, and different ways to do the same thing: tell a story.

This will have spoilers for both the first book, and the for season one of the series. I won't spend a lot of time on changes that impact books 2 and 3 (there are some) and won't go far enough to really qualify as spoilers for those two works.

Adaptations of Structure

The biggest change is the tools a work has to use, and the costs those tools have to use, which covers a lot of the bigger changes in the first season.

(I read the US version of the books, but won't be discussing anything to do with how those read differently from the international version.)

The books switch between three forms of writing over the course of it, narrative prose as normal for a novel, log entries written in character for Pip, and interview transcripts/text exchanges. These change the flow of how the book reads as they are written in different styles. They're very good for a written book, but won't do nearly as much good in a TV show.

Even just stopping for Pip to listen to a full interview wouldn't actually do much visually in an audio-visual medium like TV.

Which covers why almost everything from those is missing. The interviews Pippa does are all done in narrative without a break to a new format to make it clear what's going on. And this is, overall, fine. As much as Pippa's catfishing email exchanges are really good for showing how clever and duplicitous Pip can be, they don't play well in video.

Adaptations of Tempo

Books can cover a longer space of time than a TV show does, TV shows want some continuity of motion. Nothing as exact as 24's 1:1 time flow, but you want an episode to be days not weeks. A season to be months not years (back when seasons were 20+ episodes and not 6-8 episodes).

Which is bad if you're, say, unraveling a mystery. And you want the story to circle back to previous lies, previous interesting characters who graduate to suspects. Lies that become motives. But six episodes means we can't spend too much time chasing our tails.

This also means that a lot of characters who are there to fill space... can just be rolled into another character. Chloe Burch's role in the story being rolled into Nat's character is a good example of this. Ant Lowe being exiled from Pip's friend group is another good one.

There are problems, Stanley Forbes is entirely absent from this version. Similarly we don't see Mr. Singh or Mrs. Bell. And Jason isn't remarried. These all matter to a degree, but they also don't matter right now. And the room for these characters to show up in later seasons (if renewed) is there, so they will be around when we need them.

It's just a little bit of a problem.

Adaptations of Tone

Books have a tougher time with subtext, probably due to them just being text. You have what's there, and nothing else. The audiobook has a fullcast so there might be some read directions on dialog, but you can't rely on that to tell you anything if you're reading the paperback or an epub. So a lot less of it can be about what isn't there.

But when you have actors you can do so much with things that aren't being said out loud. The difference between Book 1 Pipravi as a relationship and Season 1 Pipravi is huge. The book didn't focus on Pip's feelings about Ravi outside of how he was impacted by the case, series Pip is awkwardly trying to work out her emotions over this boy pretty much out of ep 2 and it doesn't stop until she tells him to shut up in Ep 6.

Emma also brings a different sort of intensity to Pip than Book Pip seems to contain. Pip in the book is headstrong, certain of herself (until facts break her), but her need to solve this case is a little less clear in the book (where she's doing this because she thinks its right) vs the show where it's something inside her she has to struggle with.

The other tonal shifts are one of who gets treated kinder by which version of the story. Andie of course is a lot more complex in the books, while the series paints her as a well meaning terrible person. Changing her relationship with Nat is a pretty big one (and really the only shift in the series a fully dislike).

Meanwhile the book spends a lot of time treating Elliot Ward like a good man in a bad situation, that what he did was all moments of weakness and he didn't mean to. The series more firmly paints him as a man with a darkness he hasn't come to grips with, his breakdown in the books makes him less monster than the show. In turn Naomi is given more moments of helping Pip in the series, to lessen her hand in Sal's fate, making her less villainous in Pip's eyes.

These changes on who is framed in kinder light is fairly small on paper, but huge in practice. Changes born (in part) from the tempo of the series being faster. Naomi dodges Pip's questions more in the book, turning her into a more valid suspect. While in the series she's so desperate to tell anyone what happened she let's it slip in the first episode.

Overall...

Each version does different things well, most of the changes I find indifferent. Because as much as the changes are changes, adding the parameter of acting to it means that they can make characters like Max and Daniel skin crawlingly creepy. And while later books Max is very, very creepy, that's because of what Pip knows not how he was written.

While Henry Ashton knew exactly what he was playing and exactly how to sell it with just his presence on set. And that's got it's own value too.

[sneakydraws]

i wanna see fifty five goldfinch pieces 💔💔

OKAY!! So I have this little series I like to call the great decompartmentalisation of Theo decker... Let me walk you through it. I promise there's art after the massive paragraph of meandering analysis alright

You know how Theo's life is segmented into these distinct episodes? And how he himself is split into multiple different identities, and how much shame and fear there is associated with the idea of those identities mixing? For example: the straight a student living a completely, delusionally idyllic life with his adoring mother and the vanilla teenage troublemaker breaking into people's summer homes with his shady homoerotic bestie. When the two identities come into contact via his suspension, it leads to the most traumatic event in Theo's life, and honestly I suspect that might be the origin of this tendency towards compartmentalisation... I could go through the whole book here but the most prominent examples are Theo panicking at the thought of Mrs Barbour or his therapist finding out about Hobie, his cutting himself off from New York when in Vegas with his other shady homoerotic bestie (the amount of times Vegas is compared to an alien planet...) and his dual post timeskip identifies of charming antiques salesman/fraudulent art stealing junkie. And this often manifests in Theo's reluctance to let people from his different periods interact - see him rushing to stop Boris from talking to Pippa, and him keeping Hobie in the dark about the blackmail, and isn't it kind of weird that the barbours - Theo's soon to be legal family - don't really interact with Hobie and Pippa? Anyway. Basically I thought it would be cool to make a series of little vignettes of theo allowing the people and places and things that represent various versions of Him to interact and thus symbolically healing the disconnected parts of himself... Or something. I have more ideas scribbled down but somehow the only ones I ended up with proper art for is the various holidays (which, holidays are also a weirdly prevalent theme in tgf? Idk whats up with that but it's a good tool for this purpose) so we have:

Christmas Eve at Boris's, featuring Pippa and Hobie - I feel kinda bad for only ever portraying Boris with polish customs but let's be real I'm just using him to show off my own heritage lol. In Poland the main Xmas celebrations happen on Xmas Eve, traditionally with the appearance of the first star in the sky. You eat the mostly inoffensive barszcz as well some truly vile shit, such as mushroom and cabbage dumplings, mushroom and cabbage salad, other items made of mushrooms and cabbage, and finally the most disgusting dish of my life: Jewish style carp. No, it's not quite the same thing as gefiltefish, although that's the Wikipedia page you might use to get to the actual dish. All washed down with compote which I hate. You also break and eat communion wafers while wishing each other stuff, which Pippa is doing with popchyk here hehe

Christmas breakfast as a little bonus despite it not having much of a tradition - I associate it with lots of hams/cured meats, gherkins and maybe Tatar sauce (yum). Much superior to the Xmas dinner imho. Really I just wanted Theo and Boris to have a moment to themselves haha

Christmas proper at the barbours, featuring Boris and Tom cable! I could talk about all the tension and who's diffusing it but honestly I think y'all can draw your own conclusions lol. I just think it would be really funny for the infamous dis-engaged couple to each bring their delinquent boytoys and for Boris the drug dealer to actually come out looking superior

Vegetarian friendly Thanksgiving at Hobie's, as tradition requires! I think he'd love to throw one of his big Thanksgiving parties purely for all of Theo's families to get to know each other... you know, kind of an elaboration on that Thanksgiving illustration I drew a while back! This would be before all the Christmases I think. Boris is winning Mrs Barbour over with his roguish charm lol I think old ladies would like him... Theo in the corner freaking the hell out as per this project's mission statement lmao

And on a slightly different note I wanted Theo Pippa and Hobie to all visit weltys grave. I'm borrowing slightly from the polish tradition of all saint's day, when you clean, decorate and light candles on the graves of loved ones.

[anzuhan]

hiya! i rly enjoy your art and how colorful it is! can i ask how you do your outlines or maybe how you pick colors? i would love to incorporate some of your techniques in my own art ❤️‍🔥

already talked about colors in this ask !

for outlines i just do lineart as usual (or unusual because i do not sketch and just go headfirst into the linework w nothing else prior) and that's about it ;; i cant say anything specific about it. i do play around with lineweight but its all done manually and by speed of each stroke; i draw on a phone with my index finger, so i have no pen pressure. i use no stabilizer either because it annoys me; so i always manually pick the size of the larger strokes too in order to make them, and if i did not get the speed well enough for thinner parts i either erase where i need it to be thinner or stretch it out with the liquify tool. i cannot post speedpaints on here because fsr whenever i do tumblr does not want to post them thru 😭 but you can check out several below from twitter vvv

GSR 2022 miku ceres fauna bday imnotgivingthisoneatitle rabbit hole miku pipkin pippa bday

good luck with your art !!

[whenmemoriesfrost]

learning from donna tartt's the goldfinch chapter 4: morphine lollipop (early novel spoilers ahead!)

chapter 4 sees theo meeting pippa (whose story mirrors theo's in some ways) for the first time since the explosion, as well as the beginning of theo's friendship with hobie, and the return of his father a year after he left theo and his mother.

particularly with the introduction of theo's father and his new partner xandra, i've been thinking a lot about dialogue as a characterisation tool. dialogue is probably the thing i struggle with most when writing fiction. i find it difficult to write convincing dialogue that isn't stiff. there's a scene in this chapter where theo has been taken out to dinner at a touristy restaurant, shortly before leaving for las vegas. the dialogue in this scene, as his father tells a story about the budding acting career he had in his youth, is masterful at revealing his father to be a jaded, delusional man without ever explicitly saying it, by having him relay a story that has no real connection to the plot. it's really clever. the two of them really remind me of my rotten uncle and his wife.

my skin crawls when i think of the painting, buried in theo's mind and in the prose. it is this far-away, concealed little burst of tension. it's a real skill to achieve that.

[mikewdriver]

Some exciting news! Lucky Frog Studio is hosting a fun packed talks night at the Phoenix Art space in Brighton on May 11th! Grab a ticket!

[nouvxllev]

Imagine Pippa settling down with reader and having a family with her, has two baby girls, twins and Pippa is over the moon. But she still can’t help but be protective over them, especially when her family is out of the house. Pippa knows to much about what happens to people and she’s extra anxious. But how cute would a mama bear Pippa be around her kids and wife? (All I’m thinking about is a gp Pippa and I’m blushing 🤭🤭)

adorable, cute, endearing, literally all of the above. i do think pip would be extra extra cautious when in outdoor settings, especially when reader is not even anywhere near her so she tries her best to be the best mother of all while still trying to maintain her sanity.

she tries her best not to check up on them since reader is fully-aware of pips situation in the past, so they got all the tools and equipment that pip needs to reassure herself when she's stuck back at home.

but one thing is for certain and its that pippa fitz-amobi is the best fucking mother. obviously, she's still learning, and she often takes a bit of inspiration from her own mother

(also i do think gp pip would be the death of me)

[parf-fan]

halloween theories?

Why, it's quite convenient of you to ask, for I intended to share regardless! This marks the first year I've actually made any Halloween predictions. Before I begin, I will disclaim that I have not looked at the Faire's website since last weekend, just in case they added anything to the scenario; so anything that is or isn't there now had no influence on this.

An important entreaty: while I'm not half so arrogant as to wholly believe that my predictions are accurate, they very well might be. Therefore, if you like being surprised by the Halloween plot, please read no further. If you got chills at Morgan la Fey's echoing laugh and sat with mouth agape as she strode down the aisle; if you made the connection like a clap of lightening that these two new characters were Titania and Oberon and proceeded to physically bounce up and down in your seat in excitement; if you realized that Sir Walter was leading up to confessing to having been a ghost the whole season and then involuntarily leaped up upon hearing Zach's voice; if you turned to your friend twenty-six seconds before the introduction and exclaimed “this is fucking Merlin!”; and if you treasure those moments as I do, then return to this post after witnessing the new plot, just in case I'm right.

On Day Two of Queen's Court, I turned to my sister and said “I can't wait for this scepter to be magical during Halloween.” That's all the further my predictions would have gone were it not for the esteemed Joseph Germano. According to him, the scepter was referred to sometime during Opening Weekend as the Scepter of Onyx, rather than the Scepter of ?Teutia? with which we are all by now familiar. Now, I cannot verify this. Ren Faire With Rose filmed Queen's Court on Opening Day (no date is listed in title or description, but I can see myself in the audience and I know Opening Day is the only time this season I wore that band on my hat), and Drake definitely calls it the Scepter of Teutia. I have found no footage of Day Two, nor can I recall either day sharply enough to weigh in based on my own memory. So while I have no reason to doubt Joseph Germano, I have no evidence to back it up, diluting this prediction into more of a theory.

Nevertheless, upon hearing the phrase “Scepter of Onyx”, Joseph thought “Hmmm, that sounds like an established Thing from something. Lemme look it up.” And so he did, and determined that the Scepter of Onyx is an item from one or both of the Guild Wars MMORPGs; which tracks. But then he poked a little more to discern what that particular item does in-game.

According to Joseph's research, the Scepter of Onyx raises the dead.

So that's my theory of what the scepter will do for Halloween. But who will be brought back from the dead?

During Ultimate Joust, Declan Glenfinnan speaks the following line to his brother Ailen: “Keep thy redemption, boy. Thou shalt need more than principles to survive this joust. Our father taught us to win. I'm just glad he's not here anymore to see how weak thou hast become.” The line is in no way out of place, but there wasn't strictly a need for it, either: particularly specifying that he's not here anymore. Moreover, it seems somewhat unusual to me for the script of PARF to fall prey to the bullshit of dwelling on the father without even mentioning the mother – unless there were cause to emphasize the father.

My theory, and certainly my hope, is that the Glenfinnans' father comes back from the dead for Halloween. Because then we can get into the real trauma.

Glenfather building up and praising and rewarding Pippa (the heir) for all she does, encouraging her to find it quite natural to always have priority; while he puts down and neglects or belittles and finds constant fault with Declan (the spare), positing that he does nothing right, that always he casts a poor reflection on him, driving him to succeed at any cost lest he ne'er be good enough. Giving Pippa the tools to succeed at everything, and teaching her to use them. Giving Declan nothing, that he feels he always must take.

Imagine getting to actually see the ill-parenting that drove Declan to hate the world in order to not hate himself.

If this be the case, then perhaps Pippa now has the primary emotional arc and character development, for she will have to come to see how the dichotomy that raised her is unfair and cruel, and she will have to recognize that through the fog of her prioritization. And then both she and Declan will get to call Glenfather out on the matter, and preferably tell him to get fucked (albeit in different terms).

Bonus subplot prediction. Upon learning from Joseph Germano that the Scepter of Onyx raises the dead, my literal first thought was that Dan Schindlar (Sir Verence Schtick) isn't part of the Boarshead Brawl this year, nor involved in anything that I know of until English Wrestling (a whole hour later); which means that there is every possibility, if the dead are being raised, for Don Gibbs himself to be brought back to life and play a role in Brawl. There weren't multiple endings this year, which opens it up more to the possibility of the show changing fundamentally for Halloween. Don Gibbs returning from the dead would perfectly complete the ongoing Brawl arc from over the last few years; and altering the show fundamentally for Halloween would save poor Graham Luker from having to spend such an extended period of time in the water on the coldest weekends.

[enlightenedpictures]

Top Documentary Films of the Decade and Their Impact

Over the past decade, the world of documentary filmmaking has undergone a remarkable transformation. The medium has emerged as a powerful tool for storytelling, social commentary, and inspiring change. In this article, we will explore some of the most impactful documentary films of the last 10 years and examine their lasting influence on both the industry and society.

1. "A Plastic Ocean" (2016)

"A Plastic Ocean" is a groundbreaking documentary that sheds light on the global plastic pollution crisis. Directed by Craig Leeson, the film takes viewers on a journey across multiple countries, revealing the devastating impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems and human health. Through harrowing footage and insightful interviews, the film has galvanized worldwide efforts to reduce plastic consumption and implement sustainable waste management practices.

2. "13th" (2016)

Ava DuVernay's "13th" is a powerful exploration of the United States' criminal justice system and its disproportionate impact on African American communities. The film delves into the history of racial inequality, tracing the roots of mass incarceration back to the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery but allowed for the continued exploitation of Black individuals. "13th" has sparked critical discussions about systemic racism and the need for sweeping criminal justice reforms.

3. "Icarus" (2017)

Bryan Fogel's "Icarus" is a gripping exposé of state-sponsored doping in international sports. Initially set out to explore the limits of human performance, the film takes an unexpected turn when Fogel befriends a Russian scientist who reveals the elaborate system of doping and cover-ups in the Russian Olympic program. "Icarus" not only shook the sports world but also highlighted the broader issues of corruption and the pursuit of victory at all costs.

4. "RBG" (2018)

Directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, "RBG" is a captivating portrait of the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film explores Ginsburg's trailblazing legal career, her unwavering commitment to gender equality, and her rise to become an iconic figure in American culture. "RBG" has inspired a new generation of women to pursue careers in law and public service, and it has cemented Ginsburg's status as a cultural icon.

5. "Apollo 11" (2019)

Todd Douglas Miller's "Apollo 11" is a visually stunning and immersive exploration of the historic 1969 moon landing. Utilizing newly discovered archival footage and audio recordings, the film transports viewers back in time, offering a unique perspective on one of the most significant achievements in human history. "Apollo 11" has been praised for its ability to capture the awe and wonder of the space program, rekindling a sense of curiosity and wonder about our place in the universe.

6. "American Factory" (2019)

"American Factory," directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, examines the complex relationship between American workers and Chinese management in a factory located in Ohio. The film provides a nuanced and insightful look at the cultural and economic tensions that arise when two vastly different work cultures collide. "American Factory" has been lauded for its balanced approach, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the impact of globalization on local communities.

7. "My Octopus Teacher" (2020)

Directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, "My Octopus Teacher" is a captivating and emotional story of a man's remarkable relationship with a wild octopus. The film explores the intricate and often overlooked world of marine life, while also delving into the personal transformation and spiritual growth of the filmmaker. "My Octopus Teacher" has been praised for its ability to foster a deeper connection and appreciation for the natural world.

8. "Time" (2020)

Garrett Bradley's "Time" is a poignant and intimate documentary that tells the story of a woman's decades-long fight to free her husband from a 60-year prison sentence. The film's powerful exploration of the impact of mass incarceration on families has resonated with audiences and sparked important conversations about criminal justice reform and the human toll of the system.

Conclusion

The documentary films highlighted in this article have not only captivated audiences but have also had a profound impact on the industry and society as a whole. From raising awareness about critical global issues to inspiring personal transformation and social change, these works have demonstrated the power of the documentary medium to inform, educate, and inspire.

As we look to the future, it is clear that documentary filmmaking will continue to play a vital role in shaping our understanding of the world and driving positive change. The creativity, innovation, and social consciousness evident in these films serve as a testament to the enduring relevance and impact of the documentary form.

[whatisthebible]

What is the Bible

Dr. Shenita Etwaroo is an author whose purpose is to spread compassion and love to others through her writing. Having personally endured and triumphed over abuse and trauma, Shenita attributes her journey towards healing to the unwavering love she received from God, Jesus Christ, her treasured mother, Shirley Savitree, her beloved bunny rabbit, Neon, and her sweet feline companions, Pippa and Ella, along with other furry friends. This profound experience of emerging from personal darkness into a brighter light has inspired her to extend a helping hand to others seeking a similar path towards hope.

Shenita’s personal journey has fueled her passion for helping others who have experienced abuse or victimization as a result of mental illness. Having faced her own battles, she understands the struggles and challenges that individuals in similar situations face.

Through her writing, Shenita provides a comforting and empathetic voice, creating a safe space for those who have suffered to seek solace and understanding. Her words resonate with those who have felt the weight of their illnesses and the stigma associated with them.

With her unwavering commitment to health and well-being, Shenita continues to make a significant impact through her writing. She is dedicated to empowering individuals to take charge of their physical and mental health by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to make informed decisions. Shenita’s passion for health and her writing skills make her a invaluable resource for anyone seeking to lead a healthier life.   

Shenita’s remarkable accomplishments include earning doctorate degrees, certificates and diplomas in the fields of biblical studies and healthcare. Her versatility as a writer shines through diverse genres, encompassing long-form fiction and non fiction, short stories, poetry, and articles.

https://brainboost.blog/

[nbmsports]

‘Dear England’ Review: When Soccer Success Becomes a Moral Victory

What makes a good leader? When the unassuming and softly spoken Gareth Southgate was appointed head coach of the England men’s soccer team in 2016, many fans and commentators felt he lacked the kahunas for the role, that he was simply too nice. But in the past seven years he has overseen a remarkable transformation in the England team’s fortunes, making it stronger and more exciting to watch than at any time in recent history.The ups and downs of Southgate’s tenure are portrayed with a blend of playfulness and moral seriousness in “Dear England,” directed by Rupert Goold, which runs at the National Theater, in London, through Aug. 11. It’s a lively, feel-good romp with plenty of irreverent humor, though the narrative borders on hagiography, and its core message about embracing male vulnerability is labored to the point of soppiness.The play chronicles the team’s involvement in three recent major tournaments, starting with its surprise run to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia; then comes an agonizing defeat by Italy in the Euro 2020 final, followed by an impressive showing, culminating in an unlucky quarterfinal exit, at last year’s World Cup in Qatar.The on-field action is evoked through dynamic set pieces choreographed by Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, in which the players enact key moments in elaborate simulations, complete with slow-motion sequences and freeze-framed goal celebrations. These are kitsch, but mercifully brief, as the bulk of the activity takes place off the pitch: in locker rooms, team meetings and news conferences whose settings are rendered with smart simplicity by the designer Es Devlin.Joseph Fiennes is outstanding as Southgate, who is portrayed as self-effacing but assertive, an approachable father figure to his young charges. Will Close, as England’s captain and star player, Harry Kane, plays up the striker’s famously laconic manner, providing a bathetic counterpoint to the coach’s earnest rhetoric. Adam Hugill is similarly amusing as the defender Harry Maguire, who is portrayed as a lovable simpleton — not the sharpest tool in the box, but solid and dependable. Kel Matsena delivers a spirited performance as Raheem Sterling, who, along with Bukayo Saka (Ebenezer Gyau), speaks out defiantly against racism after England’s Black players are the targets of abuse.The principal female character in this necessarily male-dominated lineup is the sports psychologist Pippa Grange (Gina McKee), hired by Southgate to help the players open up about their feelings and overcome self-doubt. When one unreconstructed member of the coaching staff questions the need for her services, she reminds him that psychology has been at the root of England’s past failures: “This is men, dealing, or not dealing, with fear,” she says.The play’s author, James Graham, is known for political theater, with hits including “Ink” and “Best of Enemies,” and “Dear England” has distinctly activist overtones. Southgate’s mild-mannered disposition, emotional intelligence and leftish politics — he has been supportive of Black Lives Matter and outspoken on mental health issues — are kryptonite to a certain type of reactionary sports jock. So it’s tempting to view his story as a culture-war allegory, pitting touchy-feely liberalism against old-school machismo.Unfortunately the play leans into this a little too heavily, with pantomimic cameos from several of Britain’s recent Conservative prime ministers — Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss — pandering to the assumed prejudices of cosmopolitan London theatregoers in a way that comes off as ingratiating and smug. This is ramped up in the second half, which is considerably less funny, and feels rushed: The 2020 and 2022 tournaments are rattled through at speed, in contrast to the more leisurely pacing before the intermission.Southgate’s playing career is best remembered for a decisive miss in a penalty shootout against Germany in the semifinal of the 1996 European Championship, played in London, which resulted in England’s elimination from that tournament. A personal redemption narrative forms a compelling subplot the main story, and it’s a cruel irony that Southgate’s England side also lost the final of Euro 2020 in a penalty shootout on home soil. That Southgate has yet to bag a trophy — the England men’s team still hasn’t won a major tournament since 1966 — remains a powerful trump card for his doubters. And so the play’s celebratory tenor feels a little misplaced.Yet “Dear England” is not so much about sports as it is about culture. The technical and tactical foundations of the England team’s revival are conspicuously underplayed in this telling: The team’s on-field improvement is straightforwardly tethered to a shift in moral values, and we are given to understand that correlation equals causation. You can be fully on board with everything Southgate stands for and still find this cloyingly simplistic.Dear EnglandThrough Aug. 11 at the National Theater, in London; nationaltheatre.org.uk Source link Read the full article

[functionalmoron]

Pippa Toole

X the Band

The facts we hate

We'll never meet

Walking down the road

Everybody yelling, "hurry up, hurry up"

But I'm waiting for you

I must go slow

I must not think bad thoughts

What is this world coming to?

Both sides are right

But both sides murder

I give up

Why can't they?

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

The civil wars

And the uncivilized wars

Conflagrations leap out of every poor furnace

The food cooks poorly

And everyone goes hungry

From then on, it's dog eat dog

Dog eat body and body eat dog

I can't go down there

I can't understand it

I'm a no-good coward

An American, too

(A North American, that is)

And I must not think bad thoughts (not a South or a Central)

And I must not think bad thoughts (or a Native American)

And I must not think bad thoughts

Oh, I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

I'm guilty of murder

Of innocent men

Innocent women, innocent children

Thousands of 'em

My planes, my guns

My money, my soldiers

My blood on my hands

It's all my fault

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

The facts we hate

You'll never hear us

"I hear the radio is finally gonna play new music

You know, the British invasion"

But what about the Minutemen

Flesh Eaters, DOA

Big Boys and the Black Flag?

Will the last American band to get played on the radio

Please bring the flag?

Please bring the flag

Glitter disco synthesizer night school

All this noble savage drum, drum, drum

Astronauts go back in time to hang out with the cave people

It's about time

It's about space

It's about some people in the strangest places

Woody Guthrie sang about

B-E-E-T-S, not B-E-A-T-S

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

The facts we hate

We'll never meet

Walking down the road

Everybody yelling, "hurry up, hurry up, hurry up"

But I'm waiting for you

I must go slow

I must not think bad thoughts

What is this world coming to?

Both sides are right

But both sides murder

I give up

Why can't they?

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

I must not think bad thoughts

#pippatoole #xtheband #imustnotthinkbadthoughts #arttochokehearts

[lucindarobinsonvevo]

what if instead of writing the first half of my fic i just made up a  previously on neighbours segment? 

[Pippa Black voice] Previously, on Neighbours - 

[shot of someone (Elle) zooming in on an earring in a facebook photo of her highschool reunion]

[cut to David asking Lil if she’s going to wear those earrings and Sky saying she made them] 

[Elle’s finger hovering over the call button on a phone]  {Leo voiceover} You’re going to call a woman who hates you over a pair of earrings she may recognize in a facebook photo?  {fades into Harlow voiceover} Elle you have to tell her, this could be her chance for closure, it’s the right thing to do. 

[Shot of Lana facing off against Elle] I know you’re trying to mend old wounds, but you’re actually just reopening them. 

[Sky looking at the image through a magnifying glass] Yeah. I made those

[Elle and Sky sit and drink coffee together] {Elle voiceover} Sometimes, I think you might have been the only real friend I ever had.

[Montage of Elle and Sky having doors opened onto them]  {Sky voiceover} I’m detective Mangel, and this is my media partner Elle Robinson, we’d like to talk to you about a missing person. 

[Elle riffling through a jewellery box, she finds and holds up a red earring] 

[Elle standing in the doorway of a living room, holding the earring up in front of Sky, and an older couple] {Sky} I think you both better come with me. 

{Man} She was dead when we found her, on the beach.  {Sky} So you just...Buried her?  {Man} I didn’t have a choice. I thought the cops would blame me. {Elle} Where is she? 

[shot of Elle, Sky and Harlow standing in front of an imposing stretch of bush, each kitted with a metal detector and a belt full of digging tools.] 

[A scrap of ragged black fabric blows in the breeze. A filthy Sky falls to her knees.]

[edmcndd]

it mattered little that philipa grey had not deemed him worthy enough of her words again before this, that she'd married another man before he may call upon her father for her hand - for edmund had named her anchor in childhood without ever asking and even as a man now, he could not bear to tear himself from her feigned shoreline. far too willing to dash himself against the stones a thousand times over if it may mean that he shall be graced with the heavenly image of her hand beckoning him forward to kneel at her feet. edmund echoed a sinner at the altar of a saint, or perhaps a desperate man making deal with devils, the skin beneath her fingers felt as it was on fire - unworthy of her blessed touch. if she dared to ask, edmund fears he may pledge himself to her false idol hood, to those eyes that stare into the very depths of his soul. for the briefest moment, he wondered if she may bless him again with her lips against him. if they may touch thighs as they atoned for the sin of it in the chapel, heads ducked in shared prayer. " i shall thank him for his mercy," he echoed, for when had the earl ever been anything but a puppet for the women he loved in his life? his mother, isobel, sibella, pippa, their voices far out triumphed his own some days. " i shall remain a pillar of stone, despite the way my chest aches with fury. it will be a mercy if i do not spit on walsingham's feet by the end of it all," he voiced, evident disgust in his tone. 

her words grant him a sense of peace that edmund had not felt in quite some time, settling the unrest that had made itself home between the spaces of his ribcage. and perhaps edmund was fearful of the wrong people, of the king and his father - when pippa held more sway over his actions and beliefs than anyone else. there was no need for her to hand him the tools, edmund had plucked the brush from her and painted his face and soul to mimic a fool within her court. allowed himself to believe that they were doomed lovers. that she was eurydice while he played orpheus, descending into the underworld to steal her away from a lover that he believed she didn't want. ironic, that he was unable to see that he was far more akin to icarus - wax wings melting as he flew closer to her tantalizing sun framed silhouette. her praise masks the sensation of him plummeting into the treasonous waves - of her trap that she so carefully weaved just for him. " i wish to see them burn, pippa. " he confessed as she pulled her touch from him, the skin now cold as if frost itself was nipping at his cheek, it is a dangerous thing to voice between them. yet, edmund trusted her with everything that he possessed, strong in his faith that she shall never betray him nor steer him incorrectly. he remained kneeled before her, chin pointed to face her despite no longer having a guiding hand, as he gave words to the unspoken truths that had always laid between them.  " tell me how i may, and i shall cast myself at your feet and devote myself to you and yours," he pleaded, desperation heavy in his words, the ones that cast him him chains that bound him to her - to her mercy. " i wish to take north umberland from his cowardly hands, before he may declare the rest of us guilty and sent to the tower to die as elisabeth shall. help me, if you possess any love in your heart for me still - tell me how i can tear him apart with my hands, till his blood stains the stones crimson. i beseech you."

the  unceremonious  end  to  their  long  overdue  reunion  in  the  knot  garden  of  hampton  court  had  been  followed  by  a  neatly  penned  note  inviting  the  earl  percy  to  tea  at  a  time  that  was  most  convenient  for  him.  (  with  the  understanding,  she  had  written,  that  his  lordship  must  be  most  occupied  with  accompanying  his  majesty,  the  king.  )  it  had  been  a  way  for  edmund  to  excuse  himself  from  answering  her  summons  for  as  long  as  it  took  for  him  to  lick  at  the  wounds  that  she  had  inflicted  on  his  person  when  she  had  stirred  up  old  feelings  of  affection  and  taken  his  heart  for  her  own  beneath  an  alcove  in  the  garden,  droplets  of  rain  clinging  to  her  lashes  as  she  pushed  him  out  of  the  shelter  and  into  the  heavy  downpour  to  remind  him  that  she  could  only  ever  be  a  cruel  mistress  to  him.  there  had  been  no  time  for  a  response  to  be  secreted  from  the  howard - percy  quarters  to  her  desk,  however,  as  the  news  of  elizabeth  talbot  and  her  conspirators  trickled  throughout  court  soon  after  the  play  in  the  park,  granting  them  both  more  important  matters  to  concern  themselves  with  rather  than  matters  of  the  heart.  philippa  had  made  it  a  priority  to  be  seen  at  the  peripherals  of  the  royal  family  to  foster  a  united  appearance  so  that  no  one  would  think  to  fixate  on  the  grey  sisters  too  closely  as  words  like  treason  and  death  haunting  her  every  waking  moment  ─  the  distasteful  executions  had  further  heightened  such  fears  so  when  the  news  of  clemency  on  the  lady  talbot  was  carried  on  the  tongues  of  servants  who  credited  such  a  remarked  change  in  the  king's  wrath  to  the  actions  of  isobel  percy,  she  had  come  to  expect  to  see  the  oldest  of  the  family  at  her  door,  shamefaced  at  his  failure  where  his  sister  had  succeeded.

philippa  could  not  blame  him  for  not  attempting  to  plead  for  small  mercies  for  his  aunt,  not  when  she  had  seen  the  haunting  look  in  his  gaze  when  his  grandfather  had  been  dragged  to  the  tower  and  then  to  the  executioner's  block,  so  he  was  greeted  with  a  neutral  silence  when  the  doors  parted  to  reveal  the  maid  and  the  earl,  following  behind  her.  the  moment  was  so  reminisce  of  the  past  that  her  belly  dropped  sharply  with  anxiety  even  though  her  gaze  was  kept  on  him  steadily  as  she  dismissed  the  maid  with  a  gentle  word  to  keep  others  away  from  the  room  that  served  as  a  receiving  room  ─  the  girl  had  been  brought  from  bradgate  house,  valued  for  her  discretion  and  for  the  leverage  that  the  duchess  of  suffolk  held  over  her  mousey  head.  it  was  only  when  the  girl  nodded  her  agreement  to  keep  their  meeting  a  secret  that  she  turned  to  look  at  the  other  soul  in  the  room,  thanking  the  maid  with  a  small  smile  even  as  edmund  turned  away  at  the  sound  of  the  door  closing,  as  though  he  was  holding  himself  together  and  the  slightest  hint  of  sympathy  or  fear  on  her  features  would  be  his  undoing.  

she  was  terrified  for  him  and,  more  than  that,  she  was  hideously  angry  with  him  for  bringing  his  pain  to  her  door,  tainting  whatever  credibility  she  might  have  with  rumors  of  treason  should  his  presence  in  the  family  rooms  gain  notice  but  she  could  not  send  him  away  with  such  tension  in  his  shoulders  ─  if  his  tongue  loosened  around  the  wrong  people  because  she  had  rejected  his  need  for  stability  in  such  an  uncertain  time  and  he  lost  his  head  for  it,  philippa  would  never  be  able  to  forgive  herself.  ❝  she  is  guilty.  ❞  the  words  were  damning  with  truth.  if  he  wanted  a  lie,  he  would  not  find  that  in  her  arms  but  perhaps  there  could  be  a  way  for  her  to  harness  the  bitter  pain  in  him.  the  sound  of  the  table  being  swept  aside,  the  porcelain  cups  and  metal  spoons  clattering  to  the  ground,  caused  her  to  inhale  sharply,  rebuke  on  the  tongue  but  the  fierce  look  in  his  gaze  silenced  her  reprimanding  tongue  and  she  extended  a  hand  towards  him  from  where  she  sat  like  a  queen  holding  court.  ❝  come  here.  ❞

her  fingers  seized  his  wrist  even  as  he  knelt  at  her  feet  and  she  leaned  out  from  her  seat  to  meet  his  gaze,  one  hand  tipping  his  chin  up  so  that  he  could  see  the  severity  in  her  features.  he  had  knelt  before  her  once,  eight  years  ago,  her  lips  trembling  against  his  own  as  she  bestowed  what  she  thought  would  have  been  their  first  and  last  kiss  to  give  him  something  sweet  to  remember  if  death  came  calling  for  him  too.  now,  she  shook  her  head  at  the  self - flagellated  words,  knowing  that  they  were  both  too  old  to  feel  pity  for  their  lots  in  life.  ❝  that  is  good  ...  listen  to  me.�� it  is  good  that  you  are  called  to  attendance.  you  must  be  brave,  you  cannot  flinch  when  the  swordsman  comes  for  her  neck  and  after,  you  will  thank  the  king  for  showing  her  mercy.  ❞  was  her  death  truly  a  mercy  ?  the  execution  would  certainly  be  orchestrated  with  more  respect  than  she  deserved  and  philippa  knew  that  it  was  necessary  to  answer  treason  with  the  sword  but  she  did  not  think  speaking  ill  of  his  aunt  would  help  edmund  feel  any  better,  if  he  even  could.  her  hand  cupped  his  cheek,  determined  features  fracturing  with  her  first  hint  of  concern  ─  an  uncrowned  queen  and  her  court  jester.  ❝  you  are  not  a  coward.  you  and  i  ...  we  are  the  same.  cornered  animals  whose  choices  are  to  lie  or  to  die  and  you  have  chosen  smartly.  you  are  right  to  resent  her.  she  has  damned  your  family  to  further  scrutiny  when  your  father,  your  uncle  and  you  ...  you,  my  clever  boy,  have  worked  tirelessly  to  erase  the  stain  of  your  grandfather's  ambition.  ❞  her  back  straightened,  hand  dropping  from  where  she  touched  him  as  she  leaned  back  to  sigh  the  words  into  the  room.  she  had  needed  him  to  come  to  her,  had  needed  him  to  play  into  her  plans  but  she  had  not  wanted  this  to  be  how  it  begun.  there  was  no  reassurance  that  his  fear  would  blind  him  into  supporting  her  and  if  he  truly  was  clever,  he  would  betray  her  to  the  king  (  it  was  what  she  would  do,  had  the  roles  been  reversed  ).

❝  but  she  is  your  aunt  ...  your  blood.  i  am  so  sorry,  ned,  for  you  and  your  sisters.  i  wish  there  was  something  that  i  could  do.  ❞