#spiritual tour provides

[lukolathoughts]

Dearest Gentle readers,

I have been a member of Tumblr for a while without posting a blog entry. I suppose I have been getting the lay of the land and trying to formulate my thoughts. As most of you know, I am a tarot reader on YouTube and I also share my thoughts on X. I am a Lukola through and through and no amount of bullying, intimidation, nasty comments etc. will deter me from my mission. The last few weeks my trolling comments have increased exponentially from what I can only assume are desperate Jakehole's, (apparently I am credited for making the term 'Jakehole' up, I actually have no idea if it was me or not, but I like it) trying to convince me that Nicola is with Jake and Luke is with Antonia. I will come to my thoughts on this in a moment.

I do realise that a public tarot reader, I put myself at risk to exposure and criticism from these types of people. I am fully aware of that. What I underestimate sometimes is the sheer vitriol they come with. I am an empath also and I absorb a lot of a energy, not just from the fandom, Luke and Nic and adjacents, but from my own life as well. I am a teacher and I am surrounded by a lot of people daily. I have always used my television shows as a coping mechanism to detach from reality and 'switch off'. I never thought this time last year I'd be sharing tarot readings on YouTube about a real life celebrity couple that I was barely aware of in January 2024. But here we are. Bridgerton season 3 took hold of my brain and injected some sort of magic crack into it and I haven't been the same since. Don't get me started on the press tour. I've never seen anything like it and it was honestly like a spiritual awakening.

But I digress, I have been reading for a few years and learning the tarot cards and their meanings. I have watched countless YT videos by other readers and I came into this fandom watching the OG tarot readers of the fandom. I do not see myself as any different or special, I just read the cards as they come out. I also repeatedly say 'this is for fun and entertainment purposes only, I do not personally know Luke and Nicola'. And the fact of the matter is I don't know them, none of us do. I do not follow them around all day like some weird little psychic Martha from Baby Reindeer. I merely read the energy of the cards and I observe.

Why I love teaching English so much for me, is there is never a right or wrong answer in English Literature. It is up to your interpretation and all about reading the subtext of what is really going on. Now you might call me delusional, but I have always had an uncanny knack for predicting who the murderer in a story is before the end of a novel. It's called critical thinking. This drives my husband mad because he is very black and white and for him 2+2 = 4. Simple as. For me, I'm like wait a minute, what if... My brain is like a whimsical, magical unicorn sometimes, but I always go with my gut and my intuition. I will NOT waver on my intuition because I believe it is stronger than my rational mind.

Ok, so here we go. In my opinion haters!! Nicola is not now or ever has been with Jake Dunn romantically. My readings tell me he sees her as mother figure and mentor. Jake is clearly gay and most likely in some sort of relationship with Dylan. I think the Jakehole ship is a dead, rotting corpse. Nicola and Jake have reached the end of their agreement where she provides him with networking opportunities in exchange for some possible PR diversion to take the heat off Nicola's real relationship. William Tell is out. Luke is home from Rome, there is no need for Jake anymore. I also get the feeling from my readings that Jake is tired. Nicola is tired and Dylan is doing his best to set the narrative straight. I do not need tarot cards for this, it's blindingly obvious. As far as I know, Jake has no straight male friends. It is extremely rare in UK culture for straight men to hang out with all gay men and feel secure about that. It's just the way things are. I am not saying Jake and Nic are not friends, of course they are and I won't begrudge them that. I think he has a lot of genuine affection for her, but he also sees her as someone who can get him places and opportunities which we have seen time and time again.

And now we come to Antonia. I know she is only 23/4 and young and whatever. I have taught students older than her. But I will be truthful and say I don't like her energy. I don't like reading on her. I don't trust her little dancing self. I did have some sympathy for her in October as I had big crushes on boys when I was young, I get it. Luke is hot. But that pasta video she shared in Rome (a video she could have got from anywhere and shared an hour after she had seen Luke had been there) by her was mean, malicious and intentional to hurt the fandom. Her flouncing around with a shitty red bag always implying she's in Luke's vicinity is also callous and calculating and she's shared so much pasta stories now, it almost puts me off eating it. Almost, I love pasta. The biggest takeaway for me is she was not with Luke this Christmas and NYE. It is well documented where she was. We do not not know where Luke was, but we do know Nic was spotted with a lovely tan at the WT premiere. Could Antonia be PR? I sigh, because I think it's more complicated than that. In my readings, I do pick up a delusional obsession from her in regards to Luke. But she is convenient to bring up when they need her. I know the haters will call me delusional for thinking this and as my husband would say if 2 + 2 = 4 then it's 4.

But is it 4? Is it so straightforward as that? My intuition is telling me no, it's not. We have had no sign of Luke being anywhere near Antonia since July in Sorrento when he jumped on a plane and left two days early alone. All Antonia has are literally pasta videos and photos, that I am convinced, enraged Luke. She is giving me serious Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction vibes.

Let's address the elephant in the room. The comment by 'Luke's mum' on her private FB account to a relative. I think it's bullshit. I have three boys and I'm telling you now I would walk through fire if anyone touched a hair on their heads. I will go to prison for my kids. If I was Luke's mum and some 23 year old dancer had systematically tried to ruin my son's career, and she did folks, I would not be writing on a public page outing her as my son's girlfriend. It is all too suspicious and convenient. I could speculate for hours on what has happened, but you guys have group chats and your own brains for that. As one ship falls, another one rises in an unexplained manner.

In conclusion, yes I do believe Nic and Luke are together and this is a very important time for them right now. The silence is LOUD for me. I keep getting the four of swords for Nic. She is resting and taking care of herself in the way that she should. Luke is in a besotted Emperor mode. All is good. Until Nic and Luke specify otherwise, that is what I am sticking with.

[foldingfittedsheets]

So I went to Geek Girl Con this year and the best panel we attended was one where Librarians recommend your next spicy romance read and since they provided a list I figured I'd share the list because why the hell not? I don’t know how long they will leave the link up sorry All synopsis will be what I remembered from the panel without any research into the title so buckle up! I feel like it's pretty obvious which ones I was more interested in based on what I remember.

Triple Sec - Spice Level 2 Queer/Fiction

This is a poly plot wherein a cynical bartender gets swept up in a new romance with a lady in an open marriage and then sparks start between all three.

Band Sinister - Spice Level 4 Queer/Period

A period romance between two guys, the local playboy and our leading lad who meets the local playboy when his sister gets into an accident on the guy’s property. He finds a lovely community very different than the rake's reputation suggested and gets drawn into a romance against his better judgement.

Here We Go Again - Spice Level 2 Queer/Fiction

A wlw romance between two girls with a history who need to go on a roadtrip together and reconnect on the drive. Childhood friends I think?

Payback's a Witch - Spice Level 2 Queer/Fantasy

A wlw romance between Emmy and Talia (I'm cheating I've read this one before and liked it). Emmy left her hometown and magic behind after an embarrassing rejection from the most powerful magical family's scion. She comes back into town and finds her best friend and the stunning Talia have both now been wronged by the same guy. They convince Emmy to join a pact to get back at him together and Emmy and Talia grow closer through the power of revenge.

Act Your Age Eve Brown - Spice Level 2 Het/Fiction

A chaotic autistic female lead runs into a by the book boy after one of them gets hit by the others car and she ends up staying with him. They form a very sweet bond and the representation was lauded as being very precious.

Merry Inkmas - Spice Level 4 Het/Fiction

A cool alternative barista gets fired in front of her crush for giving a homeless man a free coffee and her crush hires her on the spot to work for him instead. They start up a relationship that he warns has an expiration date which suits her fine- or does it? Hijinks ensue.

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding - Spice Level 4 Queer/Fiction

A wlw romance under false pretenses, they agree to get married for a reality TV show. There's an influencer and a shy one can’t remember who’s who, the shy one decided national television is a good way to come out to her family. As the competition continues real feelings start to rear their head between the two.

The Prospects - Spice Level 4 Queer/Fiction

Uhhhh baseball boys? The boys play baseball... mlm romance. Baseball.

Something Wild and Wonderful - Spice Level 3 Queer/Fiction

Two guys are both hiking a grueling trail from Mexico to Canada. After running into each other repeatedly they strike up a connection and eventually a relationship. One of the guys is still spiritual despite rejection from the church and it's healing for the other guy.

Prince and Assassin - Spice Level 4 Queer/Fantasy

An assassin is sent on a mission to take out a prince. While waiting for his orders to pull the dagger the two men grow closer and the assassin realizes he may not be able to kill off the prince as he learns more about him- but his sister's life is forfeit if he fails. Dramaaaaa

After Hours on Milagro Street - Spice Level 5 Het/Fiction

I cheated and had to refresh my memory as I fully forgot the plot. A bar is entrusted to new management in the form of a tattooed tough lady. A child of the family who's always run it takes issue with her management and sparks fly as they learn to compromise.

The Pairing - Spice Level Queer/Fiction

A couple breaks up before taking an amazing food tour across Europe and neither goes. With their tickets to the tour about to expire both decide to say screw it and go anyway, presuming that they couldn't possibly run into each other. They do. They they proceed to try to out slut each other while eating delicious food to prove how over each other they are. They aren't.

Hunt the Stars - Spice Level 3 Het/Sci fi

Human/alien pairing I think? As a bounty hunting crew takes a dangerous job and in the midst of peril find undeniable chemistry despite some fraught history between the two species.

A Holly Jolly Ever After - Spice Level 5 Het/Fiction

A previous child actor has found herself in a loveless marriage. She finally breaks free of her husband and takes a huge hit to her public image. She takes a job on a Hallmark style Christmas movie with another previous child star boyband. He has always had a crush on her and while paired as romantic leads on the film she admits to him she's never had an orgasm. We can see where this is going.

Morning Glory Milking Farm - Spice Level 5 Het/Fantasy

Stay with me. Minotaur. Milking. Farms. But it's not milk, guys. So a down on her luck girl takes a great paying job on a farm which I think is like phone sex? and makes a connection with one of the beefy boys get it. Genuinely tactful conversations around consent despite the goofy premise. Monster fuckers will enjoy.

Hate to Want You - Spice Level 5 Het/Fiction

Romeo and Juliet style warring families who hate each other because of grocery stores, I think. A boy and girl get together once a year and hate fuck each other about it but things get hard when she moves back into town for real and they keep bumping into each other.

Consort of Fire - Spice Level 5 Queer/Fantasy

A princess and knight go to take down a dragon but wind up falling for him instead? I feel like that's enough said. Poly dynamic and dragons, that's all it took for me to put in a hold.

Dating Dr. Dil - Spice Level 3 Het/Fiction

Fake dating a hot doctor to get her family off her back. 'Nough said.

Satisfaction Guaranteed - Spice Level 2 Queer/Fiction

A lady inherits a sex toy shop and drops her job to try to save it. The store manager doesn't think much of her and they both have to work together to get the shop back on its feet.

Role Playing - Spice Level 3 Het/Fiction

A forties lady joins a message board for gaming and strikes up a conversation with someone she assumes is a teenager. The guy thinks he's talking to a grandma. They meet and realize they're in the same age bracket and have a lot in common.

[rambite6]

Ashlesha and Uttara bhadrapda music observation

Ashlesha nakshatra naturally carries a mystical spirit in their work that focuses on feelings of nostalgia and intimate moments of comfort. Cancer rules the 4th house, which governs the mother, home, and emotions—an incredibly private and vulnerable domain. Think of it as the womb where you were nurtured and secured. When you were born, you held onto your mother for emotional and physical support, which is vital for your development as a human being, both spiritually and materially. Our mothers are the primary reason we are here on Earth, and the way we are nurtured shapes who we become.

This is why Ashlesha natives seek security. They often hide their sensitivity behind a confident persona that is both inspiring and alluring. However, this façade can make them vulnerable to those who seek to drain their energy or manipulate and emotionally abuse them. Despite this, Ashlesha individuals have their own wants and needs and often fantasize about something more. They dislike being pigeonholed and desire to explore the darkest and rawest parts of themselves. This can lead to tendencies similar to those of the people who drain them; they may restrain or possess others in pursuit of their own feelings of security and love, akin to a mother not wanting her children to leave home.

Ashlesha ascendant Alexa Demie begins her music video “Leopard Limo” with a dreamy scene of a pregnant Alexa, gently holding her stomach. It’s interesting because she appears pregnant only at the beginning of the video; throughout the rest, she is either dancing or emoting, without any obvious signs of pregnancy.

The Ashlesha themes of illusion, private intimacy, and possessiveness are portrayed in her lyrics:

Every Sunday night we ride

On the highest quality supply

With the sun down

And the windows up

And your tongue between my thighs

Every Sunday night we ride

Until you need another lie

You’ll receive no more backseat love

Riding in my leopard limo

Ain’t nobody gonna see us when we ride

Another example of the manifestation of Ashlesha's love and need for security is shown in "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The song was inspired by Ashlesha ☽ Karen O’s relationship with her then-boyfriend. In the music video, she is crying toward the end, with real tears, because Andrew was expected to attend the show but was three hours late, and she was about to leave for tour. There is speculation that "MAPS" stands for "My Angus, Please Stay."

“Wait, they don't love you like I love you”“Wait, they don't love you like I love you”

The need to assert that her love for him is more profound and distinct than anything others can provide is Ashleshas way to forge an affirmation that counters their fear of competition and the possibility of being abandoned or replaced.

“Made off / Don’t stray”

The desire to hold on tightly and restrain reflects the emotional turmoil of fearing the loss of someone they deeply cherish, along with the inherent yearning for intimacy found in Ashlesha.

“Oh say, say, say”

“Wait, they don't love you like I love you”

The repetition of “say” a desperate plea for acknowledgment and validation from their partner the same plea in “Wait” that emphasize the doubts or uncertainties in the relationship. Revealing the inherent vulnerability of Ashlesha natives, they are prone to struggle with feelings of insecurity stemming from a deep-seated fear of losing emotional intimacy.

Uttara Bhadrapada, similar to Ashlesha, has a mystical approach to their work, though it is expressed differently. Known for its elusiveness, Uttara Bhadrapada can be difficult to grasp due to what it is constantly hiding or guarding. With its deity being the serpent or dragon of the depths, this nakshatra carries a hidden quality. Pisces, ruling the 12th house of loss, isolation, and the subconscious, is also a deeply private and confusing house; any planet placed here functions with an inward focus and a need to explore its hidden dimensions—an innate trait of Uttara Bhadrapada natives. Constantly contemplating both spiritually and materially, they are natural observers of life, but these natives tend to think about death all of time, they have accepted death as a natural part of life as the nakshatra is the back of a funeral cot.

Uttara Bhadrapada seeks stability and spiritual liberation, embodying a sacrificial nature where they surrender themselves for transcendence. Ubp natives experience life as unfulfilling, often feeling detached from everyday experiences and longing for deeper meaning. While Uttara Bhadrapada is governed by a double dose of sattva, it ultimately culminates in tamas. This tamasic influence means that, despite their quest for higher knowledge and spirituality, Uttara Bhadrapada natives may fall back into ignorance or adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as daydreaming or living in delusion, which do not serve their well-being.

In Lykke Li's song "I Follow Rivers," she taps into the themes of her ☉ in Uttara Bhadrapada. At the beginning of the music video, Li can be heard breathing alongside the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. The overall color tone of the video is grayscale, with decaying blues as the only color present. There is a coolness to the video that reflects the cold nature of Uttara Bhadrapada. Colors like blue and black are associated with Saturn, particularly in relation to this nakshatra. A man is shown lost on the snowy shore, running toward the woods, breathing heavily and looking around as if he’s trying to escape something. Meanwhile, Li is covered in soft black fabric that cloaks her as she follows him. By the end of the video, the man eventually gives up, and Li catches up to him, embracing him in a kiss.

The lyrics portray a quest for connection through devotion and surrender, even if it means losing oneself or facing death (with Li symbolizing death in this scenario). The ocean and river serve as symbols for the unpredictability and vastness of emotions that love and pain can evoke. It can also represent the overwhelming nature of Uttara Bhadrapada natives' mental state, as they are constantly feeling and contemplating, much like waves crashing on the shore and retreating back into the ocean to repeat the cycle.

Oh, I beg you

Can I follow?

Oh, I ask you

Why not always?

Be the ocean

Where I unravel

Be my only

Be the water where I'm wading

You're my river running high

Run deep, run wild

I, I follow

I follow you, deep sea baby

I follow you

Death, used as a storytelling tool to communicate feelings of love and loss, can also be seen in Grimes's song "Realiti," where she expresses themes reflective of her Uttara Bhadrapada ☉ and ☽.

When we were young, we used to get so close to it

And you were scared and you were beautiful

I wanna peer over the edge and see in death

If we are always the same

Oh, I fear that no life will ever be like this again

Cause your love kept me alive and it made me insane

[astroismypassion]

✨PART OF FORTUNE IN SIGNS AND HOUSES SERIES: 9TH HOUSE✨

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

ARIES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aries and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You would do well as a personal trainer or fitness instructor since you have great energy and motivation that can inspire clients to achieve health and fitness goals. You feel abundant when you are inspired and inspiring others and when you can experience the childlike joy and share it with those around you.

TAURUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Taurus and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via teaching about practical skills, business, economics or the arts, via creating and selling educational content (online courses, e-books, instructional videos), by becoming a travel writer or blogger, starting or managing a tourism-related business (travel agency, boutique hotel or guided tour company), via international law.

GEMINI PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Gemini and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via developing or working with educational technology platforms that facilitate online learning, via work in international business/trade, via diplomacy, engaging in media production, creating content for TV, radio or online platforms.

CANCER PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You can feel the most abundant when you have Cancer and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via selling home-brewed beer or offering brewing classes, via media content (podcasts, videos) connected with family relationships, emotional health, cultural traditions, life coaching, via real estate related to family homes, community housing, vacation properties that provide a sense of home and comfort, via non-profit organizations that focus on family support, emotional well-being and cultural preservation.

LEO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Leo and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via providing high-end services, such as image consulting or bespoke travel planning, via engaging in theatre, film, directing, producing, via creative arts (music, painting, dancing), via sharing your experiences by storytelling, via teaching, arts, philosophy or leadership.

VIRGO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Virgo and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via nutrition counselling, naturopathy, wellness coaching, preventative care, via writing for technical and scientific publications, via developing or managing programs that facilitate cultural exchanges and study abroad opportunities. You feel abundant when you are focused on service and when you have clear communication.

LIBRA PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Libra and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via becoming a make-up artist, creating tutorials or selling beauty products. You feel abundant when you travel with your loved ones, your partner or as a part of the team. You find wealth via becoming a teacher in subjects like art, design, law or philosophy. You find abundance in starting a business in art (art gallery, design studio, fashion brand).

SCORPIO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Scorpio and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via esoteric studies, sociology, spiritual transformation, via energy work, shamanic healing, transformational coaching. You feel abundant when you dive into transformation, healing and deep psychological insights. You can also offer consulting services in areas, like crisis management, organizational transformation or deep personal development. You feel abundant when you promote healing and transformation via self-help books, wellness products or spiritual tools.

SAGITTARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via offering tailored travel plans, starting a business in adventure tourism (offering hiking, trekking and cultural tours), offering spiritual counselling or coaching, helping others find their path and purpose.

CAPRICORN PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Capricorn and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via import/export, global consultancy, multinational corporations, via offering historical tours, archaeological digs, via eco-tourism, via international law or corporate law. You feel abundant when you are disciplined, patient and persistent.

AQUARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aquarius and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via writing or speaking about progressive philosophical or spiritual ideas that align with modern, futuristic or humanitarian values, via online courses, workshops or alternative education methods, via technology, social sciences or futuristic studies.

PISCES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Pisces and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via producing media content (podcast, video, documentary) on spiritual, artistic, cultural topic, via creating educational programs/workshops that blend traditional learning with holistic or spiritual perspective, via spiritual coaching, astrology or psychic readings.

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

[black-arcana]

EPICA Collaborates With Dutch Amusement Park Efteling On New Single 'The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)'

Dutch symphonic metal titans EPICA have unleashed their eeriest creation yet, the spine-chilling music video for "The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)" , a haunting track that lures listeners into a world where shadows dance and the afterlife whispers. This song is a unique collaboration with Europe's second-most visited theme park, Netherlands's magical De Efteling, and their much-anticipated new attraction, Danse Macabre.

Drenched in ghostly imagery, the video mirrors the unsettling thrill of De Efteling's new ride, which opens its gates on October 31, right in time for this Halloween season. Ever since their childhood, every member of EPICA has loved this theme park that welcomes over five million visitors per year. Therefore, this collaboration was a true match made in the otherworld.

Submerge yourself now in the music video which was filmed right inside and in front of the new attraction — and as if this wasn't already exciting enough, the band even received their very own "EPICA gravestone" that you can spot, if you look closely.

EPICA's keyboard player Coen Janssen comments: "Every kid in the Netherlands knows how magical De Efteling is, and working this closely with the most beautiful theme park in the world surely is a dream come true!

"As a young boy, I immediately got captivated by the 'Danse Macabre' by Saint-Saëns as a soundtrack for their haunted house 'Spookslot'. So when De Efteling announced their new plans for the ghostly attraction 'Danse Macabre', all pieces of the puzzle fell into place immediately: Why not combine our symphonic side with the 'scary' side of metal and do our version of this epic classical piece?!?

"We are so happy that De Efteling trusted our vision and gave their full support, providing us with the new ride's storyline, so we could write lyrics fitting the fantastic narrative and even adding a new chapter!"

"The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)" lures fans into a darkly enchanting dance with the dead in the YouTube video below and will also appear on all streaming platforms soon, when more of EPICA's next chapter will be unveiled.

The song has already made its live debut at the band's monumental "Symphonic Synergy" shows in Amsterdam this September, and fans in Mexico City will have the chance to be the next to hear it live at two shows in December that EPICA will perform exclusively with a full orchestra and choir.

In a recent interview with Spain's Mariskal Rock, EPICA singer Simone Simons spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the follow-up to 2021's "Omega" album. She said: "I think that there should be a single by the end of the summer-ish. That's that's our plan. And the album should be released [in] 2025.

"I just wrote with Mark [Jansen, guitar] and Rob [Van Der Loo, bass] also yesterday that I'm so happy with the songs, I'm so proud how everything turned out and it's gonna be another amazing EPICA album.

"We added a couple of new elements, but also went back to the roots, the old EPICA," she continued. "And yeah, I just can't wait for people to hear this.

"I loved 'Omega' and we toured so much with 'Omega' and had wonderful experiences, but then when you reach the end of a touring cycle, you start to get itchy and feel, 'Okay, now it's time to do the new album. Can we do it as good or maybe even better than the last album?' That's always the thing we strive for, ways to renew ourselves a little bit. And we feel a very strong spiritual connection also that it's our ninth album. So there's gonna be themes around the symbolic meaning of nine, the number nine."

Elaborating on the musical direction of EPICA's next album, Simone said: "The songs are heavy. There's a beautiful ballad, a very cinematic song, very uptempo, very doomy, melancholic and amazing, amazing power riffs. It's the most epic EPICA, I think, so far. Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'm feeling it. I'm very happy with it. I'm proud of it. And they are going to start recording the orchestra now next week. They're flying to Prague; that's where we record the orchestra. And I will be recording my final vocals as well."

In November 2022, EPICA released "The Alchemy Project" through Atomic Fire Records. The EP was co-written and performed with diverse guests ranging from extremists like FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, Niilo Sevänen (INSOMNIUM) and Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK) along with melodic masters like Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT),keyboard legend Phil Lanzon (URIAH HEEP) and Roel Van Helden (POWERWOLF) to a once-in-a-lifetime song with Simons, Charlotte Wessels and Myrkur.

Just one day after the release of its anniversary reissues "We Still Take You With Us" and "Live At Paradiso", EPICA celebrated 20 years of existence live in September 2022 at 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands, the same place where they played their first show (supporting ANATHEMA) back in 2002.

EPICA was formed by Jansen after leaving AFTER FOREVER in 2002, and the band quickly gained attention outside their home country, taking big steps towards becoming the leading symphonic metal superpower they have long proven to be. After their ambitious debut "The Phantom Agony" (2002) and the surprisingly eclectic sophomore work "Consign To Oblivion" (2005),the road took them to new heights via their first concept masterpiece "The Divine Conspiracy" (2007) and their global breakthrough "Design Your Universe" (2009). 2012's opus "Requiem For The Indifferent", 2014's bedazzling "The Quantum Enigma" and "The Holographic Principle" (2016),cemented their reputation as not only one of the hardest-working metal bands in the business but also as one of the best. With "Omega", the final part of the metaphysical trilogy they began with "The Quantum Enigma", they reclaimed the throne without so much as the blink of an eye, amassing three million-plus streams during the first week of the album's release.

[dailycharacteroption]

Planar Tour Guide: The Plane of Air part 1

(art by wuggynaut on DeviantArt)

Intro

And so we’re moving beyond the spiritual, the shadow, and the forces of life and death to something a bit more strange, with the first of the elemental planes!

While many versions of D&D’s cosmology painted the elemental planes as being like orbs floating in the astral plane (often with quasi- and para-elemental mini-planes connecting the elemental planes and the energy planes together), Pathfinder decided to take inspiration from the Ancient Near Eastern cosmology (the same one that inspired Ancient Greek and Hebrew faiths in their own cosmologies), by surrounding the universe in a “Firmament”

Of course, while in those faiths the firmament was a barrier that blocked the Upper Sea from flooding the dry land of the world (remember that this was a geocentric viewpoint at the time), the elemental planes instead form concentric layers around the universe in a metaphysical sense. So no, you couldn’t travel linearly to the edge of the universe and suddenly enter the endless atmosphere of the Plane of Air.

In any case, the Plane of Air! Also known as the Endless Sky, Endless Expanse, or even yes, the Firmament,this plane provided the concepts of every naturally gaseous form of matter, and borders the universe on one side, and the elemental Plane of Water on the other. However, the Plane of Wood once existed between them, and is indeed slowly returning, though that will take countless eons.

While the majority of the Endless Sky is a vast unfathomable atmosphere of breathable air with no ground, it is filled with areas of pretty much every atmosphere that exists as well, as well as all manner of weather as well. And that’s just the things that are atmospheric in nature, for there are islands of solid terrain as well, often brought in from other planes or the interaction between the plane of air and other planes, such as massive icebergs broken off from the barrier between air and water, and so on.

And the plane isn’t uninhabited either, with all manner of elementals, genies, and other powerful entities dwelling there. Many are peaceful and freedom-loving, evoking air’s tendency to be the most “free” element. However, many of these beings also evoke the crueler aspects of the wind, and even the more peaceful can be just as volatile as a storm in the right circumstances.

Over the coming week, we’ll see exactly what it is that fills this Endless Expanse, starting tomorrow with it’s ironically-termed geography!

[thiziri]

The Princess Royal visits the United Arab Emirates.

The Princess Royal has visited Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, as President of The Mission to Seafarers (MtS).

The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) provides help and support to the 1.89 million men and women who face danger every day to keep the global economy afloat. MtS works in over 200 ports in 50 countries caring for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs. 

Through its global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers, MtS offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers through ship visits, drop-in seafarers' centres and a range of welfare and emergency support services.

On arrival in Dubai, Her Royal Highness visited DP World’s Jebel Ali Port, the busiest port in the Middle East. Here, Her Royal Highness heard about the innovative technology being used at the port which includes electrified and automated high bay storage stacker cranes. 

The Princess Royal also saw a demonstration of container transfer from ship to shore before meeting the port’s Operations team, frontline workers and the MtS welfare team.

Following this, The Princess Royal attended a Women in Shipping and Trading Conference Panel Discussion to hear more about the importance of seafarers’ welfare with an emphasis on women in shipping and trade. 

During the visit, Her Royal Highness also opened the new Donnelly Lines facilities at Al-Minhad Air Base. 

The new HQ, welfare and accommodation facilities are named after Sergeant William ‘Billy’ Donnelly, an RAF navigator who died in UAE on 14th February 1943 after his aircraft suffered an oil leak. The facilities will support British service personnel at the Airbase. 

As President of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), The Princess Royal toured Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, the region’s largest RYA training centre, and met dedicated volunteers who have promoted sailing and other competitive non-motorised water sports to communities in the United Arab Emirates since the Club was established in 1974.

Her Royal Highness ended the day in Dubai with a dinner hosted by representatives from MtS.

© Royal UK

[murfpersonalblog]

How Interview with the Vampire Got Racebending (Mostly) Right - Princess Weekes

Princess’ other video on Confederate Vampires is a tour de force. NGL I thought this Racebending video was ok, even though I wish she’d’ve spent more time going more in depth, cuz I’m a greedy ungrateful wench who loves long-form content, sue me.

The 1st half of the video is the 20 minute background of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles franchise: how AR created Louis as a representation of herself, grieving for her daughter, and her reactions to the adaptations of 1994 IWTV & 2001 QotD--both of which AR had A LOT of issues with.

Which is hilarious, cuz now AR’s the only white woman played by a Black man in a tv show, LOLOLOLOL. XD

The 2nd half of the video is another 20 minutes dedicated specifically to AMC’s 2022 IWTV.

Louis’ Softness & Sacrifices

I love what Princess said about Louis’ inherent softness, and how society (his family, business contacts, Lestat, etc) forced him to toughen up in ways unnatural to his true nature, not wanting to hurt or mistreat anyone.

“Louis has to harden himself toughen himself up in order to present himself to the world. It translates really well to his anxieties about being a vampire. He is genuinely a soft man, and it's like, you know, don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem. But that is who Louis is. He tries so hard to be strong for his family, to be a provide--to be sort of like the black strong male provider character, but at the expense of his own soul. So, he is someone who's already felt for a long time that he had to sacrifice himself to do things, and so the vampirism add to that: How much more is he expected to give? How much can he sacrifice, before he no longer understands the shape of his own heart?" (23:19 - 3:00)

I just thought that was so beautifully put. That sat with me for a WHILE.

The Dark GIFT

There was also this great bit about Louis’ relationship to vampirism & Claudia:

“I think by giving him that autonomy for Claudia also shows how he does see The Dark Gift as a gift, and was willing to give it to someone else, rather than do the right thing. And again, that complicates his own morality, because at the end of the day he was a pimp; he was someone who was used to using other people to make his money. So, at a certain point, he's also used to using people for emotional needs, physical needs, and to a certain degree spiritual needs; and I think those things are compelling for a character like him,” (24:38 - 25:10).

This is why I get mad when antis take Louis’ self-castigation far too seriously, eager to see him in bad faith and accept all the negative things he says about himself as gospel, while not realizing that Louis’ view of himself is rooted in self-loathing & self-hatred. Cuz EXACTLY, Louis DID see vampirism as a gift! That’s why he accepted it in the first place. 

He saw the “barbarism“ of Lestat slaughtering those priests, and kissed that man with their blood still on his mouth. Cuz he saw the ways that vampirism could benefit men like him rather than relying on the goodwill of racist white men to give him a foot through the door--the same way it could benefit Claudia, by healing her rather than relying on a hospital to treat her severe burns. That’s the whole point of Faustian deals with the Devil: sacrificing your soul for power. It’s not about pimp!Louis seeing women as commodities; it’s about the selfish opportunism & ego that allows capitalists AND vampires (male or female) to exploit ANYONE for their own personal benefit.

Despite the fact that Lestat & Claudia DIDN’T ask/want to be vampires, they still were willing to pass their curse of eternal damnation onto others, just cuz they didn’t want to suffer from vampire loneliness. They KNOW it wasn’t a gift for them, but they try to make the most of their living hell by focusing on love & found family. And Louis knew this, too, desperate to find another Paul in Claudia (”my daughter, sister, throw pillow when HE wouldn’t look at me kindly.”).

The Great Laws: Hypocritical Vampiric Sentimentality & Humanity

“Is there something about being a vampire that blurs the lines of what it means to actually have sentimental attachment if you are seeing other people who you used to look at like food? At a certain point you dehumanize ALL of them! Why else would they have those rules? Why else would it be allowed to kill another vampire, if it wasn't for the fact that, to be an immoral immortal creature means that you don't value life!... You don't value life, but then you also want to have companionship, because you have that humanity in you. How do you balance all that kind of stuff out? That is the thing that is interesting," (33:04 - 33:39). “What does it say 35:08 about the human capacity to harm what you love?" (35:08)

FAAAAAACTS. She ATE (no pun intended) with that part. This is what I mean about those stupid Great Laws--it makes NO sense to believe the Trial script in the Ep4 revisit, as if Lestat GAF about the Great Laws & what Claudia would be like if she was Turned, when even BOOK Lestat DGAF about what would happen to her, and ESPECIALLY not about obeying anyone’s laws.

❗ DISAGREE ❗

Childlike Claudia

I started disagreeing heavy when Princess discussed Claudia, esp. in S2.

“....in Europe and France she tries to seek out their purpose. I will say there is some--in my opinion--lack of connective tissue between Claudia in season 1 and season 2...[in] how the character's motivations are written. Like, yes, Claudia is older mentally as we go through these seasons. But as my friend Maven/Lisa said in our longer interview on Nebula, that little girl trapped in a tiny body doesn't really come out in season 2 until she's forced to perform the show over and over again. We saw her in that first season chopping up bodies, really dealing with this kind of way of which the the dysmorphia of her body is never going to match up [with] how she sees herself. And while that does happen, I think it happens a little bit, focused towards the end,” (26:00 - 26:50).

Full disclosure: I can’t stand Maven of the Eventide’s takes on AMC IWTV. I lost total patience with her in S1, when it became clear that she’s a book purist who refused to see/understand what the show was doing. So I was already like Oh brother, here we go. 🙄😒

Claudia is not meant to be that little girl in S2--she disappears in all the way back 1x5.

“...in her own family her entire relationship with Louis is adultification, because in the end she has to become the parent in order to get him to leave a toxic relationship,” (25:30 - 25:42).

THIS is the most important part, but Princess immediately cuts away from it, when this is actually the crux of the matter: Claudia’s NOT a little girl anymore. Even after what happened with Bruce, she still came back home, and during the 1x5 fight we hear her screaming for her “Daddy Lou.” But in 1x6, after she’s forced to take on the motherly role when Lestat crippled Louis, and she had to be the one HE hid behind to answer the door & catch the goats & such, she was officially a woman who refused to be a child for EITHER of them anymore.

In 1x6 Claudia becomes the head of the household, and it pisses alpha patriarch Lestat OFFFFFFFFF (”the lambs herd the beauceron”). In 1x7 she takes charge of the Murder Plot, as a stone cold tactician who never cracks a smile--that bubbly giggling girl from 1x4 is GONE; she’s been simmering with rage ever since Lestat attacked her & Louis. And in 2x1 she takes charge of their entire European itinerary, cuz she’s ALWAYS been the smartest one in their family.

So yeah, it’s typical that Maven’s complaints about wanting to see child!Claudia are a holdovers from book purists who also chafe at AMC’s changes.

“that little girl trapped in a tiny body doesn't really come out in season 2 until she's forced to perform the show over and over again.“

Cuz yes: it’s “forced.” Claudia’s “childlike wonder” that Armand wanted to MONETARILY pimp & exploit--WHY does this fandom always focus on the low-hanging fruit of pimp!Louis exploiting Claudia, but NEVER maitre!Armand???--wasn’t childlike at all, it was her naive hope that she’d finally found kinship & community with the coven, which made her happy again--the smiling girl is back when she thinks Daciana will accept her, and it’s finally back ”for the first time in Paris” when she watches the Theatre. But it’s gone again once she realizes “Eff these vampires;“ she only starts smiling again with MADELEINE.

(On the subject of Madeleine, I DO agree with Princess that having a French White Nazi collaborator be Black!Claudia’s companion effing sucks. Like...no, that’s an L, AMC. I wish to God that Madz had been a Jew who was persecuted by the Parisians instead; cuz ain’t no way you finna have me LIKE this change.)

Vampiric Glitz & Glamor in S2

“I have seen some complaints that in this more grounded and racially realized story that we miss out on the glitz and glamour of the vampires traveling like in the books. And I do understand that this element of wish fulfillment would have been fun because we have normalized the idea of vampires being rich and therefore having all this economic distance on a personal level. I do really like seeing vampires having to navigate the realities of traveling while different, while not being privileged.... I do love seeing a story about vampires who had to deal with being immortal while also broke, and having been marginalized in their past, and that marginalization making them scrappy as a result. So I do understand that, but I do think it would have been nice for the show to have a better balance between them struggling through World War II and being able to have a more decadent lifestyle. I think it's possible to have both wish fulfillment and also discuss race,“ (27:11 - 28:14). “Are there elements of the tragedies of their race that I feel could have been changed? Absolutely! I would not be unhappy if they were able to just have ultimate glitz and glamour, and still have the same fate. I think that would have been better, honestly. I think that you can have them deal with racism & microaggression, and then have a bunch of money and be fabulous in Paris," (36:51 - 37:10).

I’m sorry, but no. I have a whole tirade specifically about Louis & Claudia’s financial situation in the book vs the show, that stresses the ways AMC BRILLIANTLY highlights how vampirism does NOT afford black!Claudia (& Louis) the same privileges that it does for their white counterparts. Carol Cutshall specifically talked about how they did NOT want Louis & Claudia living glamorously in Europe.

It’s intentional, grounding Black vampires in the reality of having to navigate the a post-war world as people with Black skin. 

I’ve seen this same bogus complaint from (white) people mad that AMC only showed war-torn Romania in 2x1, as if Louis & Claudia would’ve EVER been able to walk around Romanian palaces & mansions, when their BLACK arses weren’t even allowed to walk around the SLUMS without Nazis & Soviets throwing their papers in the effing mud, until Emilia vouched for them (a white woman, as Black people OFTEN needed to do during segregation. It’s also a callback to free Black people during slavery, who had walk through white spaces with their freedom papers, lest white people assumed they were runaway slaves & resold them. And Claudia OFTEN framed their escape from NOLA & Massa Lestat’s oppression as them being “slaves” she had freed.)

I’ve also spoken on how Delainey’s S2 Claudia is even more interesting wrt colorism, since she’s darker skinned than Bailey.

Cuz I’m very confused: we DO get the glitz and glamour of rich vampires...IN DUBAI. Loumand’s living in a multi-million dollar penthouse in one of the most insanely expensive cities on the planet, giving Daniel 7-course meals of “endangered species,” waited on hand & foot by a whole team of servants & listening to Classical music so loud Daniel tells them to shut it off. They’re selling modern art to the highest bidder, and their bedroom has a bunch of priceless Mughal-era antiquities. When Lou FINALLY leaves Dubai, he’s driven into NOLA in a Cadillac Escalade, flashing his Black Amex card at the Pontchartrain. 

These viewers just miss the Art Nouveau maximalism of NOLA, over the modern minimalism of Dubai (even though Louis’ FAR richer in Dubai than he was in NOLA). Meanwhile forgetting that Louis only has access to massive wealth in NOLA specifically BECAUSE of his access to Lestat (the white man who funded the Azalea), whose generational wealth from Magnus juxtaposes the dwindling LDPL fortune that pushed Louis to become a pimp in the first place???? As for being glitzy & glamorous, this is post-war Paris 1945-49--WHAT glitz? WHAT glam?!

The rich people in 1940s Paris were corrupt AF black marketers who were hoarding all the food & resources after the war--as foreign BLACK outsiders who BARELY spoke French and had ZERO politico-economic pull, how the heck would Louis & Claudia have manged to rub shoulders with any of them????  And why would humanist!Louis have wanted to, when he was busy trying to connect with regular people’s struggles through his photography? (Granted: the ONE place I could see glitzy glamorous Paris is if AMC had been able to add the scenes Jacob wanted at R:26, so we could see Josephine Baker perform, and see the artistic circles.) Carol Cutshall said Lou wants to mimic the COMMON MAN, not the elite.

Like, what do y'all REALLY want? To see a period drama reflect people’s experiences realistically, or do you just want the fantasy of Netflix treatments of white characters acted by Black people, who’re allowed to walk through the world of the white elite with no consideration of historical accuracy, a la Bridgerton? 🙄😒

Princess points out something important here:

“When it comes to race bending I feel like the disappointments I've had for most shows is that it feels as if when the character becomes non-white, tenderness is lost, care is lost, sensitivity is lost. I remember reading the Sookie Stackhouse books and being like: not only is Tara white, but Tara is happy! And in the show, Tara is the antithesis of joy! She's always suffering, always unhappy, always miserable, always being abused. Why was her becoming Black synonymous with her having a miserable existence?" (35:14 - 35:44).

The difference with AMC!Claudia and HBO!Tara is that Tara, despite also living in Louisiana, does NOT live during Jim Crow. AMC was making a point about the ways that Black people were disenfranchized during an openly racist period in 19teens-1940s history--“our life is sh!t, it’s been sh!t, it’s gon’ be sh!t again”--from Claudia growing up poor in Storyville (the seediest part of NOLA where most Black folk were poor), to becoming a vampire who’s now doubly an outcast cuz she’s undead, then triply suffers cuz she’s a kid with this weak-willed Black father whose head is constantly up their white Maker’s arse. It’s about holding on to that (naive) hope that the damned can “make the most of it“ in their cursed lives as the undead, and that found family & companionship can make immortality bearable (“you and me”), when Vampire Loneliness gets so bad that they “want to curl up and die“ and “taste the fire.” Claudia’s life is MEANT to be tragic, white or Black; but AMC’s whole point was that during Jim Crow, Black vampires didn’t have it as easy as white ones. And in post-war Europe, the brightest spot they find is the Theatre where they find vampires even WORSE than everyone in America--ironically, Lestat was right.

HBO!Tara on the other hand, doesn’t suffer for any logical in-lore purpose or larger message about Southern racism--other than the obvious. HBO was even gonna kill off Lafayette in S1--but the fans protested cuz he’s iconic. So instead they killed off Miss Jeanette (the Black voodoo priestess/snake oil saleswoman).

Bruce & non-canon brutalization

“Of all the choices that they've made in the show in terms of adaptation, the two that I'm still kind of wrestling with is Bruce and the domestic violence. I really don't feel like Claudia being tortured and assaulted is necessary for her character. I remember rewatching that episode, and I still don't think it's necessary. I don't think it's necessary for Bruce to exist. I think that storyline for Claudia is very weird; I don't think it adds anything. I don't really think Rape As Backstory makes any sense, and I think that it takes away from the ultimate issue of her just wanting to leave Lestat. I don't think that she needs to be in a situation where she is brutalized and broken, and then comes back. And then because it's also the fight happening and Lestat and Louis--Louis being bruised and broken. I feel like I don't want the fact that it's a Gothic drama--the fact that they are, you know, vampires--for it to be an excuse to see them be unnecessarily brutalized, when it's not something that happens to the source material,“ (30:52 - 31:50).

I also heavy disagree with this stance, specifically because Bruce is a deliberate parallel with none other than Lestat. I’ve argued this over & over (x x x x), how Bruce (aka Killer) and Matador!Lestat are two antagonists who show you precisely how teenaged girl Claudia & adult man Louis are put on the same level; our two Black vampires given similar treatment at the hands of white vampires they thought they could trust.

I want either Akasha or Lestat to kill Bruce in S3. Cuz either it’ll be Akasha making a point (to Les) about what happens to rapists & misogynists; or it’ll be Lestat guiltily/belatedly tryna “do right” by Claudia long after she’s dead, only for her ghost haunting him to laugh in his face, too little too late.

And as for the point about characters being brutalized, I’ve also spoken on this before wrt race, cuz this whole show’s about how our 2 Black characters are brutalized with no justice and no peace.

“I feel like nothing in the show can really shock me, since we open the series with Lestat fisting a priest...in a non-sexy way."

I don’t get when people say this, cuz on one hand Omg vampires are monsters, Lestat punched a hole in a priest’s head in a church. But on the other hand it’s Omg how could AMC not put trigger warnings on Ep5 cuz DV/SA is triggering, (even though they didn’t even show ANY of the SA on screen, or even show us Claudia’s broken leg); but the gratuitous murder & violence & torture we see in S1 AND S2 wasn’t TW’d either--e.g.: Armand dishragging human!Daniel in 2x5, which HE never does in the books, either. But they’ll ship the absolute HELL out of DM, when the show hasn’t even indicated they’ll make DM romantic!?

So wrt to Lestat’s depiction in this show, IMO people really take umbrage with anything that makes shipping Loustat less fun and makes this white man look like a monstrous a-hole. They hide behind book canon, inconsistent AF. Cuz AMC!Lestat often acts totally opposite his book counterpart--who cries when he kills people & staunchly only wants to hunt Evil Doers cuz he wanted to be a priest & falls in love with EVERY human he meets, regardless of if they’re musicians or not. AMC!Lestat calls humans “The Meat” constantly, and he & Claudia call human blood “Kill Juice” and treat hunting like a sadistic game (”you must be most ferocious”). Lestat is a monster who has ZERO regard for ALL human life, yet (racist) antis love to point the finger at pimp!Louis & lie about him having no regard for women?? Like??? Even in the S3 promo we see Lestat having killed frikkin crew members in the documentary--are THEY Evil Doers? 

(But you best believe AMC’s gonna glamorize every single second of his Rockstar Era, even while he’s sitting in a puddle of blood tears crying about how hard his human life was and how the IWTV book slandered him--just feeding the fires of Black people’s voices being seen as less credible than white people’s--even though Louis & ESPECIALLY Claudia never knew a effing thing about Lestat cuz HE chose to never divulge details about his personal life. And NO, I don’t mean the stuff about TWMBK Marius told him to STFU about. He didn’t tell them anything about Gabrielle, they barely knew anything about Nicki, and knew nothing about Armand.)

So yeah, I largely agree with Princess Weekes that overall AMC did a great job by writing color conscious Black characters. Our takes just diverge when it comes to considering the historical reality of Black experiences during Jim Crow, that WEREN’T glitzy & glamorous, but that AMC isn’t necessarily giving trauma porn to torture Black characters for no reason, either. 

I think a bigger issue with the racebending is its reception; about how AMC’s mishandled race in the press and fandom: wrt silencing interviews with the actors about race; and platforming the most problematic AF non-Black fans, while not speaking out against the racist AF takes in the fandom about the Bipoc main characters.

[justforbooks]

Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and his school friend Garfunkel, whom he met in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. Their blend of folk and rock, including hits such as "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America" and "The Boxer", served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their final album, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970), is among the bestselling of all time.

As a solo artist, Simon has explored genres including gospel, reggae and soul. His albums Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) kept him in the public eye and drew acclaim, producing the hits "Mother and Child Reunion", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". Simon reunited with Garfunkel for several tours and the 1981 Concert in Central Park.

In 1986, Simon released his most successful and acclaimed album, Graceland, incorporating South African influences. "You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's most successful singles. Graceland was followed by The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), and a second Concert in the Park in 1991, without Garfunkel, which was attended by half a million people. In 1998, Simon wrote a Broadway musical, The Capeman, which was poorly received. In the 21st century, Simon continued to record and tour. His later albums, such as You're the One (2000), So Beautiful or So What (2011) and Stranger to Stranger (2016), introduced him to new generations. Simon retired from touring in 2018, but continued to record music. An album, Seven Psalms, was released in May 2023.

Simon is among the world's best-selling music artists. He has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been the recipient of sixteen Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence and Graceland, were inducted into the National Recording Registry for their cultural significance, and in 2007, the Library of Congress voted him the inaugural winner of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He is a co-founder of the Children's Health Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides medical care to children.

In 2012, in an interview reprinted in American Songwriter, Simon discussed the craft of songwriting with music journalist Tom Moon and talked about the basic themes in his songwriting: love, family and social commentary, as well as messages of religion, spirituality and God. Simon explained how he wrote his songs. "The music always precedes the words. The words often come from the sound of the music and eventually evolve into coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Rhythm plays a crucial part in the lyric-making as well. It's like a puzzle to find the right words to express what the music is saying."

When Simon moved to England in 1964, he met Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Chitty at the first English folk club he played, the Railway Inn Folk Club in Brentwood, Essex, where Chitty worked part-time selling tickets. She was 16 and he was 22 when they began a relationship. Later that year they visited the U.S. together, mainly touring by bus. Kathy returned to England and Simon followed some weeks later. When he returned to the U.S. with the growing success of "The Sounds of Silence", Kathy, who was quite shy, wanted no part in success and fame and they ended their relationship. She is mentioned by name in at least two of Simon's songs: "Kathy's Song" and "America". She is also referred to in "Homeward Bound" and "The Late Great Johnny Ace". There is a photo of Simon and Kathy together on the cover of Simon's 1965 album The Paul Simon Songbook.

Simon has been married three times, first to Peggy Harper in 1969. They had a son, Harper Simon, in 1972, and divorced in 1975, inspiring the song "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". Simon wrote about this relationship in the song "Train in the Distance" from his 1983 album Hearts and Bones. In the late 1970s, Simon lived in New York City next door to Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, who has been described as Simon's "best friend" during the period.

He and Shelley Duvall lived together as a couple for two years until she introduced him to her friend Carrie Fisher. Simon and Fisher became a couple, and his second marriage, from 1983 to 1984, was to Fisher. He proposed to her after a New York Yankees game. The song "Hearts and Bones" was written about their time together, and the song "Graceland" is believed to be about seeking solace from the ending of the relationship by taking a road trip. A year after they divorced, Simon and Fisher resumed their relationship, which lasted for several years.

Simon married singer Edie Brickell on May 30, 1992. Brickell and Simon have three children, Adrian, Lulu, and Gabriel. On April 26, 2014, Simon and Brickell were involved in a domestic dispute. Each was issued a summons to appear in court on disorderly conduct charges.

All four of his children are now adults and are musicians.

Simon and his younger brother, Eddie Simon, founded the Guitar Study Center sometime before 1973. The Guitar Study Center became part of The New School in New York City, sometime before 2002.

Simon is an avid fan of the New York Rangers ice hockey team, the New York Knicks basketball team and the New York Yankees baseball team.

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

[princessanneftw]

The Princess Royal has visited Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, as President of The Mission to Seafarers (MtS).

The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) provides help and support to the 1.89 million men and women who face danger every day to keep the global economy afloat. MtS works in over 200 ports in 50 countries caring for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.

Through its global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers, MtS offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers through ship visits, drop-in seafarers' centres and a range of welfare and emergency support services.

On arrival in Dubai, Her Royal Highness visited DP World’s Jebel Ali Port, the busiest port in the Middle East. Here, Her Royal Highness heard about the innovative technology being used at the port which includes electrified and automated high bay storage stacker cranes.

The Princess Royal also saw a demonstration of container transfer from ship to shore before meeting the port’s Operations team, frontline workers and the MtS welfare team.

Following this, The Princess Royal attended a Women in Shipping and Trading Conference Panel Discussion to hear more about the importance of seafarers’ welfare with an emphasis on women in shipping and trade.

During the visit, Her Royal Highness also opened the new Donnelly Lines facilities at Al-Minhad Air Base.

The new HQ, welfare and accommodation facilities are named after Sergeant William ‘Billy’ Donnelly, an RAF navigator who died in UAE on 14th February 1943 after his aircraft suffered an oil leak. The facilities will support British service personnel at the Airbase.

As President of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), The Princess Royal toured Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, the region’s largest RYA training centre, and met dedicated volunteers who have promoted sailing and other competitive non-motorised water sports to communities in the United Arab Emirates since the Club was established in 1974.

Her Royal Highness ended the day in Dubai with a dinner hosted by representatives from MtS.

[x-on-the-calendar-business]

ryan ross iceberg (tier 8)

tier 1, tier 2, tier 3, tier 4, tier 5, tier 6, tier 7

darkest waters (final tier):

teen ryan’s pimples:

i’m so sorry for this one.

it refers to a set of tweets from twitter user prettynpuunk (i’m so sorry to her for bringing them back up but it’s lore).

honestly these are just so iconic. they will always live in my head rent free

“is is true you have a monster cock:”

this is something a fan genuinely asked ryan once (which is so gross and i hope that person is having a terrible day).

allegedly, it has been said by ryan’s exes that he is well endowed. also, i can’t find a source for this, but i swear that once shane morris said that about ryan as well. according to twitter searches, the rumor of ryan having a monster cock goes back as far as 2009 [i]. there’s another rumor that a picture was leaked at one point (i think?), but i’m not going to search that out. if any of you were around in those days, let me know if that’s unfounded or not.

i think the term “monster cock” comes from a picspam on livejournal, referenced here; however, the picspam itself is no longer available [ii].

edit: i actually did end up coming across shane morris' dm about this

target fruit aisle:

apparently there was an “incident” from teenage ryan in the target fruit aisle, which led to him getting banned from the store. it’s unknown exactly what happened, but it’s theorized that either a) he and his friends were throwing fruit at each other, or b) he knocked over a display of fruit.

he’s not actually GRRIII:

if you don’t know what GRRIII means, you’re too far down in the iceberg.

according to obituaries and genealogy trees, discussed in this livejournal posts and its comments, ryan’s grandfather and his dad are actually named george hammond ross sr and jr respectively [iii]. since neither of their middle names are ryan, that means ryan is technically not the third. he is still the third george ross, though.

pissing on tour bus furniture:

according to a tweet, brendon said in an interview that ryan pissed on tour bus furniture, but ryan said it was an accident [iv]. they say it was hard to tell if it was a joke or not, but it was. it's at 2:40 in this interview.

(thank you to the anon who sent me this video!)

romp movie:

this refers to a phone interview in which ryan says that he and brendon went to see a romp movie, and then they both say that ryan’s other hand was uh…busy [v]. it was also definitely a joke. they talk about it in this interview at 8:55.

(the same anon sent me this video, so thanks again!)

the Q stands for quintessence:

remember ryan’s Q tattoo and the cult theory? we’re back to that. in other pictures from that night, you can see that ryan has things representing the 4 elements: earth, air, wind, and fire. the Q could stand for quintessence, which is also called the 5th element [vi]. so, it relates to spirituality, not a cult.

if you’re interested in reading more about this, you can do so here:

bugs in his ass:

the first line in cape town is “took you in the vineyard a couple hours after i met you.” it’s easy to read this as he took her TO the vineyard, but he says IN the vineyard, implying that they might have had sex in this vineyard. and whilst doing that, ryan probably got bugs in his ass.

he can’t park:

this is another reason why ryan ross is a queer icon.

someone parked next to ryan’s car once (his trans am) and provided this picture:

i think there have been other reports of fans who said he cannot park.

panic! wouldn’t exist if ryan wasn’t playing fisher price in his yard the day he met spencer:

this is self-explanatory, but the day ryan and spencer met, which was when they were around 5-6 years old, ryan was playing with a fisher price toy in his yard. of course, had this not happened, we wouldn’t have panic!, the young veins, high hopes (which would be nice, i think), this iceberg, amongst many other things. it’s the butterfly effect.

personal bit about this, panic! is THE hyperfixation for me. no matter how many others i’ve had, nothing has me in the same chokehold that panic! and ryan ross do. with my panic! phase, it is never a matter of if i will enter it again, but a matter of when. because it will happen. but since that band has been such a huge part of my life, it’s so weird to reflect on this entry and imagine what the world would be like without it.

anyway, it just felt right to end this on a sappy note.

also i want to give an honorable mention to corky b roll. i can’t believe i forgot to include it, especially because it was a HUGE ryan meme when i first got into panic!:

thank you so, so much to everyone for the notes! and thank you to anyone who read any of this, especially those of you who made it through every entry. it really means the world that anyone would take time out of their day to read what i have to say about this man lol

another thanks to anyone whose posts i referenced throughout; your service and contribution to the ryan ross lore will not be forgotten.

and with that, this is the end of the ryan ross iceberg explained.

references:

[i] https://twitter.com/search?q=ryan%20ross%20monster%20cock&src=typed_query&f=top

[ii] https://bandfandom-ref.livejournal.com/134497.html

[iii] https://bandfandom-ref.livejournal.com/71193.html

[iv] https://twitter.com/checkyesjuul/status/1369125668726865922

[v] https://twitter.com/checkyesjuul/status/1456098187416989702

[vi] https://pathetic-at-the-disco.tumblr.com/post/175514546326/was-ryan-ross-in-a-satanic-cult

[connectparanormal]

Shades

Ghostly shades, sometimes known as phantoms or specters, have long been a fascinating aspect of human storytelling and folklore in all cultural contexts. Usually characterized as translucent or shadowy figures, these ethereal beings haunt particular places and frequently connect to terrible or unsolved historical events. Because ghostly shades cast doubt on our conception of life and death, they can inspire both terror and wonder. This is why they are so fascinating. Throughout history, people have depicted ghostly shades in a variety of ways, from good spirits offering guidance to evil forces seeking retribution. People believe them to be the spirits of the dead, either unable to transition to the hereafter or carrying unresolved matters. These ghosts frequently show themselves in locations like ancient homes, battlefields, or cemeteries where they formerly went through intense feelings or experiences. Ghostly shades are usually accompanied by a chill in the air, unsettling noises, or a feeling of being seen.

Literature and the media have greatly influenced our understanding of ghostly shades. Ghosts are major characters in classic works like Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Shakespeare's Hamlet, each of whom drives the plot and explores themes of guilt, atonement, and the paranormal. Even in the present era, movies and TV series frequently combine suspense and terror with ghost stories and hauntings to attract viewers. Beyond just being entertaining, ghostly shades are appealing because they allow one to explore difficult feelings and existential issues. Ghost stories frequently serve as mirrors for our own doubts about death and the afterlife, reflecting societal concerns and worries. They give us a safe area to explore our darkest fears and enable us to face the unknown in a regulated setting. The concept of ghostly shades endures despite scientific and technological advancements that provide logical explanations for many occurrences once thought to be caused by ghosts. Fans continue to flock to paranormal investigations and ghost tours, employing a variety of instruments and methods to identify and interact with ghosts. These endeavors demonstrate the enduring human yearning to establish a spiritual connection and derive significance from encounters that defy rational interpretation.

Ghostly shades are frequently a part of cultural customs and ceremonies. For example, Halloween in the West emphasizes the macabre and occult, whereas Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico commemorates and celebrates departed loved ones. These incidents demonstrate the incorporation of spectral hues into cultural identity, providing people with a sense of continuity and a connection to the past. In summary, ghostly shades are more than merely eerie characters that linger on the edges of our consciousness. They represent our dreams, concerns, and the mysteries that exist beyond the curtain of death, making them an important and enduring aspect of human society. Whether we see them as mental illusions or as expressions of something deeper, ghostly shades continue to evoke curiosity and inspiration, reminding us of the fine line that separates the known from the unknown.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Peter Montgomery at Right Wing Watch:

The New York Times profiled the MAGA movement organization America First Policy Institute this week. AFPI was created as a sort of Trump administration in exile after voters dumped Donald Trump from office. AFPI has provided jobs and salaries to a lot of Trump loyalists, who are working to put Trump—and themselves—back into power. And they’re preparing to make the most of that power. AFPI’s own version of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 agenda for a new administration reportedly includes nearly 300 executive orders for a returning Trump to sign. Right Wing Watch reported last year on an AFPI summit called “Laying the Groundwork for the Next America First Administration,” at which the group’s president Brooke Rollins bragged about the “revolutionary” nature of its ambitions to “seize control of the administrative state and use it—while also dismantling it,” describing “an America First confrontation against anti-conservative institutions.”

Now that there’s bad blood between MAGA insiders and the Heritage Foundation over the unfavorable publicity Project 2025 brought Trump’s campaign, AFPI is positioned to be in control of the transition team and domestic policy agenda if Trump wins. One example of what that could look like: the Times reports that AFPI’s plan to allow Trump to fire federal employees and replace them with political loyalists is even more radical than Project 2025’s proposal—it would essentially turn the entire federal workforce into a political patronage system. 

One important aspect of AFPI’s work that this week’s Times story did not explore is AFPI’s partnership with dominionist Lance Wallnau and his “Courage Tour” to turn out conservative Christian voters in crucial swing-state counties in the upcoming election. As the Times noted, one of AFPI’s funders and board members is Texas pastor-billionaire Tim Dunn, whose funding and theocratic vision have been aggressively pushing the Texas Republican Party further to the far right. 

Right Wing Watch has reported that the Courage Tour blends religious revivalism, spiritual warfare rhetoric, right-wing politics, and targeted voter turnout work all designed to overcome “demonic strongholds” and put Trump back into the White House. Some other media reports on the Courage Tour have noted the partnership and described the participation of America First Works—AFPI’s political action affiliate—and its voter registration efforts. Wallnau and AFPI have focused on 19 crucial counties in swing states that they believe could swing the election for Trump with increased turnout from MAGA-minded Christians. 

The extent of the partnership between AFPI and New Apostolic Reformation dominionists like Wallnau is revealed in video from a Michigan stop on the Courage Tour in May. Wallnau described AFPI as “the group I work with,” adding that it “is holding the key appointment for the hoped-for Trump administration….They’ve got all the placeholders for who’s going in.”  Wallnau introduced Richard Rogers, who is affiliated with Georgia-based MAGA pastor Jentezen Franklin’s Free Chapel church, and who is serving as AFPI’s national director of faith engagement. He got that assignment, Rogers said, when AFPI called Franklin saying that the movement did not have enough resources on the ground to actually do the necessary voter registration and turnout in those targeted counties. Rogers went to work, he said, and now AFPI has a “faith department” that has been built “to put boots on the ground to motivate the voters in those states to turn the tide on the election in 2024—and we’re doing it.”

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has an agenda that is more radical than even the discredited mess that Project 2025.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Bibliography, Acknowledgements, and About the Author

Agee, James, and Walker Evans. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. Boston: Mariner Books, 1988.

Albrecht, Gerd. Nationalsozialistische Filmpolitik: Eine soziologische Untersuchung über die Spielfilme des Dritten Reiches. Stuttgart: Ferdinand Enke, 1969.

Alter, Robert, and Frank Kermode, eds. The Literary Guide to the Bible. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 1987.

Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. New York: Harcourt, 1979.

Armstrong, Karen. The Battle for God. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.

Ault, James M., Jr. Spirit and Flesh: Life in a Fundamentalist Baptist Church. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.

Barton, David. A Spiritual Heritage: Tour of the United States Capitol. Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 2000.

Bartov, Omer. Mirrors of Destruction: War, Genocide, and Modern Identity. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Beach, George Kimmich, ed. The Essential James Luther Adams: Selected Essays and Addresses. Boston: Skinner House Books, 1998.

Beliles, Mark A., and Stephen K. McDowell. America’s Providential History. Charlottesville, VA: Providence Foundation, 1989.

Bellant, Russ. The Coors Connection: How Coors Family Philanthropy Undermines Democratic Pluralism. Boston: South End Press, 1991.

———. Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic Fascist Networks and Their Effect on U.S. Cold War Politics. Boston: South End Press, 1991.

Belt, Don, ed. The World Of Islam. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2001.

Biros, Florence W. Crossing Paths Treasury. Vol. 1. New Wilmington, PA: Son-Rise Publications, 1998.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community. Translated by John W. Doberstein. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1954.

Brinton, Crane. The Anatomy of Revolution. New York: Random House, 1965.

Brown, Karen McCarthy. “Fundamentalism and the Control of Women.” In Fundamentalism and Gender. Edited by John Stratton Hawley. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Burke, Theresa, and David C. Reardon. Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 2002.

Cantor, David. The Religious Right: The Assault on Tolerance and Pluralism in America. Edited by Alan M. Schwartz. New York: Anti-Defamation League, 1994.

Carter, Jimmy. Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.

Chrnalogar, Mary Alice. Twisted Scriptures: Breaking Free From Churches That Abuse. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.

Clarkson, Frederick. Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy. Monroe, ME: Common Courage Press, 1997.

Coffin, William Sloane. The Heart Is a Little to the Left: Essays on Public Morality. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1999.

Cohen, Edmund D. The Mind of the Bible Believer. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1988.

Crossan, John Dominic. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.

Crossman, Richard H., ed. The God That Failed. Chicago, IL: Regnery Gateway, Inc., 1949.

De Vries, Hentde, and Samuel Weber, eds. Religion and Media. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001.

Diamond, Sara. Not by Politics Alone: The Enduring Influence of the Christian Right. New York: The Guilford Press, 1998.

———. Roads to Dominion: Right-Wing Movements and Political Power in the United States. New York: The Guilford Press, 1995.

——— Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right. Boston: South End Press, 1989.

Dobson, James. Bringing Up Boys. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

——— Dare to Discipline. New York: Bantam Books, 1970.

——— Marriage Under Fire: Why We Must Win This Battle. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2004.

Douglass, Frederick. “What, to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July? (1852).” In Lift Every Voice: African American Oratory, 1787–1900. Edited by Philip S. Foner and Robert James Branham. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1998.

——— Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself (1845). New York: Signet Books, 1968.

Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. Third Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Fenn, Richard K. Dreams of Glory: The Sources of Apocalyptic Terror. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2006.

Frank, Thomas. What’s the Matter with Kansas: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004.

Frazier, Gary. Signs of the Coming of Christ. Arlington, TX: Discovery Ministries, 1998.

Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and Its Discontents. Edited and translated by James Strachey. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1961.

Friedman, Richard Elliott. Who Wrote the Bible. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1989.

Gallup, George, Jr., and Jim Castelli. The People’s Religion: American Faith in the 90s. New York: Macmillan, 1989.

Ghosh, Amitav. Incendiary Circumstances: A Chronicle of the Turmoil of Our Times. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.

Goebbels, Joseph. Signale der neuen Zeit. Munich: Eher, 1934.

Goldberg, Michelle. Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2006.

Goodrich, Chris. Faith Is a Verb: On the Home Front with Habitat for Humanity in the Campaign to Rebuild America (and the World). Brookfield, CT: Gimlet Eye Books, 2005.

Green, John C., Mark J. Rozell, and Clyde Wilcox, eds. The Christian Right in American Politics: Marching to the Millennium. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2003.

Grossman, Vasily. Life and Fate. Translated by Robert Chandler. New York: Harper and Row, 1985.

Harding, Susan Friend. The Book of Jerry Falwell: Fundamentalist Language and Politics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000.

Harris, Sam. The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2004.

Hassan, Steven. Combatting Cult Mind Control. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1998.

Heinemann, Larry. Black Virgin Mountain: A Return to Vietnam. New York: Doubleday, 2005.

Hitchcock, Mark. 101 Answers to the Most Asked Questions About the End Times. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001.

Hoover, Stewart M., and Lynn Schofield Clark, eds. Practicing Religion in the Age of the Media: Explorations in Media, Religion, and Culture. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002.

Horton, Ronald A., ed. Christian Education: Its Mandate and Mission. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 1992.

Hughes, Richard T. Myths America Lives By. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2004.

James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc., 2002.

Jenkins, Jerry B., Tim LaHaye, with Chris Faby. The Rise of False Messiahs: Left Behind: The Kids. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale Press, 2004.

Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. Third Edition. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2003.

Kaplan, Esther. With God on Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy, and Democracy in George W. Bush’s White House. New York: New Press, 2004.

Kennedy, D. James. Evangelism Explosion. Fourth Edition. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.

Kennedy, D. James, and Jim Nelson Black. Character and Destiny: A Nation in Search of Its Soul. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1994.

Kennedy, D. James, with Jerry Newcombe. The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996.

———. Lord of All: Developing a Christian World-and-Life View. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005.

———. What If America Were a Christian Nation Again? Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.

Kepel, Gilles. The War for Muslim Minds: Islam and the West. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 2004.

Kintz, Linda, and Julia Lesage, eds. Media, Culture, and the Religious Right. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1998.

Klemperer, Victor. I Will Bear Witness 1933–1941: A Diary of the Nazi Years. Translated by Martin Chalmers. New York: Modern Library, 1999.

———. I Will Bear Witness 1942–1945: A Diary of the Nazi Years. Translated by Martin Chalmers. New York: The Modern Library, 1999.

Koonz, Claudia. The Nazi Conscience. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 2003.

Kugel, James L. The Bible As It Was. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 1997.

LaHaye, Tim, with Steve Halliday. The Merciful God of Prophecy: His Loving Plan for You in the End Times. New York: Warner Faith, 2002.

LaHaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Bible Prophecy Workbook. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1982.

LaHaye, Tim, and Thomas Ice. Charting the End Times. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2001.

LaHaye, Tim, and Jerry B. Jenkins. Apollyon: The Destroyer Is Unleashed. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999.

———. Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003.

———. Assassins: Assignment: Jerusalem, Target: Antichrist. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999.

———. Desecration: Antichrist Takes the Throne. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

———. Glorious Appearing: The End of Days. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.

———. The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2000.

———. Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1995.

———. The Mark: The Beast Rules the World. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2000.

———. Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1997.

———. Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2002.

———. Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998.

———. Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.

Lakoff, Mark. Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think. Second Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002.

Larson, Edward J. Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate over Science and Religion. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1997.

Leonard, Bill J. Baptists in America. New York: Columbia University Press, 2005.

Lewis, Sinclair. It Can’t Happen Here. New York: Penguin Books, 1963.

Lifton, Robert Jay. Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1961.

Loehr, Davidson. America, Fascism and God: Sermons from a Heretical Preacher. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2005.

Maharidge, Dale, with photographs by Michael Williamson. And Their Children After Them: The Legacy of Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: James Agee, Walker Evans, and the Rise and Fall of Cotton in the South. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2004.

———. Denison, Iowa: Searching for the Soul of America Through the Secrets of A Midwest Town. New York: Free Press, 2005.

———. Homeland. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2004.

———. Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass. New York: Hyperion, 1996.

Maimon, Solomon. Solomon Maimon: An Autobiography. Translated by J. Clark Murray. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2001.

Manseau, Peter. Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Their Son. New York: Free Press, 2005.

Martin, William. With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America. New York: Broadway Books, 1996.

Marty, Martin E., and R. Scott Appleby. The Glory and the Power: The Fundamentalist Challenge to the Modern World. Boston: Beacon Press, 1992.

———. The Fundamentalism Project. 5 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991–95.

McGirr, Lisa. Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2001.

Meerloo, Joost A. M. The Rape of the Mind: The Psychology of Thought Control, Menticide, and Brainwashing. Cleveland and New York: The World Publishing Company, 1956.

Mendelssohn, Moses. Jerusalem: Or On Religious Power and Judaism. Translated by Allan Arkush. Introduction and Commentary by Alexander Altmann. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England, 1983.

Niebuhr, Reinhold. The Irony of American History. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1952.

Niebuhr, Reinhold. Justice and Mercy. Edited by Ursula M. Niebuhr. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.

Nock, A. D. Conversion: The Old and the New in Religion from Alexander the Great to Augustine of Hippo. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.

O’Leary, Stephen D. Arguing the Apocalypse: A Theory of Millennial Rhetoric. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Ortega y Gasset, José. The Revolt of the Masses. Translated by Anthony Kerrigan. Edited by Kenneth Moore. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1985.

Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1977.

Palmer, Laura. Shrapnel in the Heart: Letters and Remembrances from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. New York: Random House, 1987.

Paxton, Robert O. The Anatomy of Fascism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.

Phillips, Kevin. American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush. New York: Penguin Group, 2004.

Popper, Karl. R. The Open Society and Its Enemies: The Spell of Plato. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1966.

Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. New York: Penguin Books, 1986.

Press, Bill. How the Republicans Stole Christmas: The Republican Party’s Declared Monopoly on Religion and What Democrats Can Do to Take It Back. New York: Doubleday, 2005.

Prothero, Stephen. American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1985.

Riley, Naomi Schaefer. God on the Quad: How Religious Colleges and the Missionary Generation Are Changing America. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005.

Robertson, Pat. The New World Order. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1991.

Rossing, Barbara R. The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation. New York: Basic Books, 2004.

Rushdoony, Rousas John. The Institutes of Biblical Law. Dallas, TX: The Craig Press, 1973.

Saloma, John S., III. Ominous Politics: The New Conservative Labyrinth. New York: Hill and Wang, 1984.

Sargant, William. Battle for the Mind: A Physiology of Conversion and Brain-Washing. Cambridge, MA: ISHK, 1997.

Singer, Margaret Thaler. Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.

Smith, Christian. Christian America?: What Evangelicals Really Want. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2000.

Smith, Chuck. Calvary Chapel Distinctives. Costa Mesa, CA: The Word for Today Publishers, 2004.

Smith, Wilfred Cantwell. What Is Scripture: A Comparative Approach. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993.

Spong, John Shelby. Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1991.

Stein, Stephen J. The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism, Vol. 3. Apocalypticism in the Modern Period and the Contemporary Age. New York: Continuum, 1999.

Stern, Fritz. The Politics of Cultural Despair: A Study in the Rise of the Germanic Ideology. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989.

Stern, Jessica. The Ultimate Terrorists. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999.

Strozier, Charles B. Apocalypse: On the Psychology of Fundamentalism in America. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2002.

Theweleit, Klaus. Male Fantasies, Vol. 1. Women, Floods, Bodies, History. Translated by Stephen Conway. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1987.

———. Male Fantasies, Vol. 2. Male Bodies: Psychoanalyzing the White Terror. Translated by Erica Carter and Chris Turner. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1989.

Tillich, Paul. The Shaking of the Foundations. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1948.

Todorov, Tzvetan. The Conquest of America. New York: HarperCollins, 1992.

———. Facing the Extreme: Moral Life in the Concentration Camps. Translated by Arthur Denner and Abigail Pollak. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997.

———. Hope and Mercy: Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Translated by David Bellos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2003.

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Charles L. Webster and Company, 1885.

Wallis, Jim. God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.

Whitcomb, John C., and Henry M. Morris. The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and Its Scientific Implications. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 1960.

White, Mel. Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America. New York: Plume, 1995.

Wills, Garry. Under God: Religion and American Politics. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990.

Winn, Denise. The Manipulated Mind: Brainwashing, Conditioning and Indoctrination. Cambridge, MA: Malor Books, 2000.

Wolfe, Alan. The Transformation of American Religion: How We Actually Live Our Faith. New York: Free Press, 2003.

Wright, Stuart A., ed. Armageddon in Waco: Critical Perspectives of the Branch Davidian Conflict. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Acknowledgments

This book was written with the generous and unstinting support of the Nation Institute, which allowed me to work unfettered for many months on this project. I am deeply grateful for this support and encouragement, especially that of Hamilton Fish, Taya Grobow, Janine Jaquet and Jonathan Schell, as well as Peggy Suttle and Katerina vanden Heuvel at magazine. I also owe a huge debt to Princeton University, where I teach in the Program in American Studies. R. Sean Wilentz and Judith S. Ferszt, as well as C. K. “Charlie” Williams, Elaine Pagels, Sam and Liz Hynes, and many of my dedicated and brilliant students always lent encouragement and advice. I am blessed with supportive and thoughtful friends and colleagues.

Pamela Diamond, for the second time, oversaw the research and organization of a book of mine with her usual skill, patience, dedication and good humor. I cannot imagine having to go through this without her. Rebecca Beyer, a talented reporter and writer, worked extensively on the book, carrying out some interviews and attending events. She was a close and valued collaborator. Elyse Graham and Amy Paeth, two of my students at Princeton, did tremendous and important research, especially under heavy time pressure in the closing days of production. Timothy Nunan, another Princeton student, did a fine job documenting creationist attacks on Charles Darwin and evolution. I benefited greatly from his research. Lisa Winn, Lauren Brown, James Arnold, Maria Guerrero-Reyes, Linda Kane, Kate Peters, Jason Proske, Colin Maier, Moya Quinlan-Walshe and Kathryn Tippett constituted our small army of transcribers. I turned over hours of tape to them and relied on their care and dedication to produce the transcripts. I owe a tremendous debt to those few who have been among the first to investigate and explain dominionism. They include Katherine Yurica, who produces the available online; Frederick Clarkson, whose three-part series in PublicEye.org in March/June 1994 called “Christian Reconstructionism” was a groundbreaking piece of journalism and who continues to do important research into the movement; and Sarah Diamond, whose books, such as are indispensable.

I owe thanks for vital help and support from Bernard Rapoport and Paul Lewis, as well as Patrick Lannan, Ralph Nader, Jenny Ford, Joan Bokaer, Mariah Blake, Cristina Nehring, Ann and Walter Pincus, Lauren B. Davis, June Ballinger, Michael Goldstein, Anne Marie Macari, Robert J. Lifton, Richard Fenn, Fritz Stern, Robert O. Paxton, Charles B. Strozier, Irene Brown, Joe Sacco, Al Ross, the Reverend Mel White, the Reverend Davidson Loehr, the Reverend Ed Bacon, Bishop Krister Stendhal, the Reverend William Sloane Coffin, the Reverend Joe Hough, the Reverend Michael Granzen and the Reverend Terry Burke. The Reverend Coleman Brown, as he has done with all my books, read and critiqued each chapter. Coleman again let me rely on his profound insight and wisdom. As usual, he raised questions and offered critiques that often forced me to reconsider my position or go back to my research. Max Blumenthal, a friend and fine reporter, nursed me through much of this with sage help and advice. I would like to thank Marji Mendelsohn and Janice Weiss for guidance and research, as well as Tamar Gordon, whose advice and scholarship helped me head in the right direction. Tom Artin, as talented a jazz musician as he is a scholar and writer, went through every chapter, as did my wife, Kim Hedges, who always saves me from being too sententious and ponderous with the stroke of her red pen, her gentle smile and common sense. Barbara Moses, the gifted painter, again came to our aid with her amazing eye for detail and her iron command of grammar.

I often leaned for emotional support on my friend John “Rick” MacArthur, who keeps alive magazine, one of the great intellectual journals in America, as well as my friend the poet Gerald Stern, who appeared frequently as I was writing to drag me into the sunlight for lunch and impart needed encouragement.

My editors at Free Press, especially Dominick Anfuso and Wylie O’Sullivan, patiently edited, shaped and formed the text. I would also like to thank Michele Jacob. Lisa Bankoff of International Creative Management held my hand, for the fourth time, through this process of proposal to contract to delivery. She is a gift.

About the Author

Chris Hedges, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, was a foreign correspondent for nearly 20 years. He was the bureau chief in the Middle East and the Balkans, and worked in other foreign posts, for The New York Times from 1990 to 2005. He worked previously for The Dallas Morning News, National Public Radio and The Christian Science Monitor in Latin America and the Middle East. He has reported from more than 50 countries. Hedges was a member of the New York Times team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for the paper’s coverage of global terrorism, and he received the 2002 Amnesty International Global Award for Human Rights Journalism. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from Colgate University and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Hedges has taught at Columbia University, New York University and Princeton University, where he is currently a Visiting Lecturer in the Council of the Humanities and the Program in American Studies as well as the Anschutz Distinguished Fellow. He has written for Foreign Affairs, Granta, Harper’s, Mother Jones and The New York Review of Books. Hedges is the author of War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning—a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction. His other books are What Every Person Should Know About War and Losing Moses on the Freeway: The 10 Commandments in America. He lives in New Jersey.

[burlveneer-music]

Jazz Is Dead JID022 - Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad shepherd a new album from Afrobeat legend Ebo Taylor, whose postponed 2024 American tour has now been rescheduled (as his "Americas Farewell" tour)

At 88 years of age, the Ghanian highlife and afrobeat pioneer Ebo Taylor traveled to the US for the very first time to perform at the now iconic Jazz Is Dead concert series, selling out venues across the country. It was during this time that Ebo recorded a psychedelic afrobeat album alongside Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad. This mind-blowing collaboration is one that could not have been anticipated by Ebo fans worldwide and will surely satisfy connoisseurs of classic West African funk. The swirling horns and gritty guitars heard on Ebo Taylor JID022 are reminiscent of his seminal seventies recordings that made him one of Africa’s most prolific and revolutionary artists of all time. Recorded inside of Younge’s Linear Labs studio, this album captures polyrhythmic percussion and twangy, fuzzed out guitars that prove that rhythm is key. The ensemble of Ghanian background vocalists emanates a uniquely spiritual sound that takes the listener back to Ebo’s prime. However, one of the most exhilarating components to this album is Ebo’s signature approach to vocal stylings. His heartfelt lyrics about love, peace and spirituality echo nearly a centuary of experience and wisdom. Songs such as “Beye Bu, Beye Ba” demonstrate how God provides for his people as songs like “Kusi Na Sibo” teach life lessons on gratitude. This is an afrobeat classic that stands as a true highlight in the canon of Ebo Taylor’s undeniable catalog and a crown jewel in the Jazz Is Dead library. Ebo Taylor JID022 is set to be released just in time for Ebo’s highly anticipated live tour of The Americas presented by Jazz Is Dead. Ebo will be joined by the Ebo Taylor Family Band alongside his protégée and Ghanian legend Pat Thomas. Dates for this tour through The United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil can be found on Jazz Is Dead’s site, link below. 

[le-tour-de-india]

Discover the Royal Charm of Rajasthan on Two Wheels

Embark on the Adventure of a Lifetime with Le Tour de India’s “Best of Rajasthan on Bicycle” Tour!

If you are an active traveler seeking adventure, culture, and relaxation all in one, then the 12-night, 13-day Rajasthan Cycling Tour by Le Tour de India is it. Here you are pedaling through vibrant cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur, twisting through rustic trails of Kumbhalgarh and Jawai, all surrounded by the serene beauty of Chandelao and Pushkar. This carefully crafted tour is an unforgettable journey through the heart of Rajasthan, where history, tradition, and natural beauty converge.

Why Choose the Best of Rajasthan on Bicycle Tour with Le Tour de India?

Indulge in the Colours of Rajasthan Le Tour de India cycling tours are much beyond the run-of-the-mill tourist experience. You will not only visit attractions like the Taj Mahal at Agra or Amber Fort in Jaipur, but also uncover quaint villages such as Kumbhalgarh and Jawai. Engulf yourself in rural life experiences. Interact with local artisans, farmers, and folk artists for some unforgettable lifetime moments.

Adventure with Safety and Comfort Le Tour de India will take every precaution to ensure that you feel completely safe and comfortable. It provides high-quality mountain bikes, helmets, tour guides, and a support vehicle, so you will never have any trouble during the tour. It will be of utmost help if you are a serious cyclist or a casual rider; Le Tour de India will help you at every step.

Enjoy Rajasthan's Cuisine Taste the delectable cuisine of Rajasthan to fuel your adventure. With Le Tour de India, you will have the pleasure of enjoying savory treats like dal bati churma, fresh-off-the-hob chapatis, and refreshing local beverages. Every stop is planned carefully to savor the best of local flavors while cycling through picturesque landscapes.

Unique and Comfortable Stays Relax and rejuvenate in boutique heritage properties that reflect Rajasthan's royal legacy. Le Tour de India takes care of the accommodations, which range from quaint forts to converted palaces, as a luxury respite after a day of cycling.

Professionally Guided for Maximum Enjoyment Le Tour de India's guiding staff are very well-experienced adventurers who share a deep appreciation for the state of Rajasthan. They are all very knowledgeable and passionate about storytelling, which will undoubtedly make your time spent discovering local gems, communities, and great rides a far more enjoyable journey.

Tour Highlights

Delhi, the capital city of India, is explored with a free day to acclimatize.

Pedal through the quiet streets of Udaipur, City of Lakes.

Wildlife and serene countryside views are to be spotted at Jawai.

Spiritual charm of Pushkar is to be experienced during its iconic fair (seasonal).

Explore Jaipur's royal heritage and iconic palaces.

End your journey with a visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra.

Tour Details with Le Tour de India

Dates: Multiple departures from November 2025 to March 2026.

Cost: Starting at $2,850 per person (special discounts for groups and early bookings).

Inclusions: Accommodation, meals, high-quality bikes, local guides, and more.

Who Is This Tour For?

The "Best of Rajasthan on Bicycle" tour by Le Tour de India is perfect for adventure enthusiasts, culture lovers, and anyone seeking a unique and active holiday. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple celebrating a special occasion, or a group of friends, this cycling tour offers something for everyone.

How to Book

Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today! For more details and booking information, contact the team at Le Tour de India.