#there is both a ''ross island'' and ''james ross island''

[heartavenue]

People I'm scripting out of my better cr (I seen someone else do this awhile back but I forget the name)

Donald Trump

Elon Musk

Netanyahu (BIG ON HIM)

Diddy

R Kelly

Woody Allen

DDG

Chris Brown

Jay Z

King Charles.

Tory Lanez

JD Vance

Majorie Taylor Greene

George Bush (hell both of em.)

Ronald Reagan

Henry Kissinger

Hugh Hefner

Jerry Seinfield (that's his name right?)

Okay, here's the more unserious version

James Charles (well he's a pedophile so that is serious!)

Shane Dawson

Kai Cenat

Druski

Morgan Wallen

Theo Von

The entirety of the Amp gang

Carrie Underwood

Jeffree Star

Joe Rogan (that's his name right?)

ADIN ROSS

Andrew Tate

Johnny Depp

Christano Ronaldo (I think that's how you spell it?)

Shannon Sharpe

Oprah Winfrey

Jeffery Epistein and everyone involved with his island

Rod Wave (unserious ik)

Ice Spice (also unserious)

Hyuna....

Low-key Super Junior

Everyone involved in the burning sun scandal

Taeil

Lucas

Natalie Nunn

Katy Perry

Gal Gadot

Drake

6ix9ine

Charlie Kirk

Pewdepie

Yung Miami

Don Toliver

Playboi Carti

Brad Pitt

I LIED THESE ARE SERIOUS TOO!

Okay that's all I can think of right now

[madqueenalanna]

back on my terrorposting bullshit and a few interesting facts i've learned:

john gregory, engineer on terror, had never been to sea before the expedition and was only chosen a week before they left. he was a railroad engineer and both erebus and terror were refitted w train engines for ice plowing

he sent his wife a letter from their stopover in greenland on the way out and the last line included the phrase "kiss baby for me"

not only the grave but the MUMMY of john torrington was found on beechey island. he died very early in 1846, only a few months after the expedition began, of tb

crozier was actually offered command of the expedition before franklin, but he turned it down with "characteristic modesty"

franklin was the SIXTH choice to lead this expedition. other candidates included sir james clark ross (he had promised his wife he was done with arctic expeditions) and james fitzjames (considered too young)

peglar's journal entry about "the C the C the open C" is a parody of a contemporary poem called "the sea", and "the C" is a way of saying cunt

as in the book "terror", there was a skeleton found wearing a steward's uniform and carrying a clothes brush, a comb with brown hairs, and peglar's diary, but there's not really any reason to think it was bridgens. it was almost certainly either armitage or gibson, peglar had served with both

peglar also took anti-slavery action in west africa

the graves on beechey island were first discovered by goodsir's brother, who had joined in rescue operations

remains were found that were initially considered to be le vesconte, but facial reconstruction looks a lot like goodsir, analysis shows a childhood in scotland (le vesconte grew up in southwest england), and there was a gold filling in a tooth (very uncommon at the time, and goodsir's family were friends w a dentist). if this is goodsir, he probably died of a tooth infection :(

[scotianostra]

December 12th 1902 saw the birth of Nan Mackinnon or, to give her her Gaelic patronymic, Nan Eachainn Fhionnlaigh, at Kentangaval, Isle Of Barra.

Nan was a tradition-bearer, whose remarkable memory, enthusiasm, and love of the Gaelic oral tradition has ensured that her wealth of knowledge has been preserved and shared with future generations. She became known as Nan of Vatersay, or Nan of the songs.

Nan was the youngest of seven children. Her father, Hector (Eachann Fhionnlaigh), was also born and raised in Kentangaval, and was descended from the MacKinnons of Strath, Skye – the historic grazing constables to the MacNeils of Barra until the 19th century. Nan's mother Mary was from Mingulay, and had strong connections with the MacPhee family, who – according to local tradition – came to settle in Barra in the 14th century. Nan grew up in what was a politically tumultuous time in the Highlands, and this influenced her early life greatly. Despite having won security of tenure twenty years before Nan was born, there remained a strong sense of injustice at the uneven distribution of land in the Highlands. Having spent her early years in Barra, in 1907 Nan's father was part of the 'Vatersay Raiders' – landless cottars from Barra and Mingulay who carried out a land raid on Vatersay, establishing crofts on the neglected land. Despite the eventual failure of the Land Raid, Nan's family were eventually given a croft in Baile, Vatersay following the purchase of land on the island by the Congested Districts Board.

Nan's repertoire was among some of the most extensive and varied of her generation, and this is reflected in the recordings of her featured on the Tobar an Dualchais website. She came from a rich musical tradition, and was said to know around 400 songs by heart, most of which she learned from her mother. After receiving her schooling on the island, Nan left home when she was seventeen and – as was common for women of her age at the time – spent a number of years in service for a variety of people in Argyll. She also worked at the herring for a time, in both Shetland and Yarmouth before going to Glasgow. One of her sisters died suddenly in 1940, leaving four young children and a husband who was away at sea for long periods. Nan returned home to Vatersay to raise the children and remained there for the rest of her life.

Nan McKinnon had a great fondness for the stories and songs she knew, and she was convinced of the importance of the oral tradition to Gaelic communities. Growing up she would spend hours practising them until she knew them in their entirety. As Nan herself commented: "[Each story] tells the ways of the people that lived in those days. The waulking songs kept news alive from generation to generation. There were no newspapers, whereas today we read it in the papers and forget about it tomorrow. But the songs kept it alive. Those happenings that happened centuries ago are still to be told in song and story. It's wonderful." Over and above her repertoire of songs, Nan was also well known for her tales and legends – often of a supernatural nature – and her captivating story style. She also had a deep knowledge of the traditions of Uist and Barra, and was recording speaking about a variety of subjects from cures to feast days, to interpretations of omens and dreams. Her knowledge of the material culture of her native island was also extensive, and her recordings include discussions about traditional diet, including about what would be eaten when food was scarce.

There are almost 1,000 recordings of Nan on the Tobar an Dualchais website, the earliest dating back to 1953 when she was recorded by Donald MacPherson for the Canna Collection, several other visited her and recorded her over the years, she must have been quite the wee celebrity on Vatersay

James Ross summed up her significance as a tradition-bearer by saying: "Nan is the type of person that the folklore and folk-song collectors dream about. There is absolutely no trace of 'memory effect' as she responds to queries … Her answers are always a direct affirmative or negative, usually … the former. She never has to search her mind, and this, together with her unstinting co-operation, endless patience and subtle sense of humour, made the work of collecting a joy."

At the link below you can listen to Nan singing Griogal Cridhe, (literally "Gregor of the Heart", or "Beloved Gregor". It is a traditional Scottish lament and lullaby that was composed in Gaelic by Mór Chaimbeul ("Marion Campbell"), the widow of Griogair Ruadh Mac Griogair ("Gregor the Red MacGregor") (1541–1570), the chief of the Clan MacGregor of Glen Strae, who was executed at Taymouth Castle, Perthshire, on April 7th, 1570. There are many versions of the lyrics

Griogal Cridhe

Chorus;

Òbhan, òbhan, òbhan i ri

Òbhan i ri ò

Òbhan, òbhan, òbhan i ri

'S mòr, mo mhulad, 's mòr.

'S iomadh oidhche fhliuch is thioram,

Sìde nan seachd sian,

Gheibheadh Griogal dhomhsa creagan

Ris an gabhainn dìon.

Eudail mhòir, a shluagh an Domhain,

Dhòirt iad t'fhuil o'n dè,

'S chuir iad do cheann air stob daraich

Tacan beag bho d'chrè.

B' annsa bhi le Griogal cridhe

Teàrnadh chruidh le gleann,

Na le Baran mòr na Dalach,

Sìoda geal mu m' cheann.

Chan eil ùbhlan idir agam,

'S ùbhlan uil' aig càch,

'S ann tha m'ùbhlan-s' cùbhr' ri caineal

'S cùl a chinn ri làr.

'Nuair a bhios mnàthan òg a'bhaile,

'Nochd nan cadal sèimh,

'S ann bhios mis' air bruaich do lice,

'Bualadh mo dhà làimh.

Many a night, wet or dry

weather of the seven elements

Gregor would get me a rocky shelter

Against the storm

Greatest treasure in all the world

They spilt your blood yesterday

And they put your head on a post of oak

A little way from your body

Would that I were with beloved Gregor

Herding cattle in the glen

Than with the great Baron of the Dale

White silk around my head

I have no apples at all

Others have all the apples

My apple with the fragrance of cinnamon

The back of his head to the ground

When the young women of the village will be

Tonight sleeping soundly

I will be at your graveside

Beating my two hands

With the above being a lament I thought I would post another song from Nan, Haoi Ho Nach Dannsadh Sibh E is a much more upbeat song, according to the notes Nan’s mother heard this song from Lewis women at the fishing. Another source tells me that this is the only variant of that song, so without t the work of the likes of Donald MacPherson, and indeed Margaret Fay Shaw, some of these songs would have been lost to the world, they are an integral, very important part of our Gaelic roots. This song is a light vocal dance tune with a love theme. The song is of the type common among the women who worked as herring gutters.

https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/108438?l=en

[defjux]

Here's 100 of the albums from 2024 that i''ve enjoyed the most: 50 hip hop records, and 50 albums in other genres. There's still a ton of stuff I haven't gotten to yet or need to revisit, but i'm feeling pretty good about this and don't think too much would change aside from the order. Insane year for music overall, and surely there will still be some big releases in the next two months. Biggest surprise for me was definitely The Cure making a comeback after almost two decades and putting out their best album since Wish. I'm also convinced that Robert Smith is an actual vampire. he still sounds great after all this time. Charts with album titles included Again, i'm sure there's plenty of stuff that has gone under the radar for me so as always i'm open to recommendations. Let me know what your favorite records are, i'd genuinely like to know. I'll post the list of albums below, and maybe at the end of the year will do some kind of spotify playlist with one or two songs from each. Peace.

Hip hop:

ELUCID - REVELATOR

Ka - The Thief Next To Jesus

AKAI SOLO - DREAMDROPDRAGON

Mach-Hommy- #RICHAXXHAITIAN

Cavalier - Different Type Time

The Fortunate Ones - RESIN

Armand Hammer - BLK LBL

Dead Players - Faster Than the Speed of Death

ShrapKnel - Nobody Planning To Leave

Sunmundi & klwn cat - Lived and Born

Desert Camo - Desert Camo

Nakama - EMBERGO_

Lee Scott - To Tame A Dead Horse

Joshua Virtue - Black Box: JOSHUA IS DEAD

Freddie Gibbs - You Only Die ince

Navy Blue - Memoirs in Armour

Phiik & Lungs - Carrot Season

Nickelus F - MMCHT

Nuse Tyrant - Juxtaposed Echoes

Mary Sue - Voice Memos From A Winter In China

DJ Muggs & Raz Fresco - The Eternal Now

Revival Season - Golden Age of Self Snitching

Midnight Sons - Money Has No Owners

Tyler, the Creator - Chromakopia

Sasco - The Hottest Year on Record

Boldy James & Conductor Williams - Across The Tracks

Hester Valentine - Valenta

Mavi - Shadowbox

Serengeti - KDIV

JPEGMAFIA - I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU

Rap Man Gavin & postureless - Memories, Dreams, Reflections

yungmorpheus - WAKING UP AND CHOOSING VIOLENCE

Sadistik & Maulskull - Oblivion Theater

Roc Marciano - MARCIOLOGY

R.A.P. Ferreira - the First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap

Deca & Dealz - Bough

Nxworries - WHY LAWD?

Oddisee - And Yet Still

Rich Jones & SINAI. - Sour Dub

Lupe Fiasco - Samurai

Noveliss & Hir-O - Cyberpunk Rhapsody

Cavalier & Quelle Chris - Death Tape 2: We Gon' Need Each Other

Killah Priest - Abraxas Rebis Simha Pleroma

Vince Staples - Dark Times

Kooley High & Tuamie - All Infinite

MIKE & Tony Seltzer - Pinball

Daniel Son & Futurewave - BUSHMAN BODEGA

Vic Spencer & August Fanon - Psychological Cheat Sheet 5

Jack Jetson & Illinformed - Winter Forever

bromethugzine - THUG ZINE issue 002: WORLD-SPIRIT

Everything else:

Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She

Iglooghost - Tidal Memory Exo

chat pile - Cool World

Frail Body - Artificial Bouquet

The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World

Trauma Ray - Chameleon

Terry Green - PROVISIONAL LIVING

Gouge Away - Deep Sage

Thou - Umbilical

ØKSE - ØKSE

Tenue - Arcos, bóvedas, pórticos

Krallice - Inorganic Rites

Nala Sinephro - Endlessness

Punchlove - Channels

Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding - Milton + esperanza

Arooj Aftab - Night Reign

Hammok - Look How Long Lasting Everything Is Moving Forward For Once

Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere

Crumb - AMAMA

Kamasi Washington - Fearless Novement

Fievel Is Glauque - Rong Weicknes

Camila Bañados - Viento 1.

julie - my anti-aircraft friend

Oranssi Pazuzu - Muuntautuja

Skee Mask - Resort

Mary Halvorson - Cloudward

Infant Island - Obsidian wreath

Blushing - Sugarcoat

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD

MAGDALENA BAY - Imaginal Disk

Leaving Time - Angel in the Sand

Joel Ross - nublues

Both Gibbons - Lives Outgrown

geordie greep - The New Sound

Nilüfer Yanya - My Method Actor

Nails - Every Bridge Burning

Hiatus Kaiyote Love Heart Cheat Code

Liana Flores Flower of the soul

Babii - Daredeviil2000

Blind Girls - An Exit Exists

HERIOT - Devoured by the Mouth of Hell

Julia Holter - Something in the Room She Moves

Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee

Melt-Banana - 3+5

Ulcerate - Cutting The Throat Of God

Spirit of the Beehive - YOU'LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING

Hannah Frances - Keeper of the Shepherd

Ginger Root -Shinbanguni

Martha Skye Murphy - Um

Pluma - Não Leve a Mal

[thecunnydiaries]

28th Thursday

Very fine. Sighted Land ahead in the Morning of a very lofty appearance and on approaching it discovered in the highest Peak of it a Volcanic erruption. It would Shew first with a volume of Smoke, as dark as Pitch which would gradually become of a lighter hue and then the Flame would burst forth with great fury for some time, after which it would Subside for a few minutes and then reappear again. The Island is of a great height Peaky and entirely covered with Snow except the Sides of the burning Mountain which [are] black which I suppose is owing to the hot Lava issuing from the mouth of the Cratur and falling down its Sides. There is a valley between the two highest Peaks, in which there is a dense Labyrinth of Smoke [which] presents a very romantic feature in the general view of the Island. It lays in about 77 S L. 174 E Longitude, and several other Islands in it vicinity; both Ships Kept away to Leeward of it and found a body of Ice adhering to it and running away in a Southerly direction as far as you could See. To look along it you would think it was a high wall built in the Ocean: I should think it was fifty feet high and looked grand in perspective. Sailing along it all night with Studding Sails Low & aloft. Night particularly fine Sun Shining Strong

Beaufort Island and Mount Erebus, Discovered 28th. January, 1841, from Ross, Voyage, I. f.p.216.

Campbell's Notes:

Hooker, Notes, p. 271. ‘The water and the sky were both as blue, or rather more intensely blue than I have ever seen them in the tropics, and all the coast one mass of dazzlingly beautiful peaks of snow, which, when the sun approaches the horizon, reflected the most brilliant tints of golden, yellow and scarlet; and then to see the dark cloud of smoke, tinged with flame, rising from the volcano in a perfect unbroken column; one side jet-black, and the other giving back the colours of the sun, sometimes turning off at a right angle by some current of wind, and stretching many miles to leeward! This was a sight, so surpassing every thing that can be imagined, and so heightened by the consciousness that we have penetrated, under the guidance of our commander, into regions far beyond what was ever dreamed practicable, that it really caused a feeling of awe to steal over us, at the consideration of our own comparative insignificance and helplessness, and at the same time an indescribable feeling of the greatness of the Creator in the works of his hand.’Return to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons dated 26 August 1841 - for, Copies of such Extracts from the Despatch of Captain James Ross from Van Diemen’s Land etc. ‘… Still steering to the southward, early next morning, the 28th, a mountain of 12,400 feet above the level of the sea was seen, emitting flame and smoke in splendid profusion. This magnificent volcano received the name of Mount Erebus… It is in latitude 77°32'S. and longitude 167°E.; an extinct crater to the eastward of Mount Erebus, of a somewhat less elevation, was called Mount Terror.

C. J. Sullivan, SPRI MS 367/22. ‘At the South East end of Mount Erebus and joining the Main Land of Victorias continent begins the Barrier or as I should call it natures handywork, in the evening we commenced running thinking from the Declination of the Barrier from the distant view from the Mast head that we may run it down by midnight. But as far and as fast as we run the Barrier appeard the Same Shape and form as it did when we left the mountain. We pursued a South Easterly Course for a distance of three hundred miles But the Barrier appeard the Same as when we Left the Land.’

[dankusner]

Landscape architects to join the effort to reimagine Dallas Museum of Art and better tie it to the Arts District

Building connections

Field Operations, the landscape architecture firm best known for its work on New York’s High Line, is joining the design team reimagining the Dallas Museum of Art.

https://nietosobejano.com

That ambitious project, initially budgeted at $150 million to $175 million and led by the Spanish architecture firm Nieto Sobejano, is currently in its design phase and is intended to better integrate the museum with its Arts District environment.

“Field Operations is a highly recognized firm with international reach, supported by extensive experience working within local contexts,” the museum wrote in a statement.

“The DMA and Field Operations have a clear philosophical alignment with the overall design intent for the future of the Museum.”

The firm is not new to Dallas.

Among its projects is West End Square, the small but technically sophisticated neighborhood park developed by Parks for Downtown Dallas (now the Downtown Parks Conservancy), the nonprofit founded by Robert Decherd, the former longtime leader of DallasNews Corporation.

“Field Operations is thrilled to join the DMA design team. Our goal is to forge stronger connections with the Arts District and Klyde Warren Park, while developing dynamic public spaces that build community through art, culture, nature and civic engagement,” said the firm’s founding partner, James Corner.

The firm replaces Dallas-based SWA Group, which had been the landscape architect on the design team that won the 2023 competition to reimagine the museum.

With the retirement of Chuck McDaniel, who had led the project for SWA, the museum chose to move in another direction.

Field Operations was selected from a field of four finalists, the others being the Texas-based firms Ten Eyck Landscape Architects (designers of Harwood Park in downtown Dallas) and Hocker (responsible for the museum’s Eagle Plaza) and the Cambridge-based firm Reed Hilderbrand (which renovated the museum’s Fleischner Courtyard, facing Harwood Street).

The firm is well-suited to a project that seeks to renegotiate the boundaries between the museum building and the city around it.

Corner, a professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design and winner of the Cooper-Hewitt’s National Design Award, was instrumental in developing the field of “landscape urbanism,” which seeks to elevate the role of landscape architecture in the design of urban space.

That approach is well illustrated by the High Line, the converted elevated railroad that fuses architecture, art and landscape into a dramatic civic amenity (and tourist attraction) on Manhattan’s west side.

Other projects include Freshkills Park, a reclamation of a 2,200-acre landfill on New York’s Staten Island, and the remaking of Chicago’s Navy Pier.

The firm will have its work cut out for it at the DMA.

Among the challenges it faces will be creating an inviting space between the museum and Klyde Warren Park; rethinking the underused and environmentally intensive lawn that currently fronts Ross Avenue; and negotiating the relationship between the museum and its sculpture garden, a masterwork by legendary landscape architect Dan Kiley that has fallen into sad disrepair.

Those physical challenges will be compounded by administrative ones.

The museum is currently without a permanent director, after the departure of Agustín Arteaga last year.

That leaves a vacuum in both the museum’s leadership and fundraising abilities as the project moves from planning to implementation.

The museum has yet to announce a timeline for either the naming of a new director or the presentation of a revised design and budget for its expansion.

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Don’t you dare deign to dub your delicious little dude or dudette with a dull denomination. Translation: No more boring baby names, please! There are just too many darling and daring names out there to decide on something dreary. Enter “D” baby names for boys and girls. We’ve done the dirty work and dug up designations that will in no way disparage your new dear descendant. (That’s your baby, FYI.) Since we already brought you adorable “A” names, beautiful “B” names, and classic “C” names, it’s only right for us to dive into “D” names that are destined to dazzle — from dependable options like David and Diana to up-to-date dynamos like Dax and Dillon. With deep-rooted definitions from different cultures (and Netflix shows, duh), these dashing names are a damned delight. Related story 100+ Cute & Creative Baby Names Beginning With 'C' Below, see unique and classic “D” baby names for boys, girls, and both! Classic “D” Names for Girls Dahlia (Norse name meaning “from the valley”) Daisy (Means “the day’s eye,” also the white-and-yellow bloom) Danica (Slavic, meaning “morning star”) Danielle (this vintage name is making a comeback with how chic and simple it is!) Daphne (Greek name meaning “laurel tree”) Dara (Cambodian name meaning “stars” for your bright lil’ star) Darla (Not just for Little Rascals or Buffy anymore!) Darlene (means “darling,” also from Ozark) Dawn (it’s the perfect, hopeful nature name) Deborah (A Biblical prophetess who wrote a victory song — sounds like we could all use a Deborah right about now) Delilah (this classic, Bilbical name is rising the ranks in popularity) Delphine (Another Greek one, meaning “of the Delphi palace” — also a flower) Denise (a French favorite name that is truly vintage) Diane/Diana (Ross, Vreeland, Princess…take your badass lady pick) Dolores (Spanish name meaning “sorrow,” but she’s so much more than that!) Donna (Josh! Toby! Sam! CJ! Sorry, we digress.) Doris (Greek, meaning “gift of the ocean”) Dorothy (Means “God’s gift,” also means “made it to Oz & back in one piece,” so props) Dottie (it’s the cuter, smaller version of Dorothy!) Drusilla (a gothic Latin name meaning “fruitful”) Unique “D” Names for Girls Daffodil (a gorgeous yellow flower) Daniella (The feminine form of Daniel, you know, that lion’s-den survivor inside all of us) Darcia (Means “dark” for your badass goth gal) Daria (Your ’90s self just smiled) Davina (Meaning “cherished”) Deirdre (this Irish name is as unique as it gets) Delancey (gals who loved MyScene as a kid will love this name) Delphine/Delphina/Delfina (Another name with Greek roots (they’re all the rage these days) Delta (Greek, meaning “letter or island”) Demi (Moore, Lovato…this is truly a star-studded name!) Desdemona (This Greek gothic name is so dang unique!) Dharma (Sanskrit, meaniing “truth”) Diamante (Italian, meaning “diamond”) Dido (either the iconic singer of the Greek name meaning “obscure”) Divya (A Hindi name meaning “divine”) Donatella (VERSACE) Doutzen (This mysterious Dutch name is so chic) Dove (we love an angelic nature name) Dua (Albanian, Arabic, meaning “love, prayer”) Dulce (Latin, meaning “sweet”) Durrah (Muslim name meaning “large pearl”) Unique Unisex “D” Names Dakota (Sioux, meaning “friendly one”) Dame (this unique name can work for literally anyone) Dana (Meaning “wise,” this one used to be a boy’s name, then a girl’s name, now an anybody’s name) Dandelion (this unique flower name also works for anyone) Darby (just add Darby O’Gill and the Little People to your family movie watch list, okay?) Darcy (A Pride & Prejudice name makes perfect sense (and sensibility)) Daryl (French, meaning “dear one, beloved”) Davis (this edgy namer means “beloved,” and that fits so well) Dawson (Yes, this one shot up in the spotlight thanks to James Van Der Beek) Denver (we’ll always love a good place name) Derby (English, meaning “park with deer”) Desi (Spanish, meaning “desired one”) Dior (this luxe name works for everyone) Divine (English, meaning “like God”) Dixie (Peaked in popularity in 1938 but making a comeback for all genders) Doherty (RIP Shannen Doherty, your name will always be iconic) Doyle (this dark horse of a name is unforgettable) Dream (doesn’t get anymore dreamy than this!) Drew (No longer just for dudes (or Nancy); Olympian Shawn Johnson just named her daughter Drew) Dylan/Dillon (Means “loyal” and works for any gender) Classic “D” Names for Boys Damien (From French meaning “one who tames”) Daniel (Means “God is my judge” and isn’t she just) Dante (Latin, meaning”enduring”) Darius (this strong name is so unforgettable, there’s a reason why it’s a classic) Darrel (Meaning “open,” and we need more open-minded humans now okay?) Darwin (Means “dear friend,” also Charles is a pretty smart namesake) David (Means “beloved”) Deacon (Reese Witherspoon’s one son is named this, so you know it’s a great name) Dell (this short and simple name ia the perfect classic) Derek (English, meaning “the people’s ruler”) Diego (The Spanish equivalent of “James” and always a classic) Dill (not the pickle, the Irish name meaning “loyal”) Dmitri (it’s a classic, it’s gothic, and it’s so chic) Dominic (This used to be reserved for kids born on Sundays, but now anybody can have it!) Donovan (Celtic name meaning “strong fighter”) Dorian (Gray, yknow it doesn’t get more gothic than that!) Douglas (A Scottish name meaning “black river,” which sounds badass, no?) Duncan (from Shakespeare and also House of Cards, meaning “dark warrior”) Dunn (Scottish, meaning “brown”) Unique “D” Names for Boys Damon (Means “loyal friend” in Latin) Darko (Like the classic movie, Donnie Darko!) Dash (This one is definitely rising among the celeb set) Dax (Shepard is of one of the best celeb dads out there, we think) Declan (An Irish name meaning “famous bearer”) Deforest (a perfect nature name that no one will forget) Dempsey (Irish, meaning “proud, haughty”) Denim (Yes, it’s a name now. Go wild!) Desmond (this is truly a sophisticated, unique name) Devlin (this Irish name is quite cheeky) Dexter (Not just for serial killers, don’t worry) Diesel (Diesel Dean is the son of Olympian Jennie Finch) Dion (Greek, meaning “child of heaven and earth; of Zeus”) Dipper (From Gravity Falls, y’all!) Domenico (This Spanish name is so dreamy and romantic) Domingo (Spanish, meaning “born on a Sunday”) Dresden (German, “people of the forest”) Duke (Son of E! News host Giuliana Rancic) Dustin (Meaning “brave warrior” or “Thor’s stone,” and don’t forget Stranger Things)Dwayne/Dwyane (Speaking of best celeb dads…) If Duncan and Dustin sparked your fancy, here’s further proof that Netflix is all you need to find the perfect baby name. From Xanthe to Dahlia, here’s a list of darkly romantic goth names for your baby girl. Source link

[norajworld]

Don’t you dare deign to dub your delicious little dude or dudette with a dull denomination. Translation: No more boring baby names, please! There are just too many darling and daring names out there to decide on something dreary. Enter “D” baby names for boys and girls. We’ve done the dirty work and dug up designations that will in no way disparage your new dear descendant. (That’s your baby, FYI.) Since we already brought you adorable “A” names, beautiful “B” names, and classic “C” names, it’s only right for us to dive into “D” names that are destined to dazzle — from dependable options like David and Diana to up-to-date dynamos like Dax and Dillon. With deep-rooted definitions from different cultures (and Netflix shows, duh), these dashing names are a damned delight. Related story 100+ Cute & Creative Baby Names Beginning With 'C' Below, see unique and classic “D” baby names for boys, girls, and both! Classic “D” Names for Girls Dahlia (Norse name meaning “from the valley”) Daisy (Means “the day’s eye,” also the white-and-yellow bloom) Danica (Slavic, meaning “morning star”) Danielle (this vintage name is making a comeback with how chic and simple it is!) Daphne (Greek name meaning “laurel tree”) Dara (Cambodian name meaning “stars” for your bright lil’ star) Darla (Not just for Little Rascals or Buffy anymore!) Darlene (means “darling,” also from Ozark) Dawn (it’s the perfect, hopeful nature name) Deborah (A Biblical prophetess who wrote a victory song — sounds like we could all use a Deborah right about now) Delilah (this classic, Bilbical name is rising the ranks in popularity) Delphine (Another Greek one, meaning “of the Delphi palace” — also a flower) Denise (a French favorite name that is truly vintage) Diane/Diana (Ross, Vreeland, Princess…take your badass lady pick) Dolores (Spanish name meaning “sorrow,” but she’s so much more than that!) Donna (Josh! Toby! Sam! CJ! Sorry, we digress.) Doris (Greek, meaning “gift of the ocean”) Dorothy (Means “God’s gift,” also means “made it to Oz & back in one piece,” so props) Dottie (it’s the cuter, smaller version of Dorothy!) Drusilla (a gothic Latin name meaning “fruitful”) Unique “D” Names for Girls Daffodil (a gorgeous yellow flower) Daniella (The feminine form of Daniel, you know, that lion’s-den survivor inside all of us) Darcia (Means “dark” for your badass goth gal) Daria (Your ’90s self just smiled) Davina (Meaning “cherished”) Deirdre (this Irish name is as unique as it gets) Delancey (gals who loved MyScene as a kid will love this name) Delphine/Delphina/Delfina (Another name with Greek roots (they’re all the rage these days) Delta (Greek, meaning “letter or island”) Demi (Moore, Lovato…this is truly a star-studded name!) Desdemona (This Greek gothic name is so dang unique!) Dharma (Sanskrit, meaniing “truth”) Diamante (Italian, meaning “diamond”) Dido (either the iconic singer of the Greek name meaning “obscure”) Divya (A Hindi name meaning “divine”) Donatella (VERSACE) Doutzen (This mysterious Dutch name is so chic) Dove (we love an angelic nature name) Dua (Albanian, Arabic, meaning “love, prayer”) Dulce (Latin, meaning “sweet”) Durrah (Muslim name meaning “large pearl”) Unique Unisex “D” Names Dakota (Sioux, meaning “friendly one”) Dame (this unique name can work for literally anyone) Dana (Meaning “wise,” this one used to be a boy’s name, then a girl’s name, now an anybody’s name) Dandelion (this unique flower name also works for anyone) Darby (just add Darby O’Gill and the Little People to your family movie watch list, okay?) Darcy (A Pride & Prejudice name makes perfect sense (and sensibility)) Daryl (French, meaning “dear one, beloved”) Davis (this edgy namer means “beloved,” and that fits so well) Dawson (Yes, this one shot up in the spotlight thanks to James Van Der Beek) Denver (we’ll always love a good place name) Derby (English, meaning “park with deer”) Desi (Spanish, meaning “desired one”) Dior (this luxe name works for everyone) Divine (English, meaning “like God”) Dixie (Peaked in popularity in 1938 but making a comeback for all genders) Doherty (RIP Shannen Doherty, your name will always be iconic) Doyle (this dark horse of a name is unforgettable) Dream (doesn’t get anymore dreamy than this!) Drew (No longer just for dudes (or Nancy); Olympian Shawn Johnson just named her daughter Drew) Dylan/Dillon (Means “loyal” and works for any gender) Classic “D” Names for Boys Damien (From French meaning “one who tames”) Daniel (Means “God is my judge” and isn’t she just) Dante (Latin, meaning”enduring”) Darius (this strong name is so unforgettable, there’s a reason why it’s a classic) Darrel (Meaning “open,” and we need more open-minded humans now okay?) Darwin (Means “dear friend,” also Charles is a pretty smart namesake) David (Means “beloved”) Deacon (Reese Witherspoon’s one son is named this, so you know it’s a great name) Dell (this short and simple name ia the perfect classic) Derek (English, meaning “the people’s ruler”) Diego (The Spanish equivalent of “James” and always a classic) Dill (not the pickle, the Irish name meaning “loyal”) Dmitri (it’s a classic, it’s gothic, and it’s so chic) Dominic (This used to be reserved for kids born on Sundays, but now anybody can have it!) Donovan (Celtic name meaning “strong fighter”) Dorian (Gray, yknow it doesn’t get more gothic than that!) Douglas (A Scottish name meaning “black river,” which sounds badass, no?) Duncan (from Shakespeare and also House of Cards, meaning “dark warrior”) Dunn (Scottish, meaning “brown”) Unique “D” Names for Boys Damon (Means “loyal friend” in Latin) Darko (Like the classic movie, Donnie Darko!) Dash (This one is definitely rising among the celeb set) Dax (Shepard is of one of the best celeb dads out there, we think) Declan (An Irish name meaning “famous bearer”) Deforest (a perfect nature name that no one will forget) Dempsey (Irish, meaning “proud, haughty”) Denim (Yes, it’s a name now. Go wild!) Desmond (this is truly a sophisticated, unique name) Devlin (this Irish name is quite cheeky) Dexter (Not just for serial killers, don’t worry) Diesel (Diesel Dean is the son of Olympian Jennie Finch) Dion (Greek, meaning “child of heaven and earth; of Zeus”) Dipper (From Gravity Falls, y’all!) Domenico (This Spanish name is so dreamy and romantic) Domingo (Spanish, meaning “born on a Sunday”) Dresden (German, “people of the forest”) Duke (Son of E! News host Giuliana Rancic) Dustin (Meaning “brave warrior” or “Thor’s stone,” and don’t forget Stranger Things)Dwayne/Dwyane (Speaking of best celeb dads…) If Duncan and Dustin sparked your fancy, here’s further proof that Netflix is all you need to find the perfect baby name. From Xanthe to Dahlia, here’s a list of darkly romantic goth names for your baby girl. Source link

[chilimili212]

Don’t you dare deign to dub your delicious little dude or dudette with a dull denomination. Translation: No more boring baby names, please! There are just too many darling and daring names out there to decide on something dreary. Enter “D” baby names for boys and girls. We’ve done the dirty work and dug up designations that will in no way disparage your new dear descendant. (That’s your baby, FYI.) Since we already brought you adorable “A” names, beautiful “B” names, and classic “C” names, it’s only right for us to dive into “D” names that are destined to dazzle — from dependable options like David and Diana to up-to-date dynamos like Dax and Dillon. With deep-rooted definitions from different cultures (and Netflix shows, duh), these dashing names are a damned delight. Related story 100+ Cute & Creative Baby Names Beginning With 'C' Below, see unique and classic “D” baby names for boys, girls, and both! Classic “D” Names for Girls Dahlia (Norse name meaning “from the valley”) Daisy (Means “the day’s eye,” also the white-and-yellow bloom) Danica (Slavic, meaning “morning star”) Danielle (this vintage name is making a comeback with how chic and simple it is!) Daphne (Greek name meaning “laurel tree”) Dara (Cambodian name meaning “stars” for your bright lil’ star) Darla (Not just for Little Rascals or Buffy anymore!) Darlene (means “darling,” also from Ozark) Dawn (it’s the perfect, hopeful nature name) Deborah (A Biblical prophetess who wrote a victory song — sounds like we could all use a Deborah right about now) Delilah (this classic, Bilbical name is rising the ranks in popularity) Delphine (Another Greek one, meaning “of the Delphi palace” — also a flower) Denise (a French favorite name that is truly vintage) Diane/Diana (Ross, Vreeland, Princess…take your badass lady pick) Dolores (Spanish name meaning “sorrow,” but she’s so much more than that!) Donna (Josh! Toby! Sam! CJ! Sorry, we digress.) Doris (Greek, meaning “gift of the ocean”) Dorothy (Means “God’s gift,” also means “made it to Oz & back in one piece,” so props) Dottie (it’s the cuter, smaller version of Dorothy!) Drusilla (a gothic Latin name meaning “fruitful”) Unique “D” Names for Girls Daffodil (a gorgeous yellow flower) Daniella (The feminine form of Daniel, you know, that lion’s-den survivor inside all of us) Darcia (Means “dark” for your badass goth gal) Daria (Your ’90s self just smiled) Davina (Meaning “cherished”) Deirdre (this Irish name is as unique as it gets) Delancey (gals who loved MyScene as a kid will love this name) Delphine/Delphina/Delfina (Another name with Greek roots (they’re all the rage these days) Delta (Greek, meaning “letter or island”) Demi (Moore, Lovato…this is truly a star-studded name!) Desdemona (This Greek gothic name is so dang unique!) Dharma (Sanskrit, meaniing “truth”) Diamante (Italian, meaning “diamond”) Dido (either the iconic singer of the Greek name meaning “obscure”) Divya (A Hindi name meaning “divine”) Donatella (VERSACE) Doutzen (This mysterious Dutch name is so chic) Dove (we love an angelic nature name) Dua (Albanian, Arabic, meaning “love, prayer”) Dulce (Latin, meaning “sweet”) Durrah (Muslim name meaning “large pearl”) Unique Unisex “D” Names Dakota (Sioux, meaning “friendly one”) Dame (this unique name can work for literally anyone) Dana (Meaning “wise,” this one used to be a boy’s name, then a girl’s name, now an anybody’s name) Dandelion (this unique flower name also works for anyone) Darby (just add Darby O’Gill and the Little People to your family movie watch list, okay?) Darcy (A Pride & Prejudice name makes perfect sense (and sensibility)) Daryl (French, meaning “dear one, beloved”) Davis (this edgy namer means “beloved,” and that fits so well) Dawson (Yes, this one shot up in the spotlight thanks to James Van Der Beek) Denver (we’ll always love a good place name) Derby (English, meaning “park with deer”) Desi (Spanish, meaning “desired one”) Dior (this luxe name works for everyone) Divine (English, meaning “like God”) Dixie (Peaked in popularity in 1938 but making a comeback for all genders) Doherty (RIP Shannen Doherty, your name will always be iconic) Doyle (this dark horse of a name is unforgettable) Dream (doesn’t get anymore dreamy than this!) Drew (No longer just for dudes (or Nancy); Olympian Shawn Johnson just named her daughter Drew) Dylan/Dillon (Means “loyal” and works for any gender) Classic “D” Names for Boys Damien (From French meaning “one who tames”) Daniel (Means “God is my judge” and isn’t she just) Dante (Latin, meaning”enduring”) Darius (this strong name is so unforgettable, there’s a reason why it’s a classic) Darrel (Meaning “open,” and we need more open-minded humans now okay?) Darwin (Means “dear friend,” also Charles is a pretty smart namesake) David (Means “beloved”) Deacon (Reese Witherspoon’s one son is named this, so you know it’s a great name) Dell (this short and simple name ia the perfect classic) Derek (English, meaning “the people’s ruler”) Diego (The Spanish equivalent of “James” and always a classic) Dill (not the pickle, the Irish name meaning “loyal”) Dmitri (it’s a classic, it’s gothic, and it’s so chic) Dominic (This used to be reserved for kids born on Sundays, but now anybody can have it!) Donovan (Celtic name meaning “strong fighter”) Dorian (Gray, yknow it doesn’t get more gothic than that!) Douglas (A Scottish name meaning “black river,” which sounds badass, no?) Duncan (from Shakespeare and also House of Cards, meaning “dark warrior”) Dunn (Scottish, meaning “brown”) Unique “D” Names for Boys Damon (Means “loyal friend” in Latin) Darko (Like the classic movie, Donnie Darko!) Dash (This one is definitely rising among the celeb set) Dax (Shepard is of one of the best celeb dads out there, we think) Declan (An Irish name meaning “famous bearer”) Deforest (a perfect nature name that no one will forget) Dempsey (Irish, meaning “proud, haughty”) Denim (Yes, it’s a name now. Go wild!) Desmond (this is truly a sophisticated, unique name) Devlin (this Irish name is quite cheeky) Dexter (Not just for serial killers, don’t worry) Diesel (Diesel Dean is the son of Olympian Jennie Finch) Dion (Greek, meaning “child of heaven and earth; of Zeus”) Dipper (From Gravity Falls, y’all!) Domenico (This Spanish name is so dreamy and romantic) Domingo (Spanish, meaning “born on a Sunday”) Dresden (German, “people of the forest”) Duke (Son of E! News host Giuliana Rancic) Dustin (Meaning “brave warrior” or “Thor’s stone,” and don’t forget Stranger Things)Dwayne/Dwyane (Speaking of best celeb dads…) If Duncan and Dustin sparked your fancy, here’s further proof that Netflix is all you need to find the perfect baby name. From Xanthe to Dahlia, here’s a list of darkly romantic goth names for your baby girl. Source link

[zealoptics]

A Dream Come True: A Mother-Daughter Voyage to Antarctica

By Ellen Massey

The poles have always fascinated me: the harsh climate, the icy seascapes, the extremes of light and dark, the unique wildlife, and the human history of exploration and the struggle for survival. Antarctica was the first of the polar regions to captivate me. When I was about nine years old, a brochure landed in my family's mailbox advertising a trip to Antarctica. I don't know why we got this ad, but there it was, and I couldn't stop staring at the photographs of penguins and icebergs and stupendous mountains. I was only nine years old, and had never traveled outside North America, but I wanted more than anything to go to Antarctica.

Of course it was way outside my family's budget, but my fascination with the poles stuck with me. Twenty years later, I made a phenomenal sailing voyage to the Arctic, aboard a small and rather rudimentary sloop I had bought, but even that – with the midnight sun, the gray whales, and the sea ice – didn't quench my desire for more time in the polar regions.

Little did I know that my mother had been similarly captivated by that brochure. My mother is my kindred spirit in adventure: before I was born she cross-country skied across the Sierra Nevada range, and throughout my childhood she never let motherhood preclude adventure. So I can't say I was that surprised when she told me that she wanted to go to Antarctica for her 80th birthday. And so, off we went.

Part of me had always envisioned sailing to Antarctica myself, with maybe just one other person, aboard the same small sloop on which I had sailed to the Arctic. But not even that kind of epic adventure could be more memorable and special than going with my mother, on her 80th birthday, to the place both of us had dreamed of for decades.

And it was everything we dreamed of. Jagged, glaciated peaks soaring out of the cold, very blue ocean. Fantastically shaped icebergs reflected in the mirror calm of the dawn. A snow petrel gliding through the silence of softly falling snow. Penguins feeding their young in huge colonies along the shore. The raucous calls of the penguins and the haunting song of a leopard seal. The calving face of the largest glaciers I'd ever seen, and tabular icebergs miles long and many meters tall.

My mom and I boarded the National Geographic vessel in Ushuaia, the town on the southern edge of Tierra del Fuego. Our crossing of the Drake Passage southbound was perfect: sunshine on moderate seas and a light quartering tailwind. We spent the days at sea watching Wandering albatross and Giant Southern petrels wing across the swell, and listening to the superb National Geographic guides give lectures on the ecology, geology, wildlife, and human history of the Antarctic.

Our first stop once we reached Antarctic waters was in the South Shetland Islands where Gentoo penguins waddled along the shore and the more adventuresome Chinstrap penguins climbed steep slopes to reach their colonies on rocky outcrops high above the ocean. As we steamed south that evening, we were treated to a lingering sunset of subtle rose and yellow, glinting off the icy peaks and bathing the wispy cirrus clouds and gently rippled water. Despite the cold, Mom and I stood at the rail for hours, watching the setting sun illuminate this place we'd dreamt of for so long.

Our ship then ventured where few Antarctic itineraries go: to the Weddell Sea, famous for trapping, crushing, and sinking Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance. Thanks to the great skill and experience of our Ukrainian captain and the Norwegian ice-pilot of the ship, we made a rare circumnavigation of James Ross Island, picking our way carefully among new and old sea-ice, glacial icebergs, and the giant tabular bergs that break off the great ice shelves. At the most southern end of our venture into the Weddell Sea, the head guide woke the whole ship over the intercom at 3:45AM, announcing that the bridge crew had spotted emperor penguins. Emperor penguins are extremely rare to see on a trip to Antarctica. In the summer they are feeding offshore, and in the winter they are well back from the ice edge, huddled together waiting for their eggs to hatch. The iconic penguin of the Antarctic is, therefore, almost guaranteed not to be seen by most visitors. So this was an incredibly exciting moment. My mom and I dressed fast and rushed up on deck, into the bitingly cold pre-dawn air. Almost everyone on the ship had roused themselves to see the emperors and yet the ship was almost entirely silent as we all looked out at a large ice floe on which the two emperors stood. The pearly light, the perfect stillness of the calm morning, and the ice floes and encircling mountains, and most of all this rare wildlife sighting had sent a reverent hush through guests and crew alike.

The calm persisted throughout the day, and so we were treated to a day of kayaking. My intrepid mother adores kayaking; she and a friend of hers would go sea-kayaking several times a week for all the years she lived in Maine. So the chance to kayak on Antarctic waters was a dream come true. The two of us shared a kayak and were able to get up close to the ice floes, examining the deep blue and green colors, the patterns like Venetian glass, and the occasional Weddell seal drawn up on the ice to sun himself.

Of course we took the opportunity of the calm and sunny day to do the polar plunge, jumping into the below-freezing seawater, icebergs all around us. And the ship raised anchor and steamed west for the west coast of the Antarctic peninsula. There we watched humpback and minke whales surface before enormous glaciers, traversed the fabled LeMaire Channel at dawn, and hiked through softly falling snow to a cairn atop an island where a French expedition overwintered in 1909. And then on our last evening among the bergs and peaks, we were treated to yet another subtle and exquisite sunset, beneath which a pod of orcas played, together with a pod of humpbacks, another rare and beautiful occurrence.

All too soon it was time to leave this spectacular, magical land behind. Our ship pointed her bow north into one of the fabled Southern Ocean gales, and for two days bucked aside the monstrous waves that can build in the Drake Passage, the body of water south of Cape Horn. As I stood on the bridge watching the waves sweep over the bow and even hit the windows of the bridge over 15 feet up, I imagined the terror of being in such a storm in my little sailboat. I knew it well, from having rounded the Cape of Good Hope in similar conditions, and I was grateful that I was not the one responsible for this ship this time. Instead I could retire to the dining room with my mother, and recap our favorite moments together watching penguins, kayaking, polar plunging after the kayaking, and gazing at the peaks and glaciers of this fragile, iconic, and forever captivating continent. How happy we both were to have been able to realize our common dream together.

[ear-worthy]

New York Times Releases Two New Podcasts: Animal & The Radar

New York Times Audio has two big announcements this week, first about Animal, a new podcast in collaboration with the New York Times Magazine, and second about The Radar, a soccer podcast from the NYT's The Athletic. NYT Audio Introduces "Animal" Podcast About Animals Around The World  The New York Times has been arguably the most successful, with a large roster of podcasts that report millions of downloads. Its daily news podcast called The Daily regularly tops the podcast charts. Other popular podcasts include The Argument, The Book Review, First Person, Modern Love, and Still Processing.

It's not a "throw it up against the wall and see what sticks" media strategy. The Times has carefully developed podcasts that fit their brand (loved by some and hated by others) and simulate the vibe of their editorial marque.

For newspapers like The New York Times, podcasts make economic sense. Production costs can be pricey but not break the bank. Moreover, the journalists that work at the newspaper can double as podcast hosts with expensive hiring of on-air talent. For example, Times reporters like Michelle Goldberg, Ross Douthat, and Frank Bruni have excelled at audio. 

Moreover, the Times and other newspapers use ad time on their podcasts to hawk digital subscriptions for their newspaper, and the growth of those subscriptions indicates that the strategy is working.

"Newspapers that start podcasts can bring in and attract a whole new customer base," says podcast consultant George Witt. "Podcast listeners are younger than the average newspaper reader, so the company can leverage their podcasts to embrace a new demographic."

The New York Times released its own podcast app in March 2023, and the app is included with a Times' news subscription.

Now the New York Times has released Animal, a six-part standalone audio series hosted by award-winning staff writer Sam Anderson.

Sam Anderson's  love for animals takes him on a journey around the world. As he swims with manatees in Florida, releases baby puffins on a remote island in Iceland, searches for an extinct wolf in Japan and confronts his fear of bats in Mexico, his encounters — with both creatures and the people who care about them — lead him to reflect on our own mammal lives. 

 “Animal” is a show about love, time, wonder and humans’ place on the planet. It revels in tiny moments (petting a dog, grooming a ferret) while also wrestling with some of the biggest questions of our time (climate change, mass extinction).

Created in collaboration by the Audio team and The New York Times Magazine, all six episodes of Animal are available now. 

Listeners of all ages can tune in on the NYT Audio app or wherever they get their podcasts.

************************************************************

 The Radar Podcast Premieres About Copa America & European Football championships

This compelling series spans 12 episodes and offers in-depth profiles of 12 emerging football talents, all aged 21 or younger.

Hosted by The Athletic’s Lucy Oliva and Mike Zimmerman, “The Radar” highlights seven standout players from the Euros and five from Copa América, showcasing their journey to the top and why this summer could mark their breakthrough moment on the global stage.

“It’s an enormous summer for football on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Adam Jones, director of Audio growth at The Athletic. “We believe the 12 players we’ve selected have the best chances of becoming household names by the end of their respective tournaments. We’re aiming to shine a spotlight on their journey and incredible potential in a storytelling style like only The Athletic can offer.”

The NYT marketing pitch is: "Powered by expert insights from The Athletic’s team of global football journalists, including James Horncastle, Jack Lang, Tom Williams and many others, The Radar is a must-listen for football enthusiasts keen to discover the next generation of football stars."

The first episode of The Radar highlights prodigal 16-year-old Lamine Yamal who has already broken a number of records for Barcelona and Spain in his short career so far. Will the precocious attacker cement his status as one of the most talented young footballers in the world out in Germany?

New episodes of The Radar will be released daily starting the week of June 3. Listeners can subscribe wherever they get their podcasts.

[whatsonmedia]

Wednesday Wisdom: New Books to Enrich Your Soul

Explore new dimensions of literary enchantment with “Wednesday Wisdom: New Books to Enrich Your Soul.” Delve into Gabriel García Márquez’s posthumous novel, “Until August,” a tale of love and self-discovery. Discover memoirs from Billy Dee Williams and Lucy Sante, alongside captivating narratives from Maurice Carlos Ruffin and Marie-Helene Bertino. Open the door to wisdom today.

Until August by Gabriel García Márquez

Gabriel García Márquez’s posthumous novel, Until August, explores a complex woman’s desires. Ana Magdalena Bach, a seemingly contented wife, takes a yearly pilgrimage to a Caribbean island. There, amidst the sultry atmosphere, she embarks on a passionate affair every August. As years pass, these encounters challenge her understanding of love, freedom, and the choices that shape a life.

Published in 2024, this Márquez masterpiece delves into themes of regret, self-discovery, and the enigmatic nature of love, making it a must-read for fans of literary fiction and the renowned author’s magical realism style.

What Have We Here? by Billy Dee Williams 

In his memoir, “What Have We Here? Portraits of a Life,” actor Billy Dee Williams chronicles his eight-decade journey from a Harlem childhood to Hollywood stardom. Williams details navigating racial hurdles in a predominantly white industry, while achieving success on Broadway and landing iconic roles like Lando Calrissian in Star Wars. This New York Times bestseller offers a captivating look at perseverance, artistry, and a life filled with encounters with legends like James Baldwin and Diana Ross.

The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Discover the compelling narrative of “The American Daughters” by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. A captivating historical tale centered around Ady, a spirited young girl ensnared in the grips of slavery in New Orleans. Ruffin intricately weaves together the bonds of family, friendship, and resilience as Ady navigates the complexities of her world. Through her encounters with the enigmatic Lenore and the clandestine society of The Daughters, Ady finds the courage to forge her path towards freedom.

Ruffin’s masterful storytelling unveils a narrative of hope and triumph, highlighting the power of unity and determination in the face of oppression. “The American Daughters” is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. And the enduring strength found in community solidarity.

I heard her call my name by lucy sante

In her poignant memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” Lucy Sante, a celebrated author, recounts her late-in-life gender transition. Weaving together her artistic achievements with a yearning for authenticity, Sante details the internal struggle that shadowed her success.

This introspective journey explores the complexities of gender identity, societal expectations, and the courage it takes to live as your true self. Praised for its clarity and honesty. “I Heard Her Call My Name” is a must-read for those seeking to understand gender identity. And the power of living authentically.

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Dive into “Beautyland,” a captivating blend of science fiction and coming-of-age. Where Adina, a young woman in Philadelphia, discovers she’s an alien on a mission to document humanity’s quirks and emotions.

Through fax transmissions (yes, faxes!), Adina grapples with earthly experiences, from the profound to the peculiar. All while questioning her identity and place in this strange, beautiful world. Bertino’s debut novel is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human, perfect for fans of both literary fiction and imaginative sci-fi.

[manessha545]

Ernest Shackleton

Irish explorer

Discover the remarkable journey Shackleton undertook to save his crew from death

Sir Ernest Shackleton

Sir Ernest Shackleton was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer, who made three expeditions to the continent, most famously in 1914 on the Endurance.

Sir Ernest Shackleton was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer, who made three expeditions to the continent, most famously in 1914 on the Endurance.

Who was Ernest Shackleton?

He was born in southern Ireland, but grew up in London. He joined the merchant navy when he was 16 and worked on many different ships. Shackleton was a romantic adventurer, who became interested in exploration and joined the Royal Geographical Society while still at sea. In 1901 he got a place on Captain Robert Falcon Scott's first Antarctic expedition. This ignited his passion for Antarctic exploration.

When did Shackleton lead his first expedition to Antarctica?

In 1907, he led his own Antarctic expedition in the Nimrod. Other members of the expedition climbed Mount Erebus and reached the south magnetic pole. Shackleton himself led a party, which reached 97 miles short of the South Pole. He received a hero's welcome when he returned to England and was knighted.

What was the purpose of Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition?

In 1914, in command of a party on the ship Endurance, Shackleton set off to cross the Antarctic from one side to the other, from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea. As both Amundsen and Scott had reached the South Pole and the Americans had reached the North Pole, he saw this as the last great challenge.

What happened during this expedition?

Shackleton and his men set sail in August 1914, just as the war was starting in Europe. On 19 January 1915, Endurance became locked in the ice of the Weddell Sea. Over the course of the next nine months, the ship was gradually crushed, finally sinking on 27 October.

It proved impossible for the 28 men to drag their boats and stores across the frozen sea, so Shackleton camped on the ice and drifted with it. When the ice began to break up, the men launched the three boats and in dangerous conditions, managed to reach Elephant Island. This rocky and barren island was still more than 800 miles from the nearest inhabited land with people who could help them.

What did Shackleton decide to do?

He decided to leave most of the party behind, while he and five others set out on the James Caird to reach South Georgia, the nearest inhabited island, 800 miles away. He knew that he would find help there, at the Norwegian whaling stations on the north side. After 15 exhausting days at sea, the crew of the James Caird finally sighted South Georgia.

Did they find the help they needed?

No, because they were on the uninhabited side of the island. To get to the whaling stations, they had to cross the unmapped island to the other side. Shackleton led, taking Tom Crean and Frank Worsley, the expert navigator on the James Caird, who also had mountaineering experience. The journey involved a climb of nearly 3000 feet (914 metres). Apart from short breaks, they marched continuously for 36 hours, covering some 40 miles over mountainous and icy terrain until they finally reached the Stromness whaling station.

What happened to the other crewmen?

They were all rescued. Those on Elephant Island had to wait longer, until 30 August 1916, but were eventually picked up by Shackleton on a Chilean navy tug. All the men believed that their survival was due largely to his tremendous leadership.

What happened to Shackleton?

He died of a heart attack, on 5 January 1922. He was on his way to the Antarctic again, on board another ship the Quest, at Grytviken, South Georgia.

Sir Ernest Shackleton | Royal Museums Greenwich (rmg.co.uk)

Two gorgeous paintings of HMS Erebus from the National Maritime Museum (courtesy of @carrotcakecrumble):

And Earnest Shackleton:

Now there's a man to be reckoned with!

Look at the little picture of the penguin!

[weremustelidae]

one thing i have learned from antarctica special interest is that if a place has the name "ross" in it it is referring to the same guy. every time

[scotianostra]

December 12th 1902 saw the birth of  Mackinnon or, to give her her Gaelic patronymic, Nan Eachainn Fhionnlaigh, at Kentangaval, Isle Of Barra.

If you remember yesterdays post about Margaret Fay Shaw, well some of the songs that she collected would have been from Nan and people like her,  a tradition-bearer, whose remarkable memory, enthusiasm, and love of the Gaelic oral tradition has ensured that her wealth of knowledge has been preserved and shared with future generations. She became known as  Nan of Vatersay, or Nan of the songs.

Nan was the youngest of seven children. Her father, Hector (Eachann Fhionnlaigh), was also born and raised in Kentangaval, and was descended from the MacKinnons of Strath, Skye – the historic grazing constables to the MacNeils of Barra until the 19th century. Nan's mother Mary was from Mingulay, and had strong connections with the MacPhee family, who – according to local tradition – came to settle in Barra in the 14th century. Nan grew up in what was a politically tumultuous time in the Highlands, and this influenced her early life greatly. Despite having won security of tenure twenty years before Nan was born, there remained a strong sense of injustice at the uneven distribution of land in the Highlands. Having spent her early years in Barra, in 1907 Nan's father was part of the 'Vatersay Raiders' – landless cottars from Barra and Mingulay who carried out a land raid on Vatersay, establishing crofts on the neglected land. Despite the eventual failure of the Land Raid, Nan's family were eventually given a croft in Baile, Vatersay following the purchase of land on the island by the Congested Districts Board.

Nan's repertoire was among some of the most extensive and varied of her generation, and this is reflected in the recordings of her featured on the Tobar an Dualchais website. She came from a rich musical tradition, and was said to know around 400 songs by heart, most of which she learned from her mother. After receiving her schooling on the island, Nan left home when she was seventeen and – as was common for women of her age at the time – spent a number of years in service for a variety of people in Argyll. She also worked at the herring for a time, in both Shetland and Yarmouth before going to Glasgow. One of her sisters died suddenly in 1940, leaving four young children and a husband who was away at sea for long periods. Nan returned home to Vatersay to raise the children and remained there for the rest of her life.

Nan McKinnon had a great fondness for the stories and songs she knew, and she was convinced of the importance of the oral tradition to Gaelic communities. Growing up she would spend hours practising them until she knew them in their entirety. As Nan herself commented: "[Each story] tells the ways of the people that lived in those days. The waulking songs kept news alive from generation to generation. There were no newspapers, whereas today we read it in the papers and forget about it tomorrow. But the songs kept it alive. Those happenings that happened centuries ago are still to be told in song and story. It's wonderful." Over and above her repertoire of songs, Nan was also well known for her tales and legends – often of a supernatural nature – and her captivating story style. She also had a deep knowledge of the traditions of Uist and Barra, and was recording speaking about a variety of subjects from cures to feast days, to interpretations of omens and dreams. Her knowledge of the material culture of her native island was also extensive, and her recordings include discussions about traditional diet, including about what would be eaten when food was scarce.

There are almost 1,000 recordings of Nan on the Tobar an Dualchais website, the earliest dating back to 1953 when she was recorded by Donald MacPherson for the Canna Collection, several other visited her and recorded her over the years, she must have been quite the wee celebrity on Vatersay 

James Ross summed up her significance as a tradition-bearer by saying: "Nan is the type of person that the folklore and folk-song collectors dream about. There is absolutely no trace of 'memory effect' as she responds to queries … Her answers are always a direct affirmative or negative, usually … the former. She never has to search her mind, and this, together with her unstinting co-operation, endless patience and subtle sense of humour, made the work of collecting a joy."

At the link below you can listen to  Nan singing  Griogal Cridhe, (literally "Gregor of the Heart", or "Beloved Gregor". It is a traditional Scottish lament and lullaby that was composed in Gaelic by Mór Chaimbeul ("Marion Campbell"), the widow of Griogair Ruadh Mac Griogair ("Gregor the Red MacGregor") (1541–1570), the chief of the Clan MacGregor of Glen Strae, who was executed at Taymouth Castle, Perthshire, on April 7th, 1570.   There are many versions of the lyrics

Griogal Cridhe

Chorus;

Òbhan, òbhan, òbhan i ri

Òbhan i ri ò

Òbhan, òbhan, òbhan i ri

'S mòr, mo mhulad, 's mòr.

'S iomadh oidhche fhliuch is thioram,

Sìde nan seachd sian,

Gheibheadh Griogal dhomhsa creagan

Ris an gabhainn dìon.

Eudail mhòir, a shluagh an Domhain,

Dhòirt iad t'fhuil o'n dè,

'S chuir iad do cheann air stob daraich

Tacan beag bho d'chrè.

B' annsa bhi le Griogal cridhe

 Teàrnadh chruidh le gleann,

 Na le Baran mòr na Dalach,

 Sìoda geal mu m' cheann.

Chan eil ùbhlan idir agam,

'S  ùbhlan uil' aig càch,

'S ann tha m'ùbhlan-s' cùbhr' ri caineal

'S cùl a chinn ri làr.

'Nuair a bhios mnàthan òg a'bhaile,

'Nochd nan cadal sèimh,

'S ann bhios mis' air bruaich do lice,

'Bualadh mo dhà làimh.

Many a night, wet or dry

weather of the seven elements

Gregor would get me a rocky shelter

Against the storm

Greatest treasure in all the world

They spilt your blood yesterday

And they put your head on a post of oak

A little way from your body

Would that I were with beloved Gregor

Herding cattle in the glen

Than with the great Baron of the Dale

White silk around my head

I have no apples at all

Others have all the apples

My apple with the fragrance of cinnamon

The back of his head to the ground

When the young women of the village will be

Tonight sleeping soundly

I will be at your graveside

Beating my two hands

https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/27170?l=en

With the above being a lament I thought I would post another song from Nan,  Haoi Ho Nach Dannsadh Sibh E is a much more upbeat song, according to the notes Nan’s  mother heard this song from Lewis women at the fishing. Another source tells me that this is the only  variant of that song, so without t the work of the likes of  Donald MacPherson, and indeed Margaret Fay Shaw, some of these songs would have been lost to the world, they are an integral, very important part of our Gaelic roots. This song is a  light vocal dance tune with a love theme. The song is of the type common among the women who worked as herring gutters.

https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/108438?l=en

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a transcript of the song in English, but if you google it you will find it in The Gaelic tucked away on a couple of PDF’s 

[worstjourney]

Shackleton Graphic Novels

When people – especially Americans, for some reason – find out I'm devoting my career to retelling the Terra Nova Expedition in graphic novel form, often their first response is "Are you going to do Shackleton next?" I am not, for a variety of reasons including the human lifespan being finite, but another reason is that there is already a selection of Shackleton graphic novels on the market. I presume these people don't know about them, so for their benefit, and perhaps yours, here are the ones I'm aware of:

Nick Bertozzi's Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey - A solid and accessible YA adaptation of the Endurance story, all in one slim quick read.

Sur les bords du monde: l'Odyssée de Sir Ernest Shackleton (Malaterre/Henry/Richez/Frasier) - Tout en français (ou espagnol), mais bien sûr il suit que les dessins sont très beaux. Deux livres: 1 - jusq'à l'entrappement de l'Endurance dans la glace, 2 - à sûreté.

Endurance (Bertho/Boidin) – aussi en français, mais seulement un livre, donc l'histoire passe plus vite que Sur les bords du monde. Aussi des dessins excellents.

Shackleton: The Journey of the James Caird (McCumiskey/ Butler) - 96pp, middle grades, from a pair of Irish comics makers. TBH I just discovered this one, can't tell you more about it!

William Grill's Shackleton's Journey - Falls somewhere between picture book and graphic novel, but it's both factually accurate and artistically beautiful, and can be appreciated by small children and serious adults alike, if perhaps in different ways.

And for a different perspective on the story:

La Isla Elefante is the story of the Uruguayans who tried to rescue Shackleton and his men off Elephant Island.  In Spanish (because Uruguay) but a great reminder that there were more people involved in the story!

You may have noticed that all of these are retellings of the Endurance story, specifically the Shackleton/James Caird thread. If you have a hankering to make a Shackleton graphic novel, and are dismayed by the competition, the good news is, there's a lot still open to you. The whole Nimrod expedition, for example! Tell the Discovery story from his point of view! What about the men who stayed on Elephant Island while the South Georgia party was away? Or – heaven forbid – tell us about the Ross Sea Party, the other half of the Endurance story, who suffered such wretchedness as to put the Worst Journey in the World in the shade, but actually achieved what they set out to do?