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mostlysignssomeportents · 1 year ago

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A year in illustration, 2023 edition (part one)

(This is part one; part two is here.)

I am objectively very bad at visual art. I am bad at vision, period – I'm astigmatic, shortsighted, color blind, and often miss visual details others see. I can't even draw a stick-figure. To top things off, I have cataracts in both eyes and my book publishing/touring schedule is so intense that I keep having to reschedule the surgeries. But despite my vast visual deficits, I thoroughly enjoy making collages for this blog.

For many years now – decades – I've been illustrating my blog posts by mixing public domain and Creative Commons art with work that I can make a good fair use case for. As bad as art as I may be, all this practice has paid off. Call it unseemly, but I think I'm turning out some terrific illustrations – not all the time, but often enough.

Last year, I rounded up my best art of the year:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/25/a-year-in-illustration/

And I liked reflecting on the year's art so much, I decided I'd do it again. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for some downloadables – freely usable images that I painstakingly cut up with the lasso tool in The Gimp.

The original AD&D hardcover cover art is seared into my psyche. For several years, there were few images I looked at so closely as these. When Hasbro pulled some world-beatingly sleazy stuff with the Open Gaming License, I knew just how to mod Dave Trampier's 'Eve Of Moloch' from the cover of the Players' Handbook. Thankfully, bigger nerds than me have identified all the fonts in the image, making the remix a doddle.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/12/beg-forgiveness-ask-permission/#whats-a-copyright-exception

Even though I don't keep logs or collect any analytics, I can say with confidence that "Tiktok's Enshittification" was the most popular thing I published on Pluralistic this year. I mixed some public domain Brother's Grimm art, mixed with a classic caricature of Boss Tweed, and some very cheesy royalty-free/open access influencer graphics. One gingerbread cottage social media trap, coming up:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

To illustrate the idea of overcoming walking-the-plank fear (as a metaphor for writing when it feels like you suck) I mixed public domain stock of a plank, a high building and legs, along with a procedurally generated Matrix "code waterfall" and a vertiginous spiral ganked from a Heinz Bunse photo of a German office lobby.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/22/walking-the-plank/

Finding a tasteful way to illustrate a story about Johnson & Johnson losing a court case after it spent a generation tricking women into dusting their vulvas with asbestos-tainted talcum was a challenge. The tulip (featured in many public domain images) was a natural starting point. I mixed it with Jesse Wagstaff's image of a Burning Man dust-storm and Mike Mozart's shelf-shot of a J&J talcum bottle.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/01/j-and-j-jk/#risible-gambit

"Google's Chatbot Panic" is about Google's long history of being stampeded into doing stupid things because its competitors are doing them. Once it was Yahoo, now it's Bing. Tenniel's Tweedle Dee and Dum were a good starting point. I mixed in one of several Humpty Dumpty editorial cartoon images from 19th century political coverage that I painstakingly cut out with the lasso tool on a long plane-ride. This is one of my favorite Humpties, I just love the little 19th C businessmen trying to keep him from falling! I finished it off with HAL 9000's glowing red eye, my standard 'this is about AI' image, which I got from Cryteria's CC-licensed SVG.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/16/tweedledumber/#easily-spooked

Though I started writing about Luddites in my January, 2022 Locus column, 2023 was the Year of the Luddite, thanks to Brian Merchant's outstanding Blood In the Machine:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/26/enochs-hammer/#thats-fronkonsteen

When it came time to illustrate "Gig Work Is the Opposite of Steampunk," I found a public domain weaver's loft, and put one of Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes in the window. Magpie Killjoy's Steampunk Magazine poster, 'Love the Machine, Hate the Factory,' completed the look.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/12/gig-work-is-the-opposite-of-steampunk/

For the "small, non-profit school" that got used as an excuse to bail out Silicon Valley Bank, I brought back Humpty Dumpty, mixing him with a Hogwartsian castle, a brick wall texture, and an ornate, gilded frame. I love how this one came out. This Humpty was made for the SVB bailout.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/23/small-nonprofit-school/#north-country-school

The RESTRICT Act would have federally banned Tiktok – a proposal that was both technically unworkable and unconstitutional. I found an early 20th century editorial cartoon depicting Uncle Sam behind a fortress wall that was keeping a downtrodden refugee family out of America. I got rid of most of the family, giving the dad a Tiktok logo head, and I put Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes over each cannonmouth. Three Boss Tweed moneybag-head caricatures, adorned with Big Tech logos, rounded it out.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/30/tik-tok-tow/#good-politics-for-electoral-victories

When Flickr took decisive action to purge the copyleft trolls who'd been abusing its platform, I knew I wanted to illustrate this with Lucifer being cast out of heaven, and the very best one of those comes from John Milton, who is conveniently well in the public domain. The Flickr logo suggested a bicolored streaming-light-of-heaven motif that just made it.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/01/pixsynnussija/#pilkunnussija

Old mainframe ads are a great source of stock for a "Computer Says No" image. And Congress being a public building, there are lots of federal (and hence public domain) images of its facade.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/04/cbo-says-no/#wealth-tax

When I wrote about the Clarence Thomas/Harlan Crow bribery scandal, it was easy to find Mr. Kjetil Ree's great image of the Supreme Court building. Thomas being a federal judge, it was easy to find a government photo of his head, but it's impossible to find an image of him in robes at a decent resolution. Luckily, there are tons of other federal judges who've been photographed in their robes! Boss Tweed with the dollar-sign head was a great stand-in for Harlan Crow (no one knows what he looks like anyway). Gilding Thomas's robes was a simple matter of superimposing a gold texture and twiddling with the layers.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/06/clarence-thomas/#harlan-crow

"Gig apps trap reverse centaurs in wage-stealing Skinner boxes" is one of my best titles. This is the post where I introduce the idea of "twiddling" as part of the theory of enshittification, and explain how it relates to "reverse centaurs" – people who assist machines, rather than the other way around. Finding a CC licensed modular synth was much harder than I thought, but I found Stephen Drake's image and stitched it into a mandala. Cutting out the horse's head for the reverse centaur was a lot of work (manes are a huuuuge pain in the ass), but I love how his head sits on the public domain high-viz-wearing warehouse worker's body I cut up (thanks, OSHA!). Seeing as this is an horrors-of-automation story, Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes make an appearance.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

Rockefeller's greatest contribution to our culture was inspiring many excellent unflattering caricatures. The IWW's many-fists-turning-into-one-fist image made it easy to have the collective might of workers toppling the original robber-baron.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

I link to this post explaining how to make good Mastodon threads at least once a week, so it's a good thing the graphic turned out so well. Close-cropping the threads from a public domain yarn tangle worked out great. Eugen Rochko's Mastodon logo was and is the only Affero-licensed image ever to appear on Pluralistic.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/16/how-to-make-the-least-worst-mastodon-threads/

I spent hours on the sofa one night painstakingly cutting up and reassembling the cover art from a science fiction pulp. I have a folder full of color-corrected, high-rez scans from an 18th century anatomy textbook, and the cross-section head-and-brain is the best of the lot.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/04/analytical-democratic-theory/#epistocratic-delusions

Those old French anatomical drawings are an endless source of delight to me. Take one cross-sectioned noggin, mix in an old PC mainboard, and a vector art illo of a virtuous cycle with some of Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes and you've got a great illustration of Google's brain-worms.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/14/googles-ai-hype-circle/

Ireland's privacy regulator is but a plaything in Big Tech's hand, but it's goddamned hard to find an open-access Garda car. I manually dressed some public domain car art in Garda livery, painstakingly tracing it over the panels. The (public domain) baby's knit cap really hides the seams from replacing the baby's head with HAL9000's eye.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/15/finnegans-snooze/#dirty-old-town

Naked-guy-in-a-barrel bankruptcy images feel like something you can find in an old Collier's or Punch, but I came up snake-eyes and ended up frankensteining a naked body into a barrel for the George Washington crest on the Washington State flag. It came out well, but harvesting the body parts from old muscle-beach photos left George with some really big guns. I tried five different pairs of suspenders here before just drawing in black polyhedrons with little grey dots for rivets.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/03/when-the-tide-goes-out/#passive-income

Illustrating Amazon's dominance over the EU coulda been easy – just stick Amazon 'A's in place of the yellow stars that form a ring on the EU flag. So I decided to riff on Plutarch's Alexander, out of lands to conquer. Rama's statue legs were nice and high-rez. I had my choice of public domain ruin images, though it was harder thank expected to find a good Amazon box as a plinth for those broken-off legs.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/14/flywheel-shyster-and-flywheel/#unfulfilled-by-amazon

God help me, I could not stop playing with this image of a demon-haunted IoT car. All those reflections! The knife sticking out of the steering wheel, the multiple Munsch 'Scream'ers, etc etc. The more I patchked with it, the better it got, though. This one's a banger.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

To depict a "data-driven dictatorship," I ganked elements of heavily beribboned Russian military dress uniforms, replacing the head with HAL9000's eye. I turned the foreground into the crowds from the Nuremberg rallies and filled the sky with Matrix code waterfall.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/26/dictators-dilemma/#garbage-in-garbage-out-garbage-back-in

The best thing about analogizing DRM to demonic possession is the wealth of medieval artwork to choose from . This one comes from the 11th century 'Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae sistematisatae per celeberrimos Artis hujus Magistros.' I mixed in the shiny red Tesla (working those reflections!), and a Tesla charger to make my point.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/28/edison-not-tesla/#demon-haunted-world

Yet more dividends from those old French anatomical plates: a flayed skull, a detached jaw, a quack electronic gadget, a Wachowski code waterfall and some HAL 9000 eyes and you've got a truly unsettling image of machine-compelled speech.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/02/self-incrimination/#wei-bai-bai

I had no idea this would work out so well, but daaaamn, crossfading between a Wachowski code waterfall and a motherboard behind a roiling thundercloud is dank af.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/03/there-is-no-cloud/#only-other-peoples-computers

Of all the turkeys-voting-for-Christmas self-owns conservative culture warriors fall for, few can rival the "banning junk fees is woke" hustle. Slap a US-flag Punisher logo on and old-time card imprinter, add a GOP logo to a red credit-card blank, and then throw in a rustic barn countertop and you've got a junk-fee extracter fit for the Cracker Barrel.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/04/owning-the-libs/#swiper-no-swiping

Putting the Verizon logo on the Hinderberg was an obvious gambit (even if I did have to mess with the flames a lot), but the cutout of Paul Marcarelli as the 'can you hear me now?' guy, desaturated and contrast-matched, made it sing.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/10/smartest-guys-in-the-room/#can-you-hear-me-now

Note to self: Tux the Penguin is really easy to source in free/open formats! He looks great with HAL9000 eyes.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/18/openwashing/#you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means

Rockwell's self-portrait image is a classic; that made it a natural for a HAL9000-style remix about AI art. I put a bunch of time into chopping and remixing Rockwell's signature to give it that AI look, and added as many fingers as would fit on each hand.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/20/everything-made-by-an-ai-is-in-the-public-domain/

(Images: Heinz Bunse, West Midlands Police, Christopher Sessums, CC BY-SA 2.0; Mike Mozart, Jesse Wagstaff, Stephen Drake, Steve Jurvetson, syvwlch, Doc Searls, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mosaic36/14231376315, Chatham House, CC BY 2.0; Cryteria, CC BY 3.0; Mr. Kjetil Ree, Trevor Parscal, Rama, “Soldiers of Russia” Cultural Center, Russian Airborne Troops Press Service, CC BY-SA 3.0; Raimond Spekking, CC BY 4.0; Drahtlos, CC BY-SA 4.0; Eugen Rochko, Affero; modified)

#pluralistic #illustration #collage #fair use #creative commons #stock art #blogging #art #practice makes perfect

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tomorrowxtogether · 2 years ago

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EXCLUSIVE: Dior Names K-pop Group Tomorrow X Together Brand Ambassadors

The five-member group wore custom Kim Jones-designed stage outfits for their headline performance at Lollapalooza Aug. 5.

PARIS — Fresh off of last weekend’s Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, K-popquintet Tomorrow X Together, aka TXT, have been crowned the newest Dior brand ambassadors.

Their custom-designed Dior stage ensembles were a stylish teaser for the official announcement.

Dior artistic director Kim Jones created the bespoke concert outfits members Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai wore onstage as part of their 20-song, history-making set as the first Korean group to headline the music festival.

“Tomorrow X Together are the perfect ambassadors for Dior. They have a great attitude and style and they look great in their custom stage outfits,” said Jones. The looks recalled the sci-fi-inspired, slightly utilitarian feel of his pre-fall 2023 collection, staged last December in Egypt.

Their appointment as ambassadors “seals their friendship with Dior and Kim Jones,” the company said. “The South Korean singers now embody the spirit and singularity of Dior style, a modernity with a timeless signature.”

“Our headlining at Lollapalooza was one of the most significant performances of our career. It was truly an honor to share the stage with Dior, and we hope to continue to show Tomorrow X Together’s versatility through this partnership,” said Soobin. The group leader wore a gray silk polkadot sleeveless gilet, gray wool chino pants with a matching short kilt.

“I’m thrilled to become an ambassador of Dior and represent a brand that I am personally fond of,” said Yeonjun. “I loved being onstage and dressed in the special outfits that Kim Jones designed for us.” He sported a beige wool tweed sleeveless gilet, beige wool chino pants with a matching long kilt.

“It is a great honor to share a milestone moment with Dior. I look forward to the synergy we will be creating together,” added Beomgyu. He kept it cool in brown wool pleated shorts, paired with a brown wool cropped zip jacket, a brown silk polkadot sleeveless gilet onstage.

Taehyun wore a beige wool tweed sleeveless gilet, brown wool chino pants with matching long kilt for the performance. “Collaborating with a major fashion house like Dior for a music festival as big as Lollapalooza was truly amazing. I also look forward to our journey ahead with Dior,” he said of working with the brand.

The group’s youngest member Hueningkai added that the concert marked the first step for the ambassadorship. “Lollapalooza marked the beginning of our journey as Dior ambassadors. Dressing in Dior stage outfits specially designed by Kim Jones that suited us perfectly added to the indescribable joy we felt on that big stage,” he said.

He wore a gray wool cropped zip jacket, a gray silk polka dot sleeveless gilet, grey wool pleated shorts with matching short kilt.

Soobin, Yeonjun and Taehyun sported Dior Oblique B33 sneakers, while Beomgyu and Hueningkai both wore the brand’s Carlo boots.

The house had an early eye for K-pop’s global popularity and and growing cultural power. Jones designed custom looks for K-pop supergroup — and TXT senior label mates — BTS’ “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” tour in 2019.

BTS’ Jimin joined Dior as global ambassador last year. His presence at the January menswear show lured thousands of fans to wait outside the venue for a glimpse of the superstar. Astro’s Cha Eun-woo and Exo’s Sehun are also ambassadors for Dior Men’s, while Blackpink’s Jisoo has been an ambassador on the womenswear side since 2019.

In June, Jones celebrated his five-year anniversary at the house with a powerful “pop-up” show that saw models emerge from the floor in cropped sweaters, herringbone cardigans and metallic tweed coats.

TXT’s “Sugar Rush Ride” is nominated in the Best K-pop category at the MTV Video Music Awards set to take place on Sept. 12.

#txt #tomorrow x together #230810 #article #WWD #soobin #yeonjun #beomgyu #taehyun #hueningkai #Dior

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tickles-ivory · 2 years ago

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"A Hobbit in the Woods: A Retelling of the Brothers Grimm 'Little Red Riding Hood'

by Ticklesivory (dedicated to @shantismurf)

Rated: T for violence

For Bagginshield Week 2023

A short little Bagginshield fairytale inspired by this Tumblr post: (2) Ticklesivory on Tumblr

Happy Bagginshield Week everyone!

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Once upon a time in a small village that lay just outside of a dark forest lived a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. He was a kind hobbit who lived alone and kept to himself. He enjoyed cooking and would often take food to his friends and neighbors whenever one of them had taken ill.

One of his oldest friends, who had been a close friend of his grandfather’s, was known throughout the village as Gandalf the Gray because he wore a gray cloak and hat. After his grandfather’s and parents�� deaths, Bilbo took it upon himself to visit the old man regularly. He would often take him food and drink, and ease his own conscience by checking on the old man’s health.

At least once a month, Gandalf would ride in his small carriage which was drawn by a sorrel pony with a blonde mane to the village to visit Bilbo as well. When the old man’s visit was delayed, Bilbo sent a messenger to Gandalf’s cottage that had been built in the middle of the forest.

The messenger brought back word that Gandalf was suffering from a bad cold and was confined to his bed. Immediately, Bilbo began gathering items to take to his oldest friend. Before he left, the messenger tried to warn him.

“Do be careful, Mister Baggins,” his neighbor, Mister Gamgee said. “I met a woodsman along the way, and he told me there were wolves in the area. One is particularly large. It is the white wolf that was attacking Farmer Maggot’s sheep last winter.”

Bilbo continued to gather supplies and poured a pot of chicken broth into a small crock to take with him as well as several biscuits and a jar of blueberry jam he had put up last summer.

Gandalf may be known for his gray cloak, but in the village of hobbits, Bilbo was known for his dark red jacket. He wore it often and there were those who called him The Hobbit in Red, though not to his face.

On his way out his door, he donned his red jacket and grabbed his favorite walking stick. He promised Mister Gamgee he would stay on the path through the forest which was traveled often by hunters and woodcutters and was considered the safest route to Gandalf’s. He thanked the messenger for his service and paid him the agreed wage, waved goodbye, and set off down the road.

The woodland realm beyond his village was dense with foliage that blocked out the sun. The ground was covered in shadow and occasionally, Bilbo would hear the trill of a bird or the cry of a rabbit. What he was listening for was a deep growl, heavy paws breaking sticks, or even a glimpse of white fur.

An hour into his journey, not having seen anything to be alarmed about, Bilbo relaxed and began to enjoy his surroundings, only to be suddenly so badly frightened that he nearly spilled his basket.

“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to startle you.” A deep voice told him that was coming from a very handsome stranger who stepped out from the heavy brush. “I am Thorin Durin, a woodcutter by trade. I don’t believe it is safe for someone of your station to be walking through this forest alone.”

Bilbo took offense. He was a full-grown hobbit and could take care of himself, thank you very much!

“I will be all right, but thank you for your concern.”

The dark-bearded axe-wielder stepped onto the path right in front of Bilbo and gazed down his sharp nose at the traveler. He was slightly taller than the hobbit, a dwarf, Bilbo believed based on the size of his hands and feet, but he wasn’t about to be bullied by him!

“You’re not even carrying a weapon,” the woodcutter told him with a smirk that Bilbo found to be surprisingly attractive, as was the clothing he wore – which consisted of coarse dark tweed and leather. Not at all to Bilbo’s taste, but they looked remarkably well on the muscular dwarf.

In Thorin’s hand was a long-handled axe he no doubt used to chop down the trees required to sustain his livelihood. Bilbo gripped his tall, thin stick a bit more tightly.

“I’m quite capable of taking care of myself,” he informed the dwarf proudly. “And I have no intention of straying from the path. I won’t be fooled by the wit of any wolf, white or not.”

The dwarf gazed at him with the most beautiful pair of blue eyes Bilbo had ever seen. “The pale wolf travels on and off the path where he wills, and he disguises his appearance. Sometimes he’s a wolf, sometimes an elf or an owl. Be careful who you talk with in these woods and the things you say.”

Bilbo nervously shuffled his feet. He usually wasn’t shy around people, but he found the dwarf incredibly attractive and was considering asking if he would escort him to Gandalf’s cottage.

As if reading Bilbo’s thoughts, the woodcutter smiled and stepped forward, eyeing Bilbo up and down before gazing into his basket of goods.

“What’s in your basket?”

“Just a few things I’m taking to a friend,” the friendly hobbit replied. “To Gandalf the Gray. Perhaps you know him? He lives beyond the north meadow in a brown cottage overlooking the Long River. He’s taken ill I’m afraid and needs some looking after.”

Thorin’s dark brows furrowed. “How do you know I’m not the white wolf in disguise? You’ve just told me everything I need to know to set a trap not only for you but your friend as well.”

Bilbo lost his smile and shut his mouth. He had no doubt that Thorin was just a woodcutter, but he needed to be more careful.

“I just know, but I will be more careful from now on. I promise.”

“Good,” the dwarf said. “I would hate to discover you were dead. Not before I get to know you a little better.” The smirk had returned which made Bilbo blush hot beneath the collar of his red jacket.

“Thank you for your concern. Perhaps we shall meet again.”

“Perhaps so, Master Baggins. Be careful and do not speak with any more strangers.”

Bilbo nodded and watched as the woodsman disappeared into the shadows created by the dense canopy of the forest.

He continued on his way with a bit of a skip to his step as he recalled how the dwarf’s eyes shimmered and how big his muscles were, and the thoughts reddened Bilbo’s cheeks.

Some time later he came to a game trail crossing the path and watched with delight as a few small brown rabbits scurried across it. They were saying in their tiny, nervous voices, “Do not step on us!” as they hopped away and soon disappeared.

Bilbo didn’t always encounter animals within the forest, but it always surprised him just a little when he heard them speak. For you see, the forest outside of his village was not only dangerous but enchanted. Almost all of the creatures that lived inside of it had the ability to communicate with others. Some Bilbo found quite entertaining and witty, while others were slow-witted and not very intelligent. Much like the hobbits in his own community, he thought to himself with a chuckle.

Along the way, he watched a turtle move slowly beside the path who greeted him with a ‘good morning,’ in its slow tortoise drawl. At a turn, he spotted an owl in a tree. Bilbo said good day to the bird, though it did not look very pleased to have its rest disturbed. As a whole, Bilbo found owls believed themselves to be a bit superior and above the concerns of, well – everyone else.

Bilbo continued on, his feet never straying, his eyes carefully taking in everything he could see. At this point, he was halfway through his journey, and he stopped to drink from a stream running nearby and to take a nibble or two from one of the seed cakes he was taking to his friend.

As he lifted his head and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, he saw movement in the trees on the other side of the water. Much to his surprise, a beautiful white stag stepped into view. Its striking, icy-blue eyes viewed Bilbo cautiously before it stepped into the water and crossed the stream. Bilbo stepped back to allow the animal room to move onto the bank and to stay clear of its broad set of antlers.

“Good day,” he announced to the animal who lifted its head to gaze down at the hobbit. “You are the prince of the forest, are you not?”

“That I am,” the large animal told him with smooth and deep vocalizations. “Are you alone in these woods? It is not advised for someone so small in stature.”

Bilbo tried not to take offense to that statement. He knew how tall he was and that this creature towered over him!

“I’m not long on this journey,” he exclaimed. “In fact, I’m headed straight to my friend’s home in the woods. I’m nearly halfway there and should be able to make it back home by nightfall. If not, then I shall spend the night there.”

The stag’s eyes widened as he tilted his head. “Perhaps you should keep your business to yourself, Master Hobbit. There are those that walk within these woods that would take advantage of such a helpless creature as yourself.”

Helpless! That was the second time today someone had questioned his abilities!

“I’m not afraid to walk through these woods,” he stated firmly while standing up tall and straight. “I’ve done it many times in the past and have never required bow, axe, or sword.”

The creature didn’t look that impressed. “I am sorry to hear about your friend. There a great many things that may happen to those who choose to live here and who do not belong.”

What was that supposed to mean? “Well, Gandalf has lived here for many years, and he does just fine. It’s just a trifling cold he’s picked up. You know, with that last late snowy spell we had, I know many a hobbit who are suffering from the same thing. I do what I can to help since I never seem to catch anything.”

“That is good to hear,” the mighty stag told him. “I will leave it to you then Master Hobbit. Be safe on your journey.”

Bilbo watched with some fascination as the powerful muscles of the beast carried him upriver and out of the hobbit’s sight. He just then noticed that to get a drink from the stream, he had strayed from the path. It wasn’t the first time, however. He had often stopped to get a drink here. He found the water to be cool and refreshing. No harm had ever come from it.

The path wasn’t very far away, and soon, Bilbo’s feet were back upon it. A narrow gap in the canopy above him allowed a stream of sunlight to peer through and Bilbo glanced up to allow the warmth to shine down upon his face. That was when he heard the snap of a twig on his left and he spun around, holding his walking stick out to protect himself if it was required. He was relieved to find it was only the woodcutter again, the sight of which brought a smile to the hobbit’s face.

“Are you following me?” Bilbo said, half-jokingly.

“No. Why would I do that?”

The words Thorin had said didn’t quite match the dwarf’s expression. Embarrassment was evident on his handsome face and Bilbo found it to be quite charming.

“I’m on my way to work in the clearing which I believe is just west of your destination. If you wouldn’t mind, I could walk with you for a while.”

The invitation was well received and increased Bilbo’s smile. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind.”

“You’re making good time,” Thorin noted after a moment. “You should reach your friend before noon I should think.”

“Yes, I’ve been lucky on this journey,” Bilbo told him. “There have been times when I’ve twisted an ankle or the weather changed so quickly I had to turn back. Today is a beautiful day, don’t you think?”

The woodcutter only grunted in reply and kept his eyes on the road. “You’re from the village of hobbits, are you not?”

“I am,” Bilbo answered, his brow lifting curiously.

“And is that where…I mean…do you live alone?”

Bilbo smiled shyly at Thorin’s question, though not nearly as hesitantly as his new friend. For someone so obviously strong and fierce, finding Thorin was a bit bashful wasn’t only surprising but endearing, and it caused his heart to flutter.

“I do live alone, although just recently. My parents passed a couple of years ago and left the property to me. Do you live close by?”

“Not exactly,” Thorin explained. “I’m from the dwarven realm of Erebor at the foot of the Lonely Mountain some ways from here. I come here during the spring and summer to find work.”

“Ah, I see,” Bilbo exclaimed, trying to recall the distance from his village to the mountain. If he was assuming correctly, it was just a few hours’ journey by carriage. An easy trip he just might have to take in the near future.

“If I were to say…wish to come visit you at your home…Maybe I could provide you with some firewood or perhaps we could…”

“Share a meal or enjoy a cup of tea over delightful conversation?” Bilbo suggested trying to be as helpful as he could be and ease some of the dwarf’s discomfort.

“Aye,” Thorin responded with yet another pink blush on his face.

“I’d like that. Really, I would,” Bilbo answered back, while secretly observing the small smile that spread the woodsman’s mouth.

“Good,” Thorin replied. “For now, I will leave you to your walk. I should return to work.”

“It was a pleasure talking to you, Thorin,” Bilbo told him as he began to walk away.

“We shall speak again soon, Bilbo,” the woodcutter said in a way that caused a wave of delight to sweep across the hobbit’s skin.

“That we will,” he whispered as a promise to himself just before continuing along the path.

Following another two hours, the road curved and opened into a small field, wherein sat a small stone cottage with smoke coming from its chimney. He had made it to Gandalf’s house and Bilbo hurried down the path to come to the wooden fence and the sturdy gate before it.

It was unusual to find the gate ajar, he thought before brushing any worry aside. Gandalf was ill and he probably didn’t have the energy to secure his property, Bilbo decided, only to become even more concerned when he found the carved wooden door on the front of the cottage wasn’t latched either.

He stepped slowly inside, pushing the door back on its hinges, and called out.

“Gandalf? Are you here? It’s me, Bilbo Baggins! I’ve brought you some goodies from home that will hopefully make you feel better!” He waited for a moment and listened carefully, unable to hear a reply. “Gandalf?” Bilbo called out once more before stepping further in and shutting the door behind him.

The cottage had four rooms, and the one directly opposite him was the main bedroom. Bilbo had been inside the home plenty of times and he didn’t think Gandalf would consider this an intrusion, so he continued on and pushed back the curtain divider.

There, on the four-poster bed beneath piles of handsewn quilts, he saw a form, and Bilbo sighed in relief. But then he noticed it wasn’t moving and hurried over to make sure his friend was actually all right.

Gandalf looked a little more pale than usual upon first notice, but he was breathing, which settled Bilbo’s nerves.

“Gandalf?” Bilbo repeated the name softly, trying to rouse his friend to make him aware of his presence without frightening him.

The old man’s blue eyes shuttered open and his smile became broad. “My dear fellow,” he said with a rasp that sent him into a coughing fit. Bilbo immediately grabbed a pitcher and filled a glass on the bedside table to offer the man a drink.

Gandalf took a few sips and then waved the offer away. “Thank you,” he said. “What have you brought me? Is that broth I smell? And perhaps some of your delicious biscuits?”

Bilbo had never been an overly cautious hobbit. He was trusting to a fault. In the past, that had led him into a variety of dangerous circumstances. He was trying to learn, and the woodcutter’s warnings replayed in his mind.

How could Gandalf smell the broth he had brought if he was suffering from a cold, which should make that feat entirely impossible!

“Ah yes,” Bilbo replied, trying not to gather suspicion. “I brought some broth, a little wine, as well as some biscuits and jam. I sent Mrs. Hardfoot earlier this morning to check on you after you hadn’t shown up for a few days. I was worried about you. Did you find her company soothing?”

The ill man eyed him and the smile that followed was unusually forced. “Oh, yes. Mrs. Hardfoot is a delightful woman. So full of cheer and such good company.”

“Well, that would be quite miraculous,” Bilbo replied, just before he took a step backward. “Seeing that she died two winters ago.”

Gandalf’s blue gaze narrowed, and his typical pleasing smile turned malicious.

“You should’ve listened to the woodcutter,” he said in a voice that didn’t belong to him. “Even I, myself, tried to warn you of the dangers of the forest, but you hobbits think you’re so smart and cunning. We see who the most cunning is now, don’t we?”

Bilbo recognized that deep voice and watched with some stunned fascination as the man upon the bed transformed into a large, white wolf.

“Azog,” Bilbo uttered, fear causing his voice to tremble. It was the one he had been warned about time and time again – the shape-shifter, the enchanted creature who could change from any creature he desired. “You were the white stag! Where is my friend Gandalf?”

“I have placed him in safekeeping for now until I am ready for him. He is old and will be tough to chew, while you, on the other hand, are far more delectable. Young and plump. I shall enjoy this very much.”

With those words, the wolf leaped up from the bed to attack Bilbo, but the hobbit moved out of the way quickly, causing the wolf to stumble and crash into the armoire. The door burst open and Gandalf, bound from head to toe, bruised and battered, tumbled out onto the floor.

The white beast slashed its giant claws in Bilbo’s direction and he had been too concerned about Gandalf to move out of the way fast enough. The claws stripped through his dark red jacket and pierced his skin, creating bloody marks across his back. He cried out in pain as well as terror and hurriedly glanced around the room for some type of weapon. Nearby, he had laid his walking stick and he grabbed it, swung it as fiercely as he could toward Azog. It came in contact with the beast’s nose.

The impact didn’t even cause the wolf to blink, and he dropped down on all four paws to stare at Bilbo with a deadly and hungry gaze, saliva dripping from his razor-sharp teeth. Bilbo backed away until he bumped into a table, on which was a kerosene lamp.

Just as the wolf pounced, Bilbo broke the lamp, grabbed the largest shard, and plunged it into the beast’s throat. The wolf howled in pain but wasn’t the least deterred, knocking Bilbo down onto the floor, to hover over him. Now, not only was the wolf’s spittle dripping down onto Bilbo, but its blood as well.

“I’m going to enjoy every last bite of you,” the creature hissed before opening its mighty jaws.

Bilbo slammed his eyes closed. If this is the way he was going to die, he really didn’t want to watch it happen. He waited for the excruciating pain, but it didn’t come. After a silent moment, he glanced up to find the wolf’s mouth was indeed open, but out of it came only a small squeak.

Before Bilbo realized what was happening, the wolf was knocked off him and it slid across the floor.

Bilbo sat up, his heart pounding, his eyes wide with fear, and yet there was hope. It had come in the form of a handsome woodcutter who was wielding his axe. The blade of the weapon was now covered in the animal’s blood, which was streaming from the wolf’s side. The beast cowered in the corner, hissing and growling at Thorin, who seemed entirely focused on nothing but him.

The hobbit watched in growing alarm as the woodcutter approached Azog, embedded his axe into him not once or twice, but three times. When he was finished, the wolf lay very still and Bilbo closed his eyes to block out the sight. Regardless of its attack on him and his friend, he didn’t enjoy witnessing violence against any creature for any reason.

Suddenly, there were gentle hands cradling his scalp.

“Master Hobbit. Bilbo. Are you all right?”

That was Thorin’s voice and Bilbo forced his eyes open, doing his best to avoid looking at anything but the tender and concerned gaze searching his own.

“I’ve got some scratches on my back, but I’ll live.”

“Come,” Thorin said, gingerly assisting Bilbo to his feet. “Let’s leave the creature behind for a moment and help your friend.”

The two of them freed Gandalf and entered the common area where Thorin immediately insisted that Bilbo remove his jacket and shirt.

With a solid red blush, the hobbit complied, hissing in pain to discover the blood-soaked material was sticking to his skin.

“There is some salve in the corner cupboard,” Gandalf told Thorin from a chair he had sat down heavily on, his breathing raspy, his voice hoarse.

Thorin retrieved the ointment and applied a generous amount to Bilbo’s injuries. For such a strong dwarf with incredibly thick fingers, his touch was surprisingly gentle, the hobbit thought.

“I’m afraid your lovely red coat is ruined, as is this shirt,” Thorin informed him as he began ripping cloth he apparently found as well and started wrapping it around Bilbo’s chest.

Once he stood in front of him, Bilbo realized how very close the woodcutter was to him, and it caused his skin to turn ruddy and his breath to come out in pants.

“Are you sure you’re quite well?” Thorin teased, a smirk lifting up the corner of his mouth.

“Just scratched up is all, I assure you,” Bilbo answered back as Thorin tied the ends of the bandage over his ribs.

“I’ll be at your house in three days to check on you and make sure your wounds haven’t become infected,” the dwarf informed him.

Bilbo would like to say there was no need for that, but he couldn’t think of anything more pleasant than spending additional time with such a lovely dwarf.

“I’d like that.” His words had come out much quieter than he had intended, and it caused Thorin to lean in. Oh, if only they were alone, Bilbo would close the distance to thank the dwarf properly.

But Gandalf was sitting close by, huffing and puffing, and staring at them quite incredulously.

“What about the wolf?” the old man asked once the tender moment had passed.

“I’ll drag it into the woods as a warning to others who may have the same idea.”

Bilbo swallowed hard. “You mean…there are others?” he squeaked.

“Oh aye,” Thorin replied. “As I told you, these woods are full of dangerous folk and you would do well to…”

“Not speak to strangers,” Bilbo chuckled. “I get it. But if I hadn’t, then I would have never met you.”

A dark brow lifted on Thorin’s face. “In that case, consider yourself lucky, as do I.”

“Pardon me,” Gandalf cut in. “But is there anything in that basket you brought Bilbo, or do I have to look for myself?”

“Oh! Of course, of course there is.” Bilbo replied, his thoughts quite distracted by the magnetic blue eyes that were following his every move.

“I’ll take my leave now,” Thorin announced. “And I’ll take the carcass with me.”

Bilbo stepped aside, grimacing at the trail of blood that was being spread across the floor. Before the woodsman left, however, all Bilbo had for him was a smile, and he did his best to make it one worthy of remembrance.

Once they were alone, Bilbo returned his attention to Gandalf and proceeded to warm up some broth and pour him some of the watermelon wine he had brought. Then, he went about the task of scrubbing away the blood from the worn, wooden floors.

It occurred to him as he rinsed out the bucket and brush and listened to the old man slurp that there were better ways to go about doing things. He had never wanted a housemate, but having Gandalf closer would certainly be more convenient and free up a lot of his time. And if he paid his neighbor, Master Gamgee, to look in on the old man from time to time, Bilbo could even manage to take a trip. Maybe as far away as Erebor.

He dropped the scrub brush back into the bucket of clean, sudsy water and smiled innocently at his old friend. “Gandalf, my old friend. Perhaps it’s time we consider relocating you to the village.”

THE END

#thilboweek23 #bagginshield #ticklesivory #the hobbit

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anhed-nia · 1 year ago

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BLOGTOBER 10/27/2023: NIGHT VISITOR (1989)

Definitely not to be confused with the 1971 Swedish film starring Max Von Sydow and Liv Ulman, 1989's NIGHT VISITOR is a bizarre horror-comedy that's half-pilfered from FRIGHT NIGHT, and the other half is just...something that is not under control. A hunky teen with a "boy who cried wolf" problem witnesses a horrific murder while spying on his neighbor Shannon Tweed, and then he and his goofy friend and their "cool" gal pal endeavor to out their mean teacher as a devil worshiper. The appearance of Mme Tweed and a variety of streetwalkers from central casting seem to suggest that this is going to be really sexy, but it is not, unless you get off super hard to women tossing their hair and winking at the camera. And on that note, I must point out that the teen's mom, played by Brooke Bundy, looks so much like the neighbor he's obsessed with, that like...well if I had a friend in high school who was sexually fixated on someone who looked just like his own mother, I would never, ever let him live it down. I would be calling that poor jerk on Christmas to remind him of it every year for the rest of his life.

The circulation of the above exciting image suggests a much gnarlier horror movie than what this actually is, part of which is partly a domestic comedy between Allen Garfield as the teacher and his live-in uh companion Michael J. Pollard, who plays a deranged moron as per usual. Hardboiled cop Richard Roundtree is along for the ride for some reason; at the end he asks the kid where he got his shotgun, and upon hearing that it was his father's, Roundtree goes, "One-man vigilante, huh?", which makes no sense whatsoever. Elliot Gould plays the grizzled detective who the plucky teens convince to come out of retirement to help them, and like, they go to his house which is pretty decent-looking except there's a couple of loose shirts out that he performatively removes from a chair so they can sit down, which seems like is supposed to indicate that his life is a wreck--but if you come to my house unannounced at some random hour, I can pretty much promise that there will be a couple of loose shirts out. There are plenty of legitimate signs that I'm deteriorating into reclusivity, but I don't think that's a very good one.

Anyway I really want to spoil the end of the movie, which might help if you're short on time: After all the drama is resolved, the teen takes his friend-turned-girlfriend on an extremely long date. There is no dialog, because this was obviously never in any version of a script, and drives her around to various fun couplesy activities that you might see in a chewing gum commercial, and then finally they kiss in an astonishingly long freeze-frame. This is sort of fascinating because the movie is over an hour and a half long and it doesn't seem like they should have been so desperate for extra minutes, but you're going to get them anyway! The End.

PS My favorite part of the movie is when the satanic teacher sits on a stink bomb, or something, and all this yellow smoke comes billowing out of his ass and he starts screaming at the mischievous teen "YOU ARE TERMINATED! YOU ARE TERMINATED!", which is such a funny and meaningless thing for a teacher to yell at a student, I would never recover if this happened in my class. All I could think of is:

#mcvicker #blogtober #2023 #horror #comedy #cult #satanism #michael j. pollard #shannon tweed #brooke bundy #night visitor #1989 #teen horror #slasher

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lesacollectionuk · 2 months ago

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From Bikers to Ladies: The Best Waistcoat Styles for All

Styles for All

Waistcoats have come a long way from being a traditional menswear staple to a versatile fashion statement for everyone. Whether you’re a biker, a fashion-forward lady, or a parent looking for stylish kids' waistcoats, there’s a perfect style for every occasion. At Lesa Collection, we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of waistcoats, including bikers leather waistcoats, ladies waistcoats, and even kids waistcoats, designed to suit every taste and lifestyle. Let’s dive into the best waistcoat styles that are trending in the UK and why they’re a must-have in your wardrobe.

Bikers Leather Waistcoat: The Ultimate Statement of Style and Functionality

For bikers, a leather waistcoat isn’t just a fashion choice—it’s a lifestyle. A bikers leather waistcoat combines rugged durability with timeless style, making it a favourite among motorcycle enthusiasts. Crafted from high-quality leather, these waistcoats offer protection against the elements while exuding a cool, edgy vibe. Pair it with jeans and boots for a classic biker look, or layer it over a hoodie for a modern twist.

According to Motorcycle News, leather waistcoats remain a top choice for bikers due to their durability and ability to withstand wear and tear. At Lesa Collection, our bikers leather waistcoats are designed with reinforced stitching and multiple pockets, ensuring both style and practicality.

Ladies Waistcoat: Elevate Your Wardrobe with Timeless Elegance

Ladies, it’s time to embrace the waistcoat trend! A ladies waistcoat is the perfect way to add sophistication to any outfit. Whether you’re heading to the office or a casual brunch, a well-fitted waistcoat can instantly elevate your look. Opt for tailored designs in neutral tones for a professional vibe, or choose bold colours and patterns to make a statement.

Fashion experts at Vogue UK highlight waistcoats as a key piece for 2023, praising their versatility and ability to transition seamlessly from day to night. At Lesa Collection, we offer a variety of ladies waistcoats, from classic tweed to modern faux leather, ensuring there’s something for every style preference.

Kids Waistcoat: Adorable and Practical for Little Ones

Why should adults have all the fun? A kids waistcoat is a charming addition to any child’s wardrobe, perfect for weddings, school events, or casual outings. Designed with comfort in mind, our kids waistcoats are made from soft, breathable fabrics that allow for easy movement. Plus, they come in a range of fun colours and patterns that kids love.

Parents across the UK are increasingly opting for waistcoats as a stylish yet practical choice for their children. As noted by Parenting UK, waistcoats are a great way to keep kids warm without restricting their playfulness.

Why Choose Lesa Collection?

At Lesa Collection, we understand that fashion is personal. That’s why we offer a curated selection of waistcoats for bikers, ladies, and kids, ensuring everyone can find their perfect match. Our commitment to quality and affordability has made us a trusted name in the UK fashion scene.

Whether you’re looking for a rugged bikers leather waistcoat, a chic ladies waistcoat, or an adorable kids waistcoat, we’ve got you covered. Explore our collection today and discover why waistcoats are the ultimate wardrobe essential for every age and style.

Shop now at Lesa Collection and ride the wave of timeless fashion!

#bikers leather waistcoat #ladies waistcoat #kids waistcoat #waistcoat

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maypoleman1 · 2 years ago

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24th July

Border Ridings

Kelso Laddie Andrew Thomson leads Yetholm Ride Out, July 2023. Source: ITVX

Late July sees a number of “Ridings” across the Borders area of Scotland. One of the most colourful is Kelso’s Yeltholm Ride and Civic Week, led by the Kelso Laddie, together with his Left and Right Hand Men (who as often than not nowadays are female). The Ride also signals the start of of raft-racing on the River Tweed and a week of civic events in Kelso. The Ride commemorates the old Border Riders and ends at the ploughmen’s Trysting Tree, the historic meeting of the area’s ploughmen who comprised the core of the original riding militia.

In Lauder, near Galashiels, also in Borders country, the Lauder Common Riding takes place at the end of July. Despite claiming origins dating back 300 years, the modern event is probably no older than 1910 when enthusiastic folk history enthusiasts revived it. The Ride is led by a Cornet carrying the Burgh Flag, and processes to the Burgess Cairn, the only surviving boundary stone in the area. The celebrations last a week, from the last Saturday in July until the first Saturday in August.

#scottish folklore #the ridings #Kelso #Lauder #scottish borders

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petervc88 · 2 years ago

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Cappelle Calling - 8 mei 2023 - 90FM

De LP van de Week was het album 'There Goes Rhymin" Simon' van Paul Simon uit 1973. De DisCovered stond in teken van de geboortedatum van blueslegende Robert Johnson. Een andere jarige artiest (die ook nog leeft) Philip Bailey stond dan weer centraal als Filmplaat. In het tweede uur draaide ik ook twee toepasselijke platen vanwege de kroning van Charles.

Terugluisteren kan hier.

Dit was de playlist:

Uur 1:

Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil (1978) Goldkimono - Lost Inside My Head (2023) Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? (2013) Paul Simon - Kodachrome (1973) (LP van de Week) Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love (1985) Sofie Winterson - I Lost You To A Boy (2023) Snow Patrol feat. Martha Wainwright - Set The Fire To The Third Bar (2006) The Rolling Stones - Love In Vain (1969) (DisCovered) Joe Bonamassa - Dust Bowl (2000) Philip Bailey & Little Richard - Twins (1989) (Filmplaat - uit 'Twins') Ricky Nelson - Travelin' Man (1961) James Sayer - Cherry (2023) Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom (1986) Paul Simon - Take Me to the Mardi Gras (1973) (LP van de Week)

Uur 2:

B.B. King & Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (2000) Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweat - Buy My Round (2023) Paul Simon - American Tune (1973) (LP van de Week) Ed Sheeran - Boat (2023) Robert Johnson - Love In Vain (1937) (DisCovered) Janne Schra - Five Years (2023) James Brown - Living in America (1985) (Muzikale Ketting) America - Sister Golden Hair (1975) (Muzikale Ketting) Sam Smith - Like I Can (2014) Teddy Swims - What More Can I Say (2023) Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock (1973) (LP van de Week) Indian Askin - Possessed (2023) The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)

Cappelle Calling is iedere maandagavond van 20:00 t/m 22:00 te horen op Radio 90FM. Iedere woensdagmiddag wordt de uitzending herhaald van 18:00 tot 20:00. Suggesties voor DisCovered of De Filmplaat zijn welkom via de Facebookpagina van het programma of via [email protected].

#Cappelle Calling #playlist #LP van de Week #DisCovered #Filmplaat #Muzikale Ketting #regio90 #90fm #radio 90fm

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urbanadventureleague · 2 years ago

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An appreciation of the Raleigh Superbe at seven lucky years.

New Cardiff leather grips on the Superbe. Laurelhurst Park, 3 May 2023. Olympus XA/Kodak Ektar 100 I had a three month “vacation” from riding the Superbe. On a ride in January I broke the front spoke, so it’s been sidelined. In April I got around to bringing it to the shop to get fixed. (I hoped to have it back by Tweed Ride, but that did not happen.) Last year when there was a mechanical on the…

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#raleigh superbe #raleighsuperbe

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alsjeblieft-zeg · 2 years ago

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061 of 2023

White or red wine?

White, definitely. Red is too heavy for me.

Who was the last person you hugged?

My husband.

Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?

No, never.

Where did your first kiss take place?

First meaningful one? On a bench in the park.

Do you prefer foxes or wolves?

Wolves.

What is your shoe size?

42 or 43 in European sizes.

Do you prefer fruit or vegetables?

Vegetables.

Have you ever kissed a member of the same sex?

I’ve never kissed a woman, so. Here’s your answer.

What does your outfit consist of today?

Black hoodie with hip hop print and black sweatpants.

What are your bust-waist-hip measurements?

Probably smaller than average guy of my height.

Are you a hypocrite?

I’m trying not to be, but let others estimate.

Why did you last cry?

I’m gonna skip this question because it appears everywhere and it’s only getting on my nerves.

What are your favourite smells?

Vanilla, cinnamon, the sea, the air after rain, citrus fruits.

What are your favourite textures?

Silk, sand, satin.

Fur or feathers?

Neither.

Tartan or tweed?

Tartan.

Leopard print or neon?

Neon all the way.

Any beauty tips?

You don’t expect beauty tips from a dude who wears hoodies all the time, do you?

If you won a LOT of money the lottery and decided to move, where would you move to?

I’d buy a house in Spain.

Alcoholic beverage of choice?

Beer, but I don’t drink anymore.

What is more attractive: Nice hands or nice feet?

Ew, feet. Always hands. Feet are disgusting.

What’s the youngest you would consider dating?

25 or so? Although there’s a guy I like but he’s 21, and I feel kinda weird about liking him.

Are thongs sexy?

Not to me.

Did you grow up in a healthy environment?

Define “healthy environment” please.

What do you think of when I say “the twenties"?

The decade.

Is penetration important to you?

What, I almost choked on my pudding, thank you. No, it’s not, especially when I am expected to be the active side.

What did your last text read?

Boring question, pass.

Can you ride a bicycle?

Yeah, I can.

What sport were you best at in high school?

Basketball.

Who do you miss right now?

M. Kind of.

What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed?

Lambic beer, but it was ages ago.

What is your sexuality?

asexual, but homo-oriented.

Heavy rain or heatwave?

Heatwave. I’m fed up with rain.

Chicken or fish?

Chicken, but some fish is okay.

Do you think suits are sexy?

Nope, rather boring.

#survey #q&a survey #random survey

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tweedheadsaustralia · 2 years ago

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GROUND LEVEL BEACHFRONT LIVING - more than a lifestyle'

#realty realestate property propertyforsale houseforsale

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motorbuzz · 3 years ago

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Looking ahead to the Goodwood Revival this weekend

- Goodwood Revival to take place later this week in consultation with the UK Government and in line with official protocols. - Don’t miss a moment - how to watch the Goodwood Revival over the weekend. - Last chance to join us at the event - only Friday tickets remain.

In consultation with the UK Government and in line with official protocols, the Goodwood Revival will go ahead with appropriate measures in place, this coming weekend Friday 16 - Sunday 18 September.

There will be special moments throughout the weekend to acknowledge Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her incredible reign. Honouring Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II The Goodwood Revival is due to go ahead this weekend with special dedicated moments to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In keeping with the period style of the event, Goodwood staff will be wearing black armbands throughout the Revival weekend and all visitors are welcome to do the same. There will be a book of condolence at the Motor Circuit for people to sign throughout the weekend and all Union flags will fly at half-mast. We will be showing a very special short film of The Queen at Goodwood over the years on each day of the event, which can be viewed across the site on the various big screens. Following the dedicated short film we ask guests to join us in a minute's silence. Across the weekend you can expect to see: Vintage fashion As well as some of the most exquisite classic cars, the Goodwood Revival offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in iconic vintage fashion. The Revival is defined by its period dress code with tweeds and trilbies for men and pin curls and petticoats for the ladies. Every outfit has a story behind it as the Revival community thrifts, borrows and restyles items in order to embrace the glamorous styles from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Dress to impress as the ‘Best Dressed Competition’ judges will be on the lookout for authentic outfits across the weekend with the Best Dressed Competition held at 3pm each day on the Richmond Lawn. Le Mans at Goodwood Goodwood is delighted to announce that the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary Trophy will be on display at Revival. We’re looking forward to hosting the trophy on its epic relay around the world ahead of the special centenary celebrations at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 2023. On display at various locations across the event, the trophy joins 15 drivers who have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 44 times between them. Continuing the Le Mans theme, the Rover-BRM Turbine that competed at Le Mans in the 60s will appear at the Motul Garage in the Chicane Paddock and will also take part in the Graham Hill celebrations across the weekend. Classic cars As always, the Goodwood Revival will showcase some of the most exquisite classic cars, motorcycles and planes as we celebrate with an extraordinary weekend of historic racing. On track, the Freddie March Memorial Trophy will host stunning sportscars from the late-1940s to early-1950s including the Jaguar C-Type, Aston Martin DB3S and the Allard J2X. Also set to race across the weekend are the likes of the Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 250 SWB, Aston Martin DB4 GT and an impressive 30 MG Bs, taking part in their own dedicated race, the Lavant Cup. Earls raceway will also play host to a fleet of 1932 Fords for their 90th anniversary. Around the event There’s something for everyone at Revival from Over The Road, to the Revive & Thrive Village. The J40 Motor Company is offering free Austin J40 pedal car rides for children aged between 5-10 years old. The sessions will be available from 9am - 6pm each day, including a photo moment and the all important driver’s briefing. This wholesome opportunity will be available to book on the day via a first come, first served basis over at the J40 Motor Company stand near the Woodcote Paddocks. New for this year, the Revive & Thrive Village will become a fundamental new part of Revival. The Village will offer visitors the chance to get involved with vintage workshops including how to make a reusable face wipe, how to craft a vintage headband and how to quilt a mug rug. Meanwhile, the Revive & Thrive Stage will host the likes of Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage, Onyi Moss, Charlotte Jacklin and Juliet Uzor, whilst Dominic Chinea, Micaela Sharp and Zoe Murphy are set to inspire crowds with upcycling and restoration demonstrations. Bonhams Sale A firm favourite amongst the Revival community is of course the Bonhams Sale. Each year a collection of extraordinary classic cars get ready to go under the hammer. This year, a car close to Goodwood’s heart will be auctioned at the Sale: the Aston Martin DB3, which won the first Goodwood 9 Hours race back in 1952. The auction will take place on Saturday at 1pm, with entrance to the preview on Friday by invitation or catalogue, while only those with a catalogue can enter the auction. The Bonhams marquee, located Over The Road, will be open to all on Sunday. Join us from home Here is everything you need ahead of the event. Don’t miss our timetable, entry list and event map to help you make your way round the event. Please also find our timetable of workshops and talks for the new Revive & Thrive Village. If you can’t make the event, you can still tune in below: - Saturday 17 September, 2-4pm, ITV Main featuring: - Official Practice: Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration - Ferrari Track Parade - Race: St Mary’s Trophy Presented by Motul - Part 1 - Race: Goodwood Trophy - Sunday 18 September, 2-4pm, ITV Main featuring: - Military Vehicles Track Parade - Race: Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration - Race: Lavant Cup - Thursday 22 September, 8pm, ITV4 - Revival Highlights - Sunday 25 September, 9:55am, ITV4 - Revival Highlights Final few tickets for the Friday of the Goodwood Revival are available at goodwood.com. Read the full article

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