#San Francisco Fabric Show

[searchingforserendipity25]

felix knightly, julian's much-mentioned friend felix, comes to the station, and he's this dashing and effete and supremely successful older human man. he wears excellent fabrics and dedicates his life to constructing beautiful fictions.

he calls julian darling and sweetheart all the time. he speaks often of how they met - something about old hardcover books and competitive bidding in a san francisco auction house for history and literature lovers.

so it went: a long chat that turned to a long night haunting bars, showing this bright young thing the best old spots in the city, where real bands play real songs, history clings to the walls and a holoprogrammer could see nearly into the past, the future, the heart of things.

we walked the bridge with dawn on our shoulders, spent the night without losing reasons to keep talking together, and i knew this was a very special young man i had just befriended, he says.

and julian bashir, chief medical officer, war-tried and brave, looks at him through his lashes, a little bit twenty and awe-struck at being liked still.

felix speaks often about how so much of the reliable realism in his holonovels depends on having his own clever doctor to give him accurate medical information. how his gifts of custom-made programs are nothing, barely anything in comparison to the pleasure of making sweet julian enjoy himself in his intervals between wonderful adventures and admirable medical work.

he is flighty and shameless and self-satisfied and he never fails to make julian flush and brighten - something flickering open around his eyes.

he kisses the back of his hands, and plays with his hair. as if it easy and natural; as if he should be allowed always to lay a hand on julian's shoulder, and smile down at him with a conspiratorial look.

it would be easier, perhaps, if it were more sordid. but they tease each other endlessly, argue like old friends, there is history between them and not only old infatuation.

to watch him is to see an image repeated. there is the twist of the wrist doctor bashir does, the way he raises his chin and picks a glass with elegance and flirts relentlessly, as he himself had been flirted with until he relented.

it is clear enough that knightly has been a guiding figure to him, a teacher in some fashion in the arts of playing the gentleman.

a mildly chiding word from him in a specific tone, and julian straightens his back and pays attentions, rethinks his position, eases back the strain in his shoulders, lets himself be challenged, seduced into a proper debate. so perhaps he was the one who taught him that, too; to argue without spite, with wit, brash but not bull-headed.

it is clear enough julian bashir trusts him fully with his fantasies, and does not fear any mockery.

it is clear he is a weak man, a man of vice, an hedonist with no sense of responsibility, who cannot stand to live outside his programs. he drinks prodigiously and gambles recklessly, enjoys the sort of mind-whirling substances the federation permits only in careful dosages -

he is not the one to mention how it was that a medical student came to be well-versed in treating withdrawals, in dealing with hateful words said in dire states. doctor bashir himself, of course, would never breach patient confidentiality. but one may guess; one may assume.

his presence is temporary, he will go away to do research on another singular and distant place, he'll leave his friend behind for the hundredth time and send back a consolation game whenever he remembers he exists at all.

anyone can see it, in the doctor's eyes. he is has been wounded many times, he has been trained well to be expect to be liked but not wanted long.

in unrelated news, garak of garak's clothiers has had to cite complications to explain the delay of his present and forthcoming commissions. several of his needles and sewing machines have taken unexpected tumbles against the floor, and a remarkable amount of his fabric has appeared shredded to rags, almost as if a vole or beast of some sort had laid furious claws on them.

well, so it goes: life is not an holonovel. in real life, sometimes accidents can't be avoided, and mistakes have consequences.

someone ought to remind felix knightly of that, perhaps.

[aviradasa]

The lost boys main hcs

Marko

5th times the charm with trying to post this.tumblr hates me. This isn't proofread. Sorry it's short I'm tired as fuck and irritated. But I hope you enjoy it nonetheless 🖤

Marko is an only child, and he grew up without a father. His mother was a seamstress and worked out of their home when he was a child. His mother was Italian, and his father was Swedish. When Marko was born, they were already living in the united states though so Marko had never been to either country, and he had never met any of his other family members. his dad died when he was 8, so he hardly remembers him now. His mother, on the other hand, died on his 16th birthday, falling victim to the san Francisco plague in 1904. Which was an epidemic of the black plague. He had to abandon her in their home to avoid catching it himself. Taking the last of the money they had and the necklace his mother wore with a picture of their family in it. Not long after, he found the boys, and they all stuck together (as you can guess), but not until after he struggled around town by himself for a few months. God, i need to stop making this shit sad hand on switching gears. He was the youngest when the boys got turned into vamps he had only turned 18 that summer He really tries to act more mature than he is, but as soon as something funny happens, that's over. Marko has a really good sense of humor, but he finds a lot of really stupid shit funny. He's the type of dude to watch his friends fall face down ass up on concrete and start laughing and snapping a photo before asking if they are ok (he is me) This also can lean into how he does lowkey bully people on the boardwalk. Mostly surf nazis but let's be so deadass he's kind of a dick to everyone there in his own special way. Him and paul have a tendency to double team people to: like whoever they come at wont have a chance to say anything cause as soon as one of them pauses the other jumps in to just dog on the person who annoyed them. Some of his insults get pretty creative as well: so if he says something to you thats just out of pocket,like 85% of the time its one of the ones that makes you stop to think about it before you can even get offended 🤣 Strange enough, though. He is very well spoken and charismatic when you talk to him normally. When talking, you notice after a while that he's not one of those folks that cuss every other sentence. Like he will throw it in there like everyone does, but not all the time if you feel me Idk how to describe it. he still talks like a normal person and uses slang and stuff, but he is oddly classy vocabulary wise. He's got a slightly softer tone to his voice as well, which makes his way of speaking come off smoother. He's also extremely smart. Having conversations with him is never really dull or unpleasant. (Unless you're an unlucky boardwalk asshole) Marko is very imaginative and creative. He never stops coming up with things. He hoards hobbies like a dragon hoard gold. From painting to sewing to cooking to wood carving, He just knows how to do this stuff, and he loves it. You will never catch him doing nothing. Even when he's spaced out at the wall, the dude is fiddling with something or sewing. Something together, he just can't stop. He loves giving gifts to friends as well. All of the boys have gifts from Marko that he's made himself. Mostly cause he loves showing off he has skill and unlike Paul he doesn't care if people touch his stuff so he will drag you around his space handing you stuff and showing you everything he's made/ collected cause he's just so proud. Just don't break it. He will be fucking pissed if You break it. Or if you give away anything he gifted you. Also he will talk to you about this stuff for hours on end if you let him (Do let him. He will love you for life if you show Intrests in the things he likes) his space is really cluttered. But looking around, it's mostly albums,art, fabric,patches, and various random objects.

other then that he's really clean. On that note He does not like getting covered in blood when he eats just sayin. He's like the least messy eater of the group mainly cause he hates getting it on his jacket. Plus the texture of dried blood on him makes him want to rip his skin off. It's just one of those things he can't stand So he makes sure to clean up fast. That doesn't mean he doesn't like toying with victims though he's a jumpscare master. He likes to scare his victims half to death before beating the shit outta them. He jokes that hes “tenderizing The meat”. When he does this He gets a kick outta that one. Oh he also likes music, he's not like overly into it though He likes alot of different types as well. Some of his favorite generas are Rock,goth,classical, and some 30s jazz strange enough. He does not give a DAMN what the others have to say about his music taste. if He wants to play his music it will be loud and proud. If they don't like it they are free To take it up with him. (They never will)

[pocket-elf]

I decided to make a jacket for tour, as I'd need to wear something in the San Francisco evening and I need a summer jacket overall. Was planning more references but this is what I had time for in the end.

Black denim with sweatshirt sleeves. Embroidered details. Exposed zipper, and multiple pockets.

(read more for details! including close up pictures)

The sleeves are references to Frank's sleeves from Black Parade and Danger Days.  The stripes are all hand painted! Couldn't find a sweatshirt fabric with appropriately wide black and white stripes.

Then we have lyrics from Welcome To The Black Parade, Ghost of You, and Light Behind Your Eyes on the three front pockets.  Might be hard to see but WTTBP is four different greys in a gradient, while the big pockets have “ghosts” and “light” in a super light grey for emphasis.

Then of course a felt appliqué version of the Jet Star DD chest patch. And on the back we have the intro to Danger Days embroidered on the yoke, in a radiating gradient. 

Finally, also on the back, a screen printed heart (yes I know it's mirrored) with my favourite lines from Foundations of Decay embroidered on top and on an extra patch. All done by hand. 

Overall I decided to go for lyrics that felt kind of motivating and the spirit of "we'll carry on".

I know I'm missing Bullets references, but both the ones I had planned didn't pan out in time (I wanted lyrics from Our Lady of Sorrows on the hem but it would be too thick. And the hanged man as a beaded patch on the sleeve, but absolutely no time to do that)

For good measure I lined the yoke with a skull fabric.

And yes there are also hidden side pockets. 

If you see me at the San Francisco show, say hi! (also, I'm the girl who cross stitched Gerard's blue Black Parade close up. I know that one made the rounds.)

[merinathropp]

okay here's my massive and hugely late Wicked movie review in case anyone is still interested alksdjalskdjaldk bless you all for your patience

Glinda - 11/10 no notes I am besotted. I was so wrong about Ariana Grande, she was pitch perfect and melted into the character. She played Glinda with all the nuance she desperately deserves, she was SO MUCH MORE than just a mean blonde girl, she had a sort of 'spoiled rich girl innocence' and genuine sweetness in everything she did. And the RANGE!!!! Her expressions during No One Mourns get the award for First Thing To Make Me Weep, there was SUCH pain and bitter resolve underneath her composure. Ariana the woman that you are.

Fiyero - I feel like Fiyero is a character who only works if you make him a bit camp and silly and absolutely commit to The Flynn Rider-ness of it all, and Jonathan ABSOLUTELY DID. He was outrageously charming. Love that he flirted with girls and boys and even members of staff, really drove home the whole 'scandalous reputation' thing. Equal opportunity Fiyero Flirting. What a time to be alive.

Elphaba - Okay this is where things get complicated. I really struggled with Cynthia's Elphaba. I totally respect that she wanted to take the character in a different direction, making her more vulnerable and soft-spoken and sad.

It just didn't work for me, because it stripped Elphaba of all the things I love about her in the show: her fierceness, her rage, her explosive nature, her terrible temper. I just adore how messy she is. And I missed that in the movie.

I've seen people talk a lot about how Cynthia's Elphaba is 'internal' - she doesn't let her emotions show, she keeps it all on the inside. Again, this was a choice that really bugged me. So many classic Elphaba Reaction Moments were reduced to Cynthia just...looking?? It drove me mad.

Her vocals were out of this world. She looked absolutely stunning. But I just can't connect with this new version of Elphaba as much as her stage counterpart.

Sets, Props & Costumes - GORGEOUS. A literal feast for the eyes, this is a sumptuous movie and I kept wanting to pause the frame just to take in all the little details. Everything felt so distinctly Ozian, all the bizarre textures and fabric choices and steampunk Victorian vibe...ughhhh obsessed.

Screenplay - I think my overall take for this section is: The additions they made were fun, but if I'd been in charge, I would have prioritised completely different things lol.

With the 3 hour runtime, I guess I just assumed they would put all that glorious extra time towards Gelphie and Fiyeraba? Especially because there are SO many juicy cut scenes from older versions of Wicked (e.g. workshops, San Francisco tryouts), and this was an amazing opportunity to bring some of that stuff back.

But instead, we got like...A Sentimental Man dance break, more dialogue with the Wizard, a big action sequence with Elphaba and Glinda escaping the guards, a new song about the ancient sorcerers of Oz, loads of Pfannee and Shenshen dialogue etc.

Again, I don't think any of this stuff was bad! But I wish the extra time had gone towards expanding the character relationships rather than like...The Wizard Will Dance For You Now lol.

(Not to mention they cut some of Fiyeraba's dialogue - a BIZARRE choice, I scream into the void etc, these two have such limited time together already, Why Would You Cut More Of It)

Misc Things I Loved - Galinda and Elphaba's new little 'signature wave' for each other, based on their Ozdust dance. Destroyed me emotionally every time they used it.

- Popular was a MASTERCLASS in adapting a musical theatre number to screen, I was so worried it would be Too Much but they pitched it just right. It was hysterically funny but still sincere, Galinda was very much 'kid who's had too much sugar at 3am' and she was so DRAMATIC and silly and sweet, I'm besotted fjhakjsdhaksjda.

- ALL THE CHOREOGRAPHY. Bursting with energy, highly musical. I found myself wishing the camera would slow down / zoom out a bit, so we could enjoy it more fully.

- Doctor Dillamond actually saying to Elphaba that she has a friend in him, and gently offering her one of his hooves to so they could 'shake hands'. My friend and I were both like 'we did not expect to get emotional about the goat professor, yet here we are'.

- Fiyero 'yeah I ate grass as a child' Tigelaar. he absolutely did. not a single doubt in my mind.

- The Wizard, trying to convince Elphaba to join him: uhhhh you can even bring your...friend...with you! (I was literally like HAHAHA HE GETS IT oh no. he gets it. oh no. I just loved that he seizes immediately on the one thing that might sweeten the deal for Elphaba, which is having Glinda with her.)

[ralfmaximus]

In late August and September, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center observed two separate Russian groups pushing videos designed to discredit Vice President Kamala Harris in places like a fake San Francisco news website and on the social media platform X.  The phony videos claimed Harris was involved in a fabricated hit-and-run accident, depicted an attack by alleged Harris supporters on a purported Trump rally attendee and showed a fake New York City billboard making false claims about Harris’ policies.

Russian interference in the 2024 election is a real thing, and credible organizations are reporting specific psyops.

If you see something alarming about Harris/Walz, note the source... if it's x.com, facebook, or some local news site you've never seen before, try checking elsewhere for confirmation.

cnn.com and apnews.com are two such credible sites.

[drewlyyours]

Okay, since we’re all playing MHM rn for the #cluecrewplaythru, I thought I would translate some of ~very~ cursive letters for anyone who may find them hard to read

The brown journal in the attic:

we dined with the Maupassants in a strange quarter of Shanghai known as the Enchanted Dragon. Mme. [short for Madame, the French equivalent of Mrs.] Maupassant showed me the lovely muslin [this fabric was quite fashionable in the 1800s and I believe rather expensive] that she has purchased earlier that week and we exchanged pleasantries about out travels in the Orient.

As the meal progressed, an elderly man approached me selling a curious puzzle box shaped like a pyramid.

There appears to be no hinges or any semblance if its mechanics from the outside and yet the solution to open the box was very intricate and involved. The artwork was magnificent and I became enchanted not only with the contraption but with the artistic genius of the kindly old man. My mind ran wild with the possibility of creating a hotel where rooms are puzzles full of traps and tricks, just like this pyramid box.

In my broken Mandarin, I asked about the old man’s employment situation and pressed him to return with me to engineer my next hotel. He became embarrassed, and my dining companions protested my forthcoming attitude.

Even in the far East where their traditions are so different from ours, a woman is still confined to remain passive and meek, regardless of her passion or intellect.

E. Valdez letter in the writing desk:

The Golden Gardenia

December 8th, 1902

Mr. George Williston[?], General Manager

The Victorian Hotel

Powell [?] and Clay Street

San Francisco

Dear Sir,

This letter shall serve as an introduction for my faithful employee, Wing Tang, who has been employed in my service as head chef for over ten years. It is with ^much regret that I must discharge him, and were it not for the retirement if my hotel establishment, I would still retain his services.

Sincerely,

E. Valdez

Proprietor, The Golden Gardenia

The letter in the staircase:

Diego,

I’ve waited so long for your return but have kept our treasure true. Here us the tool you’ll need to find it. May your rainbows never run out of luck.

The stars and moon will shine on you

As you begun your quest.

Move like a knight upon his horse

To quickly pass the test.

Take care to keep your path in check

Along the outside border,

So you may see the sun return

To claim its rightful order.

Rose’s letter to Hue:

Dear Hue,

I’m doing great! How are you? Yes, the rumors are true: I bought myself a Victorian mansion! it’s funny you should mention Abby; she’s actually the one who decided to go in on this venture with me. We’re still in the process of restoring the place. It’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of hard work. We’re beginning to get a little worried that we’ll fall behind schedule if we’re not careful. There’ve been several accidents lately that have interferred with our work.

when you visit, you can stay in the Chinese room! We’ve just bought some new furniture for the room. We’re just waiting for the wallpaper to dry before we move everything in. With all of the distractions and the schedule, by the time I finish writing this letter, I’m sure we will have completed the renovations altogether! I’ll try to get it into the mail before [she did not finish the letter]

Letters in the safe:

My dearest Elizabeth,

I could never sully that sweet name by calling you Lizzie. You shall evermore be Elizabeth, my Elizabeth: the sweet, dear woman who has honored me with her enchanting presence and grace.

Tonight, I ride on yet another perilous trip, but always to return to your beloved smile.

Until then, please accept this bouquet of gardenias, your favorites.

~ El Diablo

My dearest Elizabeth,

Only one soul on this great Earth knows the two secrets that circle my heart: my love for you and my secret identity. Know that my intentions are the purest in all respects. I am a modest man, and all of the wealth that I have acquired by devious means are put to the best uses – all given them to the poor, the misfortunate and the defenseless.

And so I am - a poor, misfortunate and defenseless man in the presence of your beauty. You have stolen my heart, dear Elizabeth, and all I ask is your hand in marriage to be mine.

Forever, Diego

[mpreg-consandvans]

A four page advertising spread from Papas, Spring 1974 edition, showing off fun pregnancy fashions for the young, attractive professional man taking on fatherhood with style.

Papas was founded in 1948 by H.M. Jones. Jones had been in the magazine business before World War II and served his country as a reporter during the war. He was in France when the ending salvos were fired. Atomic mushroom clouds engulfed thirteen cities in the next few days, consuming Bonn, Milan, Boston, Munich, Nagasaki, Leningrad, Manchester, San Francisco, Guangzhou, Napoli, Atlanta, Yekaterinburg, and Leeds. Jones continued his work as a reporter post-war, documenting the destruction wrought by the bombs, but also their surprising secondary effects. Many men who'd survived the blasts were coming down with strange cases of swelling in their abdomens, in the months after. Jones, himself a gay man, happened to notice this phenomenon occurring at significantly higher rates amongst gay survivors.

Some doctors were initially believing the swelling to be a matter of malnourished men experiencing refeeding syndrome, in which deadly swelling of the digestive tract can occur when a person begins to receive adequate nutrition after a long period of starvation. An article about this exact condition was even published by Jones in an American paper at the time. It was a shock to everyone after the first few men went into surgery to remove the swelling, only for doctors to find intact fetuses growing within them.

A theory was developed about the extreme effects of radiation in the atmosphere causing men's body chemistry to change, somehow reactivating dormant genes that allowed them to grow wombs and be impregnated by other men. H.M. Jones was immediately fascinated and returned to America to cover everything related to this surprising new wrinkle in the fabric of the human experience, at which point he founded Papas.

It was the first men's pregnancy publication and widely considered the best, though a few other imitators would follow, including Wombman Weekly (1955-1969), Adam Magazine (1961-1994) and Dad Positive (1970-1981). Papas' reporting was considered head and shoulders above the rest, and truly cemented its place in the history books when President Walter Mondale's 1984 State of the Union address included a direct response to an anguished open letter first published in the magazine, penned by dozens of prominent pregnant men demanding Mondale provide further funding for research into protecting the babies of expectant fathers from HIV.

Most scholars see H.M. Jones' death in 1991 as the beginning of the end for Papas. Though Jones' much younger life partner, Jack Spaulding, had been holding the editorial reins since the late 1980s, Jones had maintained his strong influence of the magazine's editorial voice, pushing hard-hitting journalistic integrity and real issues over fluff since the very beginning. After Jones' death, Papas limped along on mostly inertia and goodwill from its prime days in the '60s through the '80s, switching over to a biennial publication schedule in 1999 and eventually shuttering during the 2008 financial crisis.

Papas' influence is great and its legacy is unmatched. The Spring 1974 issue is just one of many excellent works of journalism published in its history. Below is the cover of said issue, which features actor Randy Lloyd, one of the stars of the soap opera Waterfalls. Lloyd got the cover for being the first man to ever have his real life pregnancy written into the plot of a TV series. Randy's character on Waterfalls, John Darlington, became pregnant after having an affair with his wife's brother, Timothy Briar. Timothy and John would eventually go on to become the first male-male "supercouple" on any soap opera. Randy's next three pregnancies were also written into the show.

[keepthisholykiss]

yesterday we went to see San Francisco Ballet's Manon (which is apparently the first time the company has ever done it??) and it was my first time seeing an SF Ballet in person and holy. shit. here are my thoughts featuring a bunch of press photos I could find

the costuming and sets for this production were literally from the 1974 ballet at the royal opera house so I spent a large portion of the show using my lil opera glasses to just stare at the designs on the fabrics which felt so delightful! some of them are very worse for wear but the production utilized them in a cool aesthetic of like the rot underneath the glamour kind of way???

the principal dancers at SF ballet are insanely talented and I was very familiar with their level of quality before but nothing prepares you for what it is like to be in the room with that much talent. I was SO overwhelmed by how fabulously the Lescaut and des Grieux were specifically. Each of them are phenomenal dancers obviously but their acting is just... AAAAAAAA. I kept watching the des Grieux in the scenes where Manon is hanging around but the light/focus is not on him and he just told such a story with the way he looked at and reacted to her and the world around him.

The orchestra at SF Ballet is also like.... out of this world amazing. Hearing the Massenet with such a large orchestra was electrifying, I really did not want intermissions to happen I just wanted to sit there listening to them forever!!

And finally, the Manon in this production was everything I could have wanted and more. Her skill is obviously incredible but her ability to convey the entire story SO well throughout just.... AAAA! I loved watching her tackle some of the more acrobactic-esque choreography and her transformation between acts II and III was unreal? It had me thinking that was a completely different dancer but no, she's just that talented!

If you ever have a chance to see ANY Manon ballet in person I obviously think you should. And if you ever have a chance to see an SF Ballet in person absolutely jump on it. The War Memorial Opera House is so lavish I really felt like a fish out of water but at the same time it felt like such a fun experience. This was my first time ever going to a show in the super high balcony seats (because SF Ballet is quite pricey) and my fear of heights was uhhh VERY MUCH THERE but I completely forgot about it the moment the orchestra started playing, they were that good at making me feel like I was right there by the stage watching!!

[lost-carcosa]

Jim Parsons is an openly gay man who played the character Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon had a web show within the show called Fun with Flags where he analyzed the history and symbolism of various flags, from Bavaria to Nebraska to Star Trek’s United Federation of Planets. But he did not cover the vexillology of the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag, so let’s have some fun.

--On This Day in History Shit Went Down: June 25, 1978--

A symbol of pride and social movements, the rainbow flag originated in San Francisco, making its first appearance at the city’s Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. It was designed by Gilbert Baker, a gay man and civil rights activist. He was tasked with making the flag by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California.

Prior to 1978, the symbol for the LGBTQ+ movement was an inverted pink triangle, but this had significant negative connotations, what with it being designed by fucking Nazis to identify and persecute homosexuals. Although it had been reclaimed as a symbol of pride in the face of homophobia, Milk still wanted something uniquely their own.

One rumor proclaims Baker was inspired by Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz, as Garland was one of the first gay icons. Another hypothesis states he borrowed from the World Peace Association’s multicolored Brotherhood flag.

Baker’s original design was eight-colored: hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo, and violet. The colors represented, respectively: sex, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic/art, serenity, spirit. Thirty volunteers hand-dyed and stitched two flags for the parade.

Five months later, Harvey Milk was assassinated; demand for the flag grew. Hot pink was dropped because of lack of availability of that fabric color. A year later, turquoise and indigo were merged into a single royal blue to make a six-stripe flag that remains most popular, although numerous other variations have sprung up over the years.

Thirty-seven years and one day later, the White House was illuminated in the colors of the rainbow flag to celebrate the federal legalization of gay marriage. And in June 2020, in a historic decision, the Supreme Court of the United States voted 6–3 asserting federal law prevents employers from discriminating against workers for being LGBTQ+.

History should take note that Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas voted on the side of bigotry.

Those who cannot remember the past … need a history teacher who says “fuck” a lot. Get both volumes of “On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down” at JamesFell.com/books

[James Fell on facebook]

[wildmayhemz]

Amara Valko | Gabriel Rorke

FIRST MEET 2014

There was a woman in the creek. Not necessarily out of concern but curiosity, he pulled over his worn-out Chevy. It was a 1972 model, and Elias said he would help him fix it before their next deployment. He was going through Terra Bella and trying to get to San Francisco. Needing to get gas and taking a wrong turn to get to the highway, Gabriel wasn't expecting to see a woman face up in the creek on the outskirts of town. There weren’t any cars parked on the side of the road by this creek, but there was a gravel pull-off. He could care less unless they were his men, but it was hot, and she was a little too still in the clear water. He thought the woman might have been dead or had heat stroke. The drive was boring, and human interaction outside the military was scarce. At least this encounter might be interesting.

Slamming the door to his blood-red, beat-up possession and keeping in mind the knife on his belt he kept with him in combat. He made his way down the ditch to this body. Getting closer, he kept a defensive eye out of habit in his line of work. At the water's edge, he noticed it was roughly 4 feet at its deepest.

Now that he could get a good look at the woman, a thin, light blue dress flowed out around her. Her eyes closed, and her dark hair stood out against her pale skin. She was beautiful. She wasn’t dead, but since he stopped his little road trip, and curiosity got the best of him. Gabriel’s hands were on his hips saying with authoritative caution, “Are you alright, ma’am?”

Being greeted with silence and her eyes still closed, he called out again. This time, he could not help but let his sarcastic attitude shine through. “Are you a corpse?”

A chuckle came from the supposed corpse to let him know he was wrong. She turned on her back in the water before standing as gracefully as she could to face him. How the water ran off her body and splashed around her frame was almost ethereal. Gabriel took a breath and straightened up, seeing the sky-blue dress cling to her. He stared at her, keeping his eyes on her face out of respect; the fabric didn't hide much of her.

A warm breeze went by, and she tilted her head. She moved her hair over her shoulder, taking in his appearance. Cargo pants and a loose t-shirt with sleeves cut off, showing off tanned muscles decorated with scars. One scar, in particular, stood out against the rest. A hook shape is embedded on the left cheek, running up over his eyebrow. The air held a peaceful silence between them. She looked at him as if she recognized him from somewhere, putting an eerie feeling in his chest. If someone recognized him, it typically was never a good thing.

“You’re trespassing,” her sickly-sweet voice echoed in his head as if she were speaking in his mind rather than out loud. A shiver went down his spine, not out of fear; ha, no, this feeling was something heavier. Always being two steps ahead of everyone in resilience and physical strength is why he was The Ghost. The look of recognition from her, when he knew he had never seen this woman before, made him frustratedly confused. Not being one to back down, he spoke up, “I apologize for the trespassing; I thought I was just going to have to pull a body from the creek, darlin,” he forced his lips to turn up slightly. He didn't come here to scare anyone. Especially not-

“Amara.” “What?” “My name? It’s Amara, not Darlin.” Her tone was completely different from the sweet tone she had spoken a moment before. There was a mocking Southern accent when she said Darlin. Alright, so she wasn't just sugar. She had some fire in her blood, trying to threaten him and failing like many before her. Like anyone could make him feel threatened. That made the fake smile he plastered on into an almost sinister smirk—more like a sin if you asked her.

“Well, Amara, now that I know you're not a floating corpse, I’ll quit trespassing,” He took his hands off his hips and, not necessarily wanting to take his eyes off her, took some steps backward before finally turning away. He could feel her eyes on him the entire walk back to his car. It’s not like he didn't know the feeling of a woman’s eyes on him before checking him out, but this wasn't the same. He felt she was trying to break his mind and reveal his secrets. Combat was one of the few things that made him feel that way; it was a nice feeling to have something as divine as her challenge him.

His eyes returned to the creek, hoping to get one last look at her. The water was calm, and ‘Amara’ was not in sight. ‘Vanished like a ghost,’ he thought, how fitting. His joy in finding someone who brought such drive to his blood was gone and a sinking feeling was trying to overwhelm him. As he got back to the highway and headed north to San Francisco, he tucked the location of the smaller town away in his mind.

He had a whole month.

He’d find her again.

[zapamaxofficial]

Zapamax Picks: Best California-Inspired San Francisco Hoodies to Wear Now

When it comes to streetwear that blends comfort, culture, and city pride, nothing beats a good hoodie. At Zapamax, we’re all about bold vibes and cozy fits—and this season, we’re spotlighting our hottest drops inspired by California, San Francisco, Hollywood, and even Chicago. Whether you're walking through foggy SF mornings, vibing in L.A.’s sunshine, or layering up in the Windy City, our curated hoodie picks will make sure your outfit speaks volumes.

1. California San Francisco Hoodie — West Coast Vibes in Every Stitch

If you’re all about that laid-back California lifestyle with a hint of urban edge, our California San Francisco hoodie is your perfect match. Made with soft-touch fabric and bold graphic designs, this hoodie captures everything we love about the Bay Area—from its iconic Golden Gate backdrop to its streetwear culture.

Why you'll love it:

Premium cotton blend for all-day comfort

Bold “San Francisco California” lettering

Perfect for layering with joggers or jeans

2. San Francisco California Hoodie — The Iconic Bay Look

Show some serious city love with our San Francisco California hoodie, a timeless piece for anyone who can’t get enough of fog, coffee, and that unbeatable NorCal aesthetic. Whether you're repping SF from afar or strolling through Haight Street, this hoodie is your street-style staple.

Style tip: Pair it with cargo pants, a beanie, and sneakers for a full-on California streetwear look.

3. A's Hollywood Hoodie — Cali Meets Cinema

Looking for something that merges athletic energy with Hollywood flair? The A’s Hollywood hoodie brings together classic team-inspired designs with California's cinematic spirit. It's bold, nostalgic, and built for fans who want to stand out in the crowd.

Highlights:

Athletic-style graphic front

Cozy fleece lining

Versatile enough for late-night drives or chill Netflix sessions

4. Chicago Zip-Up Hoodie — Chill Meets City Power

Not a pullover fan? We got you. Our Chicago zip up hoodie is perfect for those who love structure and flexibility. Inspired by the Windy City’s cool-tone fashion and urban rhythm, this piece lets you layer in style without compromising on warmth or street cred.

Perfect for:

Travel days

Morning coffee runs

Layering over tees or under puffer jackets

Why Zapamax Hoodies Stand Out

At Zapamax, we don’t just design hoodies—we craft city statements. Whether it’s the California San Francisco hoodie or the Chicago zip up hoodie, each piece in our collection reflects a story, a vibe, a place. With premium fabrics, eye-catching prints, and modern fits, our hoodies aren’t just made to be worn—they're made to be seen.

Final Word: Which Hoodie Will You Rock?

From the laid-back Cali cool of our San Francisco styles to the bold, gritty vibes of Chicago and Hollywood, there’s a hoodie waiting for you at Zapamax. If you're hunting for your next favorite layer, now's the time to shop.

[johnmateykofinancialadvisor]

Navigating Wealth with John Mateyko – A Journey in Fiduciary Financial Planning

John Mateyko is a name that stands out in the world of financial planning and investment management. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, he has built a reputation for excellence, leadership, and community spirit. Today, he calls the charming rural community of Serenbe, Georgia home, but his journey began much earlier, graduating from Augustana College in 1998 with degrees in business and philosophy. From those humble beginnings, he rose to become an Accredited Fiduciary Financial Planner and Managing Partner at IDEX Financial.

His career kicked off in the heart of New York City at Dean Witter in 1999, where he gained invaluable experience and set the foundation for what would become a flourishing career. Over the years, Mateyko honed his skills at major institutions including Atlas Securities, US Bancorp, Chase, and Fifth Third Securities, consistently ranking among the top performers thanks to his expertise in client acquisition, portfolio management, and growth strategies.

In 2010, he took a bold step forward by founding IDEX Financial at the Zurich Towers in Schaumburg, Illinois. His vision for growth continued, and in 2018, he expanded IDEX’s footprint into Atlanta, Georgia through the acquisition of a local financial planning practice, further cementing his leadership in the industry.

Education and mastery remain at the core of Mateyko’s professional philosophy. He holds distinguished designations including Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), and Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA). Currently, he is advancing his expertise by pursuing a CIMA designation through the Yale School of Management. These achievements from institutions like the College for Financial Planning and The American College of Financial Services reflect his dedication to lifelong learning and professional excellence.

Beyond his professional success, Mateyko is deeply woven into the fabric of his community. In 2021, he founded the Serenbe Athletic Association, where he serves as Commissioner of the co-ed Chicago-style Softball and Kickball leagues. His love for the arts shines through as well—having been a part-time stand-in for Christian Bale in Batman Begins (2005) and Public Enemies (2009), and founding the SMZ Community Theater Group, which has impressively raised $451,000 for Acton Academy in Serenbe.

Adventure is a big part of John’s life. Alongside his wife Slavyana—whom he romantically proposed to at Germany’s iconic Neuschwanstein Castle—he has traveled to breathtaking destinations like the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Lake Como. An avid diver, John has explored underwater worlds from the Philippines and Hawaii to Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy, and Portugal—and even dived alongside whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. His love for sailing saw him win as part of the foredeck crew in the Midwinters Race in San Francisco Bay.

John Mateyko’s story is one of ambition, community, and passion. From the skyscrapers of New York to the peaceful streets of Serenbe, he has lived a life defined by success, service, and adventure—and he shows no signs of slowing down.

[yourreddancer]

Researchers tested the fire safety and strength of hemp blocks, a sustainable building material made from hemp, lime, and water.

The study, published in the Journal of Building Engineering, found that Hemp blocks don’t catch fire with open flames but instead smolder slowly, producing very little smoke. In fact, walls made of hemp blocks stayed structurally intact for 2 hours during fire tests.

In terms of heat tolerance, hemp blocks retained most all of their structural strength up to 200°C (392°F). At 300°C (572°F), they still showed controlled burning without collapsing. The study also suggests that plastering hemp block walls can further enhance their fire resistance, making them even more reliable for building projects.

In short, hemp blocks are not only safer in the event of a fire but are also a sustainable building option. The use of hemp, a fast-growing crop, helps reduce the environmental footprint of construction materials and the minimal smoke produced during fire scenarios makes hemp blocks a safer choice for both occupants and first responders.

That said, hemp blocks have a compressive strength of 1.0 MPa, making them suitable for non-load-bearing walls. This means they aren’t intended for primary structural support but are perfect for walls that don’t carry heavy loads.

Hemp does not need fungicides, herbicides, or pesticides. It has been used for building for thousands of years. Right now the museum of natural history in San Francisco uses in their storehouse for climate control (temperature and humidity) of artifacts that would be damaged otherwise. It draws carbon out the air becoming stronger as it ages instead of breaking down like standard building materials we use now. Hempcrete is made by mixing hemp hurd (the woody inner core of the male hemp plant), water, and a lime binder. That's it

. It's starting to be more widely used in England and Europe. Imagine buying locally grown hemp hurd to build a home that would never dry rot, no termites, no bugs or vermin in the walls, self insulating, hypoallergenic, soundproof, never needs painting or siding, and doesn't burn. Imagine what it could do for the economy. As it grows it restores the natural biome of soil, absorbs toxins rendering them inert, and it uses 75% less water. It's is used to restore land overrun by invasive species because of it's rapid growth. It chokes them out. 

Growing hemp was required for the shipping industry to make the sails, rigging, ropes, clothing, deck shoes. You're probably not old enough to know the term "canvas shoes" but the heavy fabric used was made from hemp because it was much more durable and resistant to salt water degradation and ultraviolet radiation. Sails made from cotton only lasted 2 years but hemp sails lasted for 5. Considering the sails etc were the most expensive part of the ship (well over half the cost of the ship) you can see why farmers were required to grow it. For the colonies to conduct trade they needed lots of hemp. You could pay your taxes with it for over 200 years.

[therevengeoffrankenstein]

'ENDLESS PERIOD'

INT. A STAGE IN SOME SORT OF AUDITORIUM.

The curtains of the stage are closed. ELLIE suddenly appears, running out onto CENTER stage.

ELLIE

(nervously, clasping hands together, nodding along as he speaks)

WELCOME to the period blood show tonight! We're supposed to go for another five to seven days continuously, so make sure to stretch those ass cheeks now!

LAUGH TRACK.

CUT to the empty audience. A cough is heard OFF-SCREEN.

ELLIE

(coughs nervously)

ANYWAY! Our beloved star The Uterus has yet to arrive, so i'll be entertaining you all BRIEFLY until he arrives.

ELLIE does a GAY LITTLE DANCE and JAZZ HANDS.

ELLIE

TA-DA!

UNKNOWN

(O.S.)

You suck!

ELLIE

(laughs)

The Uterus will be here any moment! ANY moment! Any second! It'll be here so soon! Any second now!

HARD CUT.

EXT. A DESERT HIGH WAY

THE UTERUS sticks out one of its tiny stubs like a hitchhiking thumb.

A car pulls up with DEAN MORIARTY and SAL PARADISE inside.

DEAN

(leaning so far out car window he is liable to fall out of the car)

What can we do for you? What's your reason, baby? Wanna ride?

SAL just smiles fondly.

THE UTERUS

(growls and barks for at least a solid minute)

DEAN

OH OH OH! Yaasss... I get the situation, oh, I get it... Hop inside, little ride. Quick-ly!

DEAN throws the car door open and THE UTERUS scurries inside.

SAL

We're going to try to make it down to Frisco, by the way. You need us to drop you off on the way?

DEAN

(through giggles)

Or are you riding the breeze... If you know, you know!

THE UTERUS

(growls and barks in a softer tone)

DEAN

(winks awkwardly)

I do like your style! You damn well get me, huh...! Just you wait...

HARD CUT.

INT. MOTEL BEDROOM

CLOSE UP of SAL lying on his side on a bed. He smiles softly at the camera. The bed shakes as man whimpers and short barks and whines fill the air.

HARD CUT.

INT. A STAGE IN SOME SORT OF AUDITORIUM.

ELLIE is covered in tomato stains.

ELLIE

And that was, uh, my best impression of Bobby Hill from King of the Hill.

(does Bobby Hill impression)

That's right, Daddy!

Another tomato hits ELLIE in the stomach.

HARD CUT.

EXT. OUTSIDE A MOTEL IN SAN FRANCISCO

DEAN and THE UTERUS embrace.

DEAN

(tears welling in his eyes. The reason why is unclear.)

Now, I'm already a Daddy and all, so let me know! Let me know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, sugar...

(aside, to SAL)

AY! I sure hope not!

THE UTERUS

(growls out something obviously mean)

DEAN's lip quivers as he detaches himself from THE UTERUS.

DEAN

Su-it your-self!

DEAN runs off, jumping into someone else's car with the keys conveniently left in there. SAL yelps and hops in after him and they drive off.

SOME GUY

(running after the car)

My car! MY CAR! MY CA-A-A-AR!

SOME GUY hits his knees. THE UTERUS scoffs and walks off.

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. A BED

CLOSE UP of THE UTERUS as it whimpers and whines, writhing around. Movement and fabric movement are heard OFF-SCREEN.

SOMEONE WE ALL KNOW

(O.S.)

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know... It's okay, honey.

THE UTERUS

(whines)

SOMEONE WE ALL KNOW

(O.S)

Let the Holy Spirit move right through you....

(voice wavering)

Yes, yes....

FADE TO BLACK as THE UTERUS howls.

INT. A STAGE IN SOME SORT OF AUDITORIUM.

THE UTERUS busts in through the door.

ELLIE

(quickly)

FIN-AL-LY, the man of the hour! The multiple months!

THE UTERUS runs up on stage and vomits KENSINGTON BLOOD all over the audience and camera. Blood fills the auditorium.

The blood then cartoonishly drains as SOMEONE WE ALL KNOW opens the door, still remaining OFF-SCREEN.

SOMEONE WE ALL KNOW

(O.S.)

You're welcome, by the way.

OVERHEAD SHOT of ELLIE, lying on the ground, covered in blood, as he coughs up blood. He gives the camera a thumbs up.

IRIS OUT, ZOOM onto ELLIE's smiling face.

THE END.

[camisoledadparis]

THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … November 21

Transgender Day Of Remembrance (since 1999) set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice (transphobia). The event is held on November 20, founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco, California candlelight vigil in 1999. Since then, the event has grown to encompass memorials in hundreds of cities around the world.

1873 – Daniel Gregory Mason, American composer, born (d.1953); Mason came from a long line of notable American musicians, including his father Henry Mason. He studied under John Knowles Paine at Harvard University from 1891 to 1895, continuing his studies with George Chadwick and Goetschius. In 1894 he published his Opus 1, a set of keyboard waltzes, but soon after began writing on music for his primary career. He became a lecturer at Columbia University in 1905, where he would remain until his retirement in 1942, successively being awarded the positions of assistant professor (1910), MacDowell professor (1929) and head of the music department (1929-1940). He was the lover of composer-pianist John Powell.

1883 – Edwin August (d.1964) was an American actor, director and screenwriter of the silent era. He appeared in 152 films between 1909 and 1947. He also directed 52 films between 1912 and 1919. He co-founded Eaco Films in 1914.

Edwin was born Edwin August Phillip von der Butz in St. Louis, Missouri, to August and Sarah Butz. He was educated at the Christian Brothers College.

He began working with Biograph Studios in New York as early as 1908 and moved to Hollywood with that company in 1910. He starred in several films by D. W. Griffith, who was also with the company, and continued to work well into the 1930s as a writer and director.

In 1916, he entered his name as a candidate for President of the United States, and spoke out against censorship in cinema. The candidate wasn't taken very seriously, and perhaps that wasn't the point. He didn't like the road that his industry was going down, and wanted to voice his opinion in the hope of change.

A co-star, Blanche Sweet, would later bluntly state: "He was a homo." He owned a chicken ranch at 648 South Figueroa in Hollywood and was friends with gay silent film star J. Warren Kerrigan and most likely Kerrigan's long time partner James Vincent.

Edwin passed away from cerebral metastatic disease on March 4, 1964 at the Motion Picture County Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California.

1916 – James Pope-Hennessy (d.1974) was a British biographer and travel writer.

James Pope-Hennessy was born in London on 20 November 1916, the younger son of Ladislaus Pope-Hennessy, a soldier from County Cork, Ireland, and his wife, Una, the daughter of Arthur Birch, Lieutenant-Governor of Ceylon. He was the younger of two sons; his elder brother, John Pope-Hennessy, was an English art historian, museum director and writer of note. James came from a close-knit Catholic family and was educated at Downside School and at Balliol College, Oxford, but generally showed a lack of interest in formal education and did not enjoy his time at either Downside or Oxford.

Largely owing to his mother's influence, he decided to become a writer and left Oxford in 1937 without taking a degree. He went to work for the Catholic publishers Sheed and Ward as an editorial assistant. While working at the company's offices, in Paternoster Row in London, he worked on his first book, London Fabric (1939), for which he was awarded the Hawthornden Prize. During this period, he was involved in a circle of notable literary figures including Harold Nicolson, Raymond Mortimer and James Lees-Milne.

He left the publishers in 1938 when his mother found him a job as private secretary to Hubert Young, the Governor of Trinidad. Although his time abroad provided the material for his later West Indian Summer (1943), he disliked both the West Indies and the atmosphere of Government House. The outbreak of the Second World War gave him an excuse to return to Britain, where he enlisted as a private in an anti-aircraft battery under the command of Sir Victor Cazalet. Rising through the ranks, he was transferred to military intelligence, given a commission and spent the latter part of the war as a member of the British army staff at Washington.

Pope-Hennessy enjoyed his time in the United States and made many friends there. After the end of the war he wrote an account of his experiences in America. On his return to London in 1945 he shared a flat with the British intelligence officer Guy Burgess, who later defected to the Soviet Union. He had a brief spell as the literary editor of The Spectator between 1947 and 1949, before he decided to travel to France and write Aspects of Provence, which was published in 1952.

He would eventually establish himself as one of the leading biographers of his time; his first effort in this direction being a two-volume biography of Monckton Milnes that appeared in 1949 under the titles The Years of Promise and The Flight of Youth. This was followed by further biographies of the Earl of Crewe and of Queen Mary, for which he was created Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1960. He also wrote a life of his grandfather, the colonial governor John Pope Hennessy, under the title Verandah (adapted as a documentary for BBC Television under the title "Strange Excellency", 1964), followed by an account of the Atlantic slave traffickers, Sins of the Fathers (1967).

In 1970, he took out Irish citizenship and went to live at Banagher in County Offaly, and during the next few years produced authoritative biographies of both Anthony Trollope and Robert Louis Stevenson. Trollope himself had chosen James' grandfather, John Pope Hennessy, as the basis for the character Phineas Finn in his novel of the same name. Robert Louis Stevenson was published posthumously and without revision in 1974. He became a popular figure in Banagher, evidenced by the fact that he was asked to adjudicate at a local beauty pageant and the horse fair, the oldest in Ireland. On being given a large advance he returned to London in 1974 to begin work on his next subject, Noël Coward.

Despite being a successful professional writer, Pope-Hennessy was careless with money. He suffered a series of financial crises and often relied on the goodwill of friends to get him by. A homosexual, he was a heavy drinker and frequented back-street bars and shady pubs where he mixed with a rough crowd, associations that eventually contributed to his death when he was brutally murdered on 25 January 1974 in his London flat by three young men. He had been sexually acquainted with one of them.

1941 – Oliver Sipple, the man who saved President Gerald Ford's life, was born today.

Sara Jane Moore attempted to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, just seventeen days after Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme had also tried to kill the president. Moore was forty feet away from Ford when she fired a single shot at him. The bullet missed the President because bystander Oliver Sipple grabbed Moore's arm and then pulled her to the ground, using his hand to keep the gun from firing a second time. Sipple said at the time: "I saw [her gun] pointed out there and I grabbed for it. I lunged and grabbed the woman's arm and the gun went off." The single shot which Moore did manage to fire from her .38-caliber revolver ricocheted off the entrance to the hotel and slightly injured a bystander.

Sipple goes for the gun.

Sipple, a decorated Marine and Vietnam War veteran, was immediately commended by the police and the Secret Service for his action at the scene. The news media portrayed Sipple as a hero but would eventually report on his outing by Harvey Milk and other San-Francisco gay activists. Though he was known to be Gay by various fellow members of the gay community, Sipple had not made this public, and his sexual orientation was a secret from his family. He asked the press to keep his sexuality off the record, making it clear that neither his mother nor his employer had knowledge of his orientation; however, his request was not complied with.

The national spotlight was on him immediately, and Milk responded. While discussing whether the truth about Sipple's sexuality should be disclosed, Milk told a friend: "It's too good an opportunity. For once we can show that Gays do heroic things, not just all that ca-ca about molesting children and hanging out in bathrooms." Milk contacted the newspaper.

Several days later Herb Caen, a columnist at The San Francisco Chronicle, exposed Sipple as a Gay man and a friend of Milk. Sipple was besieged by reporters, as was his family. His mother, a staunch Baptist in Detroit, refused to speak to him. Although he had been involved with the Gay community for years, even participating in Gay Pride events, Sipple sued the Chronicle for invasion of privacy. President Ford sent Sipple a note of thanks for saving his life. Milk said that Sipple's sexual orientation was the reason he received only a note, rather than an invitation to the White House.

Sipple filed a $15 million invasion of privacy suit against Caen, seven named newspapers, and a number of unnamed publishers, for publishing the disclosures. The Superior Court in San Francisco dismissed the suit, and Sipple continued his legal battle until May 1984, when a state court of appeals held that Sipple had indeed become news, and that his sexual orientation was part of the story.

According to a 2006 article in The Washington Post, Sipple went through a period of estrangement with his parents, but the family later reconciled with his sexual orientation. Sipple's brother, George, told the newspaper, "(Our parents) accepted it. That was all. They didn't like it, but they still accepted. He was welcomed. Only thing was: Don't bring a lot of your friends."

Sipple's mental and physical health sharply declined over the years. He drank heavily, gained weight to 300 lb (140 kg), was fitted with a pacemaker, became paranoid and suicidal. On February 2, 1989, he was found dead in his bed, at the age of forty-seven. Earlier that day, Sipple had visited a friend and said he had been turned away by the Veterans Administration hospital where he went concerning his difficulty in breathing. His $334 per month apartment near San Francisco's Tenderloin District was found with many newspaper clippings of his actions on the fateful September afternoon in 1975. His most prized possession was the framed letter from the White House.

Sipple held no ill will toward Milk, and remained in contact with him. The incident brought him so much attention that, later in life, while drinking, he would regret grabbing Moore's gun. Sipple, who was wounded in the head in Vietnam, was also diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic according to the coroner's report.

Sipple's funeral was attended by 30 people, and he was buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. A letter addressed to the friends of Oliver Sipple was on display for a short period after his death at one of his favorite hangouts, the New Belle Saloon:

"Mrs. Ford and I express our deepest sympathy in this time of sorrow involving your friend's passing..." President Gerald Ford, February, 1989

In a 2001 interview with columnist Deb Price, Ford disputed the claim that Sipple was treated differently because of his sexual orientation, saying: "As far as I was concerned, I had done the right thing and the matter was ended. I didn't learn until sometime later — I can't remember when — he was Gay. I don't know where anyone got the crazy idea I was prejudiced and wanted to exclude Gays."

1990 – A London judge convicted 14 gay men of committing criminal assaults upon themselves because of their participation in S&M. All 14 receive prison sentences.

1998 – John Geddes Lawrence and Tyrone Garner of Texas were ordered to pay fines of $125 each after being arrested for having sex in their home. The couple refused to pay and announced they would challenge the Texas sodomy law - initiating what became known as the historic "Lawrence vs Texas" Supreme Court decision which decriminalized homosexual sex.

[princesssarisa]

Since I recently answered some asks from @paexgo-rosa about Elphaba and Glinda's costumes in Wicked, one aspect of the Wicked movie trailer stands out to me. It's that apparently, the movie is using pink as Glinda's signature color, as it was in The Wizard of Oz, while in the stage version she only briefly wears pink in Act I and more often wears pale blues and whites. In fact I've learned that originally, Wicked-Glinda was never meant to wear pink at all: in the show's original San Francisco tryouts, her "Popular" dress was blue, and it was only later changed to pink. Yet the movie seems to have Ariana Grande wearing pink constantly.

I'm not into the Wicked fandom, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's backlash already. I'll bet they're saying that a mostly pink wardrobe is too cliché for Glinda, and that her predominant pale blues and whites in the stage version are a much better, more creative choice. I wouldn't be surprised if among some parts of the fandom, it's "Hermione wearing pink to the Yule Ball instead of periwinkle blue" all over again.

I understand feeling that way. I do slightly admire the fact that the stage version of Wicked avoids the obvious choice of dressing Glinda in an onslaught of pink. Especially because she wears white in the original Oz books; it was only the classic 1939 movie that dressed her in pink instead.

But personally? I don't mind the change that much. We all associate Glinda with the color pink. Everyone who grew up watching The Wizard of Oz associates her with pink. And if Wicked-Glinda wears pink all the time, then her iconic line to Elphaba in the "Popular" scene, "Pink goes good with green!" will all the more clearly mean "You and I go well together."

That said, I can't help but agree with the comments that the layered skirt on the new movie's "bubble dress" looks like sliced ham. Recent fantasy movies seem to have a problem with making fabric layers on lavish skirts look like food: first there were the "cheese slices" on Emma Watson's Belle gown, and now this.