spiritedballroomdancer

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Forgotten By History

Female firefighters at Pearl Harbor (1941).

Donna Tobias - the first woman to graduate from the US Navy’s Deep Sea Diving School in 1975.

Brave women of the Red Cross hitting the beach at Normandy.

Dottie Kamenshek was called the best player in women’s baseball and was once recruited to play for a men’s professional team.

Kate Warne - Private Detective. Born in New York City, almost nothing is known of her prior to 1856 when, as a young widow, she answered an employment advertisement placed by Alan Pinkerton. She was one of four new agents the Pinkerton Detective Agency hired that year and proved to be a natural, taking to undercover work easily. She had taken part in embezzlement and railroad security cases when in 1861 the Pinkertons developed the first lead about an anti-Lincoln conspiracy.

Catherine Leroy, female photographer in Vietnam.

The three women pictured in this incredible photograph from 1885 – Anandibai Joshi of India, Keiko Okami of Japan, and Sabat Islambouli of Syria – each became the first licensed female doctors in their respective countries. The three were students at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania; one of the only places in the world at the time where women could study medicine.

Female Samurai Warrior - Onno-Bugeisha - Female warrior belonging to the Japanese upper class. Many women engaged in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honour in times of war.

One of the most feared of all London street gangs from the late 1880’s was a group of female toughs known as the Clockwork Oranges. They woulde later inspire Anthony burgess’ most notorious novel. Their main Rivals were the All-female “the Forty Elephants” gang.

Maureen Dunlop de Popp, Pioneering female pilot who flew Spitfires during Second World War. She joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in 1942 and became one of a small group of female pilots who were trained to fly 38 types of aircraft.

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston marathon. After realizing that a woman was running, race organizer Jock Semple went after Switzer shouting, “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers.” However, Switzer’s boyfriend and other male runners provided a protective shield during the entire marathon. The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines, and Kathrine later won the NYC marathon with a time of 3:07:29.

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Everyone should go read anything this lovely @baronessblixen writes !!

Your New Stories on AO3

Well my dear @baronessblixen you have done it once again! I was so pleased to see some new stories from you and every single one is so perfectly crafted capturing our Mulder and Scully in those moments from different seasons as they would be in each of those times. The pickle jar - loved it. And the apartment explanation so fitting and sad. Your writing always brings a warm feeling - as though Mulder and Scully are our friends. Thank you my dear. You are awesome!

Omg, thank you so much for this sweet message ❤ YOU are the awesome one! And I’m so glad you liked the stories. I have more of these dialogue prompts and I will be trying to answer one a day (at least). I missed writing and it’s so wonderful to know that I made someone happy with my words. 

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L’Chaim: A Childless Holocaust Survivor Discovers He Has a Namesake

by Rabbi Levi Welton

An inspiring true story about two Chaims and the miracle of life.

My wife Chavi and I were visiting my folks in California. We picked a random Shabbat to go out there and went to the local Chabad for services. A family from out of town was also there that Shabbat celebrating their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. We stayed for the Kiddush and the dynamic Rabbi Mendy Cohen led the entire community in singing, inspiring Torah learning and some hearty l'chaims. The party continued until late in the afternoon.

At some point, I asked the father of the Bat Mitzvah where they originally came from and he told me he was from Mexico City and had converted to Judaism many years ago before he had his kids.

Rabbi Welton with Holocaust survivor Chaim Grossman while wearing suit hand-tailored by Holocaust survivor Martin Greenfield.

“So why’d you pick your Hebrew name of Chaim?”

He told me that he had once spent a Friday night Shabbat service at a synagogue in Westchester, NY back when he was just starting out on his spiritual journey. One of his Rabbis had told him that if he ever met a Holocaust survivor, he should remember these words:

“A Holocaust survivor who doesn’t believe in God….is a normal person. A Holocaust survivor who does…is an angel.”

During that Friday night service, as they were dancing around welcoming the holiness of the Shabbat Queen, he looked down at the arm of the person he was holding hands with and saw numbers. He felt overwhelmed that he was dancing with an angel and couldn’t control the urge to ask the man his name.

The old man smiled and said, “Chaim.” At that moment, this man from Mexico City decided that when it came the time to pick his Hebrew name, he would name himself after the angel he was lucky to dance with. Years passed and he never saw the man again.

I asked this father, “Is the survivor’s name Chaim Grossman?”

His mouth dropped open. “How do you know that?”

I told him I’m the Rabbi of a synagogue in Westchester. One of my congregants survived Buchenwald, went on to become a pilot in the Israeli Defense Forces, and then immigrated to America. His name is Chaim.

This father began to cry. He didn’t even known that Chaim Grossman was still alive. I leaned in close to him and told him that Chaim Grossman was very much alive and that I would be seeing him the following Shabbat. After Shabbat , we took this photo as this father wanted to send his love to his “Godfather.”

The author with Chaim Valencia.

The next Shabbat, I asked Chaim Grossman to sit in the center of the synagogue as I began my sermon. I told him that 3,000 miles away there lived a man that carried his name and who was raising his family in a traditional, observant home.

“This is incredible,” I said. “What is the probability that on the exact Shabbat, the only Shabbat in the entire year that we would fly out to California, it would be the same Shabbat of his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah? What are the chances that after hours of celebrating, we would have that conversation about the origin of his name? And what are the chances that the Shabbat for which I would return to New York City to tell this story to his namesake would be the same Shabbat on which we read the Torah portion of Shemot. (Exodus) which literally means “Names,” as our Sages teach that the way our ancestors broke free of their slavery was by keeping their Jewish names!“

I then pulled out the photo, printed and framed, and looked Chaim in the eye. As he raised his numbered arm to receive the photo of his “Godson,” everyone began to cry. You see, Chaim had never been blessed with any children. And yet now he had a proud Jew halfway around the world who was carrying his name and who would pass it on to his children’s children’s children.

I will never forget the moment when Chaim stood up and blessed God.

I will never forget the deafening applause that followed.

And I will never forget the image of this holy Holocaust survivor hobbling out of the synagogue holding tightly onto the framed photo of a miracle.

As my father, Rabbi Benzion Welton, taught me, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” I had thought I was going to California on vacation but I was really being sent to bear witness to a profound lesson about “Chaim” which means “Life.” As the Talmud says, “If our descendants are alive, then our patriarchs are alive” (Taanit 5b).

[spiritedballroomdancer]

Random XF Fic Rec

Do you like the episode “all things?” Of course you do. So you will enjoy this story that’s full of heart and hope. It’s a bit over the top, and would Scully’s handwriting really look like that? It doesn’t matter - you’ll want to read this about a thousand times. Title: Partner in All Things Author: Livia Balaban Summary: Mulder was alone. Her voice on his machine revealed nothing. She said she’d sent a letter. Length: 11k Classification: Vignette, Angst, MSR Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: Swoony “all things” Post-Ep Favorite line: So you gave me time and distance, enough to permit my mind to unravel the fabric of what has been and reweave itself into a new tapestry, an image of what is. Read the story!

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David Duchovny fangirling over MSR fanvids at the New York Comic Con.

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I’m going through my cyclical getting back into XF thing and pining for fic. Have you written any S7 stuff? They were so young and pure and hot.

Most of my smut is set s7 unless otherwise specified honestly but here are some (they are all very graphic lmao):

Oral Thesis on Ontology

Let’s Talk About It

A Conference of Importance

Underdog Takes the Title

For Sure Definitely Without a Doubt

Christ have I not written anything for s7 but graphic smut????

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[1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY today — show me those gifs] ............................................................................................................................ Daily Gillovny Reminder: David and Gillian getting injured *at the same time*. And them going at an award show looking like the cutest crippled couple. ♿️👫

WOOOOOOO!!!!!! Most favorite day of the year is HERE!!! A) The whole reason why I changed my tumblr handle and B) this day sent the fandom into the stratosphere. Not only do I have gifs, but video AND the hard side-eye podcast. And, also a little ditty I had sent our Captain OJ on Twitter from his recent comment of breaking bones and leaving them on a deserted island 😜

Happy Webbys Day FAM and enjoy. Please add more to the thread if you have any! Roll that beautiful bean footage:

Podcast:

[spiritedballroomdancer]

In honor of The X-Files IWTB’s 10th anniversary, here’s one of the best GA & DD interviews from when they were promoting the film.  You’re welcome.   

[spiritedballroomdancer]

@storybycorey @msrafterdark @peacenik0 @baronessblixen @viceversawrites @lokisgame @softnow @scully-loves-ruthie @scully-eats-sushi @amorfati3215 @alabama-metal-man There are so many more but you guys rock - love from NYC !!

Send this to ten other bloggers you think are wonderful. Keep the game going. 🌟🌻💕 (you get 2, because you're doubly as wonderful 😘)

TWO?? You’re lovely, Corey. Thank you. Xx

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💜

[spiritedballroomdancer]

This scene - 💜 I just love it and it makes me think of the interview with David and Gillian when they spoke about this and Gillian picked this scene and so as one of her favorites. David said she looked adorable and she said she looked 12 and he also said he did not realize when he wrote it how difficult it would be for two people to swing the bat together. So cute. Aw MSR and true appreciation of each other’s talent from David and Gillian.

i couldn’t find just this scene anywhere on the internet so now it’s here forever

[spiritedballroomdancer]

Yaass that was a great fic !

I’m trying to find a fic that takes place in a motel. Scully and Mulder are hanging out in one of their rooms and Mulder gets an erection. Scully says that erections look stupid. I think Mulder asks her if she wants to see it? I might be wrong but I think there was sex against a vending machine too? I have no idea what it is called or where to find it so any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Okay so I don’t remember the first part but I remember vending machine sex 😂😂

Again peeps to help @patienceaintmystrongsuit @baronessblixen @allyinthekeyofx @alienbaby-babymama @spookydarlablack @lokisgame @snappingonthelatex

[spiritedballroomdancer]

This fucking scene had to be so dark… (so I made it brighter)

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David and Gillian 💜

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“We were essentially married. We saw each other more than either of us saw our partners. And it was like any relationship — it had its ups and downs.” - Gillian Anderson, 2007

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i'm pretty sure the third gif on the left is from a deleted scene from the blessing way!

YES IT IS AND I HAD NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE SO HERE IT IS FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.

(Youtube video from XManuel1981)

[spiritedballroomdancer]

27 January, 1945 | The liberation of Auschwitz

Never shall I forget that smoke. … Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes. Never shall I forget these things, even if I were condemned to live as long as God himself.

Never.

Elie Wiesel, Night

–

All the Dachaus must remain standing. The Dachaus, the Belsens, the Buchenwalds, the Auschwitzes—all of them.  They must remain standing because they are a monument to a moment in time when some men decided to turn the earth into a graveyard. Into it they shoveled all of their reason, their logic, their knowledge, but worst of all, their conscience, and the moment we forget this, the moment we cease to be haunted by its remembrance, then we become the gravediggers. Something to dwell on and remember…

Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone, “Deaths-Head Revisited”

When Soviet troops arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp on the 27th of January, 1945, they found roughly 7,500 living prisoners–most of whom were weak, ill, and starving–and hundreds of corpses. Though the camp remained largely in tact, the retreating S.S. had demolished several buildings, including the gas chambers, in an attempt to hide their crimes. Overall, an estimated 1.1 million people were murdered in Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945, making it the most deadly of all the Nazi concentration and extermination camps. The majority of the victims were Jews.

Auschwitz-Birkenau became a museum in 1947, and the UN appointed January 27th as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  Seventy years after its liberation, Auschwitz remains the dominant symbol of the Holocaust