#dave is very joyous

[nana2009]

late happy mother's day to everyone's favorite boymom ever

[the-heart-aggravated]

dear the person who was cosplaying dave strider in my regretevator server

i hope both sides of your pillow are cold and you like

experience joyous things

[thou-babbling-brook]

Cold Feet

AO3

Rating: G

Word Count: 2216

Tags: Davenport Homestead, Assassin's Creed III, American Revolution, Canon Compliant, Happy Ending, Light Angst, Mild Hurt/Comfort, "The Wedding" Mission

Summary: Connor convinces Myriam to start her new life with Norris. Set during "The Wedding" Homestead mission between the chase sequence and the wedding scene. Hope you guys enjoy!

Connor would be the first to admit that he knew little to nothing about colonial wedding customs. Aside from a few comprehensive history and culture lessons from his teen years when he first traveled to Achilles, Connor knew nothing about the complexities of colonial weddings. Father Timothy had been kind enough to explain a few key details, such as “giving” Myriam away at the altar (which Connor was more than happy to do for his old friend), but details slipped Connor’s mind from time to time over the next several days of intense planning and preparation.

But there was one thing that Connor was sure they did not include: chasing the bride in question through the snow-covered trees minutes before her wedding.

The day began with as much chaos as one would expect. Before the roosters began to crow, nearly every member of the Homestead bustled about preparing for the joyous celebration. Oliver and Corrine worked hard preparing their finest wines for the occasion while preparing the livestock meat and crops gathered by Warren and Prudence – and of course, little baby Hunter, who cooed excitedly against his mother’s back. Once finished organizing the food, Prudence and Corrine joined the ladies in adorning Myriam in fine, comfortable fabrics suitable for the huntress. Ellen poked needles into the sides to ensure the stitching was up to par, while Diana and Catherine squawked at Connor and Norris for accidentally stepping near the bride’s suite (which Connor did not dare remind the ladies was his home). 

In the meantime, Big Dave and Lance worked tirelessly to adorn both the inn and the church with banners and decor fit for the Homestead’s very first wedding. Big Dave lifted the chubby woodworker up to pin the wooden posts on the side of the inn, waving to Terry and Godfrey as the lumberers warned Norris of the horrors of marriage to come.

“You’ll ne’er be right ‘bout anythin’ again, ya hear me, boy?” Godfrey teased as he slapped his palm against Norris’s back.

“Aye, and forget about havin’ the covers to yerself! You’ll be shiverin’ like a leaf!” Terry explained. Norris merely laughed and shook his head.

In the church, Dr. White and Achilles aided Father Timothy in preparing his short sermon, arranging the pews, and finishing the final touches hours before the wedding. Even the Assassin recruits were more than happy to help with the preparations. Stephane set to work in the kitchen alongside Oliver to cater the large meal ahead. Duncan, ever the Catholic, assisted Father Timothy in rehearsing his sermon. Jacob offered his wisdom for marriage while he straightened Norris’s hair, while Dobby stood guard outside Myriam’s dressing room in case of wandering eyes from stray men. Clipper and Jamie helped Mr. Faulkner and the crew of the Aquila find their drunken ways to the church, all while Connor wandered about and assisted where he could.

So, given the day’s chaotic events, it was not surprising to Connor as he announced happily to the pacing Norris that all was in order that Myriam was “missing.” After all, the ladies had only just left her room. How much trouble could the huntress find herself in?

Apparently, thought Connor as he raced through the trees and leapt through the branches, quite a lot. 

“Leave me be!” Myriam shouted as she jumped to the next branch, a stray branch slowing her down as it caught on her white dress. It was not enough to stop her, but it was enough for Connor to come within speaking distance.

“Why do you run?!” Connor replied, his voice echoing through the forest with concern lacing his tone. He swung to the next branch, careful not to slip and even more careful to ensure Myriam did not.

“Leave me be!” Myriam exclaimed. She crossed over to the next tree in an attempt to throw Connor off her trail. “I’m no housewife!”

Connor’s brow furrowed. While he could not necessarily speak for the entire Homestead, “housewife” would be one of the last descriptors attributed to Myriam. She was a huntress, and a respectable one at that. Through his confusion, Connor quickly ducked through another tree and sprinted across the large, sturdy branch. “No one thinks you are one!”

Myriam slid down a fallen tree, stumbling into the snow before whirling around to face Connor. “That’s what all of this means!”

A silence passed between the two as flurries of snow cascaded around them. Myriam sighed, grabbing her crown of flowers and tossing it to the ground. She sunk to the snowy ground and hid her face in her knees.

Quietly, Connor knelt beside Myriam. Lifting the flower crown into his hands, he joined her in the blanket of snow. He said nothing, only silently thumbing the daffodils adorning her crown. The two sat for a moment while gazing over the rushing river, watching as it cascaded over weathered rocks. Myriam reached forward and threw one into the water. When it sank to the bottom of the river, she huffed angrily through her nose.

“I don’t want to be some housewife that sits around waiting for her husband to come home,” she explained, tossing her hands into the air in frustration. “That’s not who I am. I’m not… I’m not some lady wanting to be kept pregnant and barefoot!”

“No one thinks you are one,” Connor repeated gently. Myriam shot a glare at the hulking man, Connor shrinking in on himself in response despite his size. 

“That’s what this means! This whole wedding! Shoving me into this stuffy dress, preparing me to take vows, giving me away!” She stood, pacing by the riverside. She gave Connor an apologetic look. “No offense. If I want anyone to give me away, it would be you.”

Connor rose and nodded his head. “None taken. But what is it that causes you to believe that you will become a housewife?”

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Myriam groaned before settling her hands on her hips and staring out into the river. “I… I don’t know!” She tossed her hands in the air again, rustling her hair and pacing back and forth. “I don’t belong inside a house cooking and cleaning and caring for a husband and an entire brood of children. I belong in the open air, in my hunting blinds, with my rifle in my hands!” Her hands formed the gesture of her weapon in question. Then, they fell to her sides. “If I marry Norris… I’ll be leaving behind all of my freedom that I worked so hard to gain.”

Stepping closer, Connor laid a hand on Myriam’s back. “That is not true,” he murmured quietly. “You know that better than I. Norris wants only for you to be happy.”

“Do I?” Myriam asked. Her voice faltered and she turned her nose to the rushing river. “What if, when we get married, all he wants is for me to sit at home and… I don’t know, wash his feet?”

Connor unintentionally wrinkled his nose. At the very least, the gesture provided a quick laugh for the two hunters. The uncomfortable silence returned soon after, broken only by the sounds of quiet chirping and rustling bushes.

“Norris did not fall in love with a housewife,” Connor finally spoke up. He met Myriam’s gaze with his own, gentle eyes. “Why would he expect such?”

“All men do,” Myriam sighed. 

“I do not.”

“You are not all men.”

Connor glanced down at the flower crown in his hands, thumbing over the white petals. “Perhaps I am not.”

Myriam pinched her nose again. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend–”

“No, it is alright,” Connor assured her. His brows furrowed in thought while Myriam squinted into the horizon. Then, a candle sparked in his mind. “How much do you know of my people, Myriam?”

“I don’t see the point of your question,” Myriam remarked tersely. When Connor gave a serious expression, she sighed. “But to answer it, not much.”

He moved in front of Myriam. “I think you would like it very much. For my people, it is the women who lead. We may have chiefs and war councils, but these men are voted upon by our women. Clan Mothers lead the village. We trace our ancestry through our mothers. For women, marriage is not just a union of the husband and wife, but of the village to the couple.”

Myriam raised a brow. “Your point?”

Placing the flower crown upon her head, Connor continued. “You are not a housewife, but even if you were, it would not change who you are. You are a skillful leader and hunter. Norris knows this. He marries you because of it, not in spite of it. He admires you for who you are. You need be nothing else. And by marrying Norris, you unite our friends as a whole, too.”

Silently, Myriam adjusted the crown and tucked stray strands of hair behind her ears. “Do you really think so?”

“I know so.” He cracked a rare smile. “Besides, you are a better shot than Norris. If anyone will be the housewife, it will be him.”

Myriam snorted. “The bad part is that I think he would enjoy being a housewife.” Her shoulders shook as she began to laugh. “Could you imagine? Me, coming home with a pipe of tobacco sticking out of my mouth, my rifle on my back, and hares in my hands while Norris cooks and cleans?”

Connor chuckled, then gently led Myriam towards the path leading to the church. “But you cannot imagine such a fate until you are wed.”

“No,” Myriam smiled, “I suppose I can’t.” As they reached the church, Myriam turned to Connor with a mixture of fear and excitement.

“I’m scared.”

Connor nodded. “I know.”

“What do I do?”

“What do you do when you face a cougar?”

“I shoot it. Are you suggesting I shoot Norris?”

“No, but I am suggesting that you face him like you would any animal.” He laid his hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently. “You are a strong, cunning woman, Myriam. He loves you deeply. He would not be marrying you if he had no intention of respecting you.”

Myriam inhaled sharply. “How do I get over it?”

“The fear?”

“No, the weather – what else would there be?”

“You won’t,” chimed a gentle, soft voice. Prudence and Ellen emerged from behind the church. Ellen offered Myriam her bouquet of flowers while Prudence wrapped a white shawl around her shivering shoulders. Prudence patted her cheek. “When I married Warren years ago, I was terrified of our future. But you learn, in marriage, that you are both equally frightened.” She giggled along with Ellen and Myriam.

Ellen took Myriam’s hands in her own. “My marriage was an unhappy one,” she confessed. Connor looked on solemnly, catching Ellen’s somber gaze for a mere second before Ellen mustered a smile. “But I can offer this wisdom: a good husband will cherish his wife for her talents, her wit, her love, her devotion, and her faith. Norris practically worships the ground you walk on. He will make a fine husband.”

Myriam sniffled. “Fuck,” she cursed. “I can’t believe I’m crying like some… some old hag!” Prudence and Ellen laughed, rubbing Myriam’s shoulders before holding her tightly.

“Besides,” Prudence cooed, staring over Myriam’s shoulder into Connor’s watchful gaze, “once we have you and Norris married, we can finally focus our attention on finding Connor a wife.”

Cheeks flushing, Connor brought his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. “That will not be necessary.”

“Oh, hush, Prudence,” Ellen giggled. “We mustn't scare him from the prospect yet.” She turned back to Myriam, kissing her cheek. “We have to go back inside, but we will support you no matter what.” Prudence nodded in agreement before waving goodbye, giggling alongside Ellen as they hurried into the church.

Myriam rubbed her arms and faced Connor, walking with him up the steps. “You will be there every step of the way?”

“Every step,” Connor assured.

“Okay.”

“How do you feel?”

“Terrified. Like I want to run away again,” Myriam chuckled breathlessly. Connor hummed and looped his arm with hers.

“I will be there regardless. I am sure Norris will be as well.”

Myriam smiled. “Thank you, Connor.”

“You do not need to thank me. You are my friend.”

She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her frigid lips to Connor’s freckled cheek. “No, but I will. Thank you.”

Blushing, Connor cleared his throat and led Myriam to the entrance of the church, where the guests began to rise as they spotted the bridge.

“Prudence and Ellen are right, though. We must find you a bride,” she whispered, doing her best to ignore the endless amount of eyes upon her and Connor. 

Connor chuckled, patting her hand. “I can only hope she is not as fast nor agile as you.”

“Ha, ha. Who knew you had such a sense of humor?”

Years later, when Connor would find himself fidgeting in front of his betrothed’s longhouse, Myriam would loop her arm with his, kiss his flustered cheek, and walk him into the longhouse with the same kindness he had shown her before.

Luckily for Connor, his wife did not run into the trees. How fortunate he was indeed. 

[good-morning-tucson]

LITTLE BABY THING A WEEK 2 REVIEW

flickr - i think this song is super silly. it sounds very somber and serious but its just images. thank you mr. coulton.

resolutions - everything about this song fills me with dread. just completely unavoidable stress. the fear of a new year combined with the slowed background and robotic voice does something to my head. and the counting. its like. oughhh. i can’t properly describe this songs effects on my psyche but know it Has Them.

you could be her - THIS SONG IS SO FUCKING REAL. i can feel everything the song sets up the main character to feel. all of the awful monotony and stuff. this song just reminds me of winter in the most evil way. somewhere theres a hell that was meant for me and i think ive found it #justgirlythings

i will - the only correct way to listen to the beatles

dance, soterios johnson, dance - he didnt have to go THIS hard. this one also makes me think of my foul best friend/gay lover aspen. i could fuck this song UP at karaoke. literally the most song ever. a never ever skip for me no matter the circumstances

so far so good - this is one of what i call “songs i want to listen to while slowly drifting out to the sea, drink in hand.” fills me with joy and hope but at the same time the deepest, saddest pit you’ve ever felt

curl - i think curl goes crazy despite being full red white and blue blooded american and having no interest in curling or canadians. i love it more when its live with paul and storm

chiron beta prime - my (tied) favorite joco song EVER. my first favorite joco song. chiron beta prime is very straightforward and has little room for interpretation to me but sometimes you NEED a good goofy lil sci fi song. the best. concert. ever. version with joco’s muppet laugh and andy bates is the best thing imaginable its joyous

take care of me - this song makes me really upset. he writes songs so real sometimes. he played that accordion solo for real himself i think

a talk with george - this song absolutely grew on me after hearing it live. made me really really really fucking emotional. the way he introduced it too was. ouuuughh the white man and his emotion provoking tunes. it makes my heart hurt

don’t talk to strangers - i don’t listen to this song enough. thank you dad joco

stroller town - i don’t think this song is real. i think i hallucinated this song entirely. i mean it’s not bad. his voice makes my brain go weird

re: your brains: i have the re: your brains shirt. anyway my best friend/divorced gay lover aspen have had many a conversation about the homosexual legitimacy of crazy dave and dr. zomboss from plants vs. zombies because of this song

thing a week 2 might be my favorite thing a week? i haven’t heard the others in a while so i’ll get back to you. but it does go INSANE. it’s got a ton of just amazing songs and some like. pretty good to okay songs. overall i love thing a week 2 so sweetly

[eebie]

whenever you spam like my rbs it feels like an army of eebies who r very passionate abt characters who look vaguely like dave strider have found me

its exacrly that

^like theis but joyous!!!!

[grapehyasynth]

14, 15, 18

Thank you for asking!

14. how do you write emotional scenes? Do you ever feel what the characters feel? Do you draw from personal experiences?

I do think I drop into it a bit - I think I make their facial expressions to be honest! The joyous or the anguished. I draw on personal experience and on what I've heard from others, because there's a lot I write about - like confessing your love to someone - that I've never experienced! I think I'm usually following this kind of double-pronged approach of having the scene playing out cinematically in my head and wanting the reader to be able to see that, but also wanting to make the reader feel what the character is feeling.

15. How do you write smut scenes? Do you get very visual or detailed? How important is it to be realistic?

These questions are so much harder than I expected because I have no idea haha!! I'm definitely interested in what the characters are feeling - emotionally and physically, what's working for them, how they're thinking about themselves and the person(s) they're smutting with, if you will. Usually my smut scenes are rooted in an emotional arc or beat I want to hit, though sometimes I just have a position or sexual encounter that I think would be hot/funny/memorable. My favorite smut from obviously came out of a long car ride where I just had time to build on a single image/idea I liked!

18. Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?

I'm shamelessly going to just pull over the answer I gave for another ask:

Mostly after. Definitely a lot of song titles for shorter works, occasionally phrases from the canon material. Certain fics I looked up specific terms - like “ostinato” for a David/Patrick fic or “beat match” for a Fitzsimmons fic. Still can’t believe I titled a fic “Butt stuff”. smdh.

(I went back and looked at fics from various fandoms to answer this question and gosh I miss Dave/Pat and Fitzsimmons so much!!)

[randomvarious]

Today’s mix:

Back to Mine by Dave Seaman 1999 Downtempo / Trip Hop / Ambient

Back in '99, UK DJ and remix label DMC started what would become a long-running and highly popular mix series called Back to Mine, which would bring in popular DJs and electronic acts to craft mixes that were perfectly suited for an after-party environment following a long night out of joyous clubbing. I imagine the name for the series comes from a hypothetical conversation between a group of people who had just left a club and were trying to figure out what their next move should be:

Person 1: "Alright, so where to next?"

Person 2: "Well, we could go back to mine."

Person 1: "Yeah, that sounds good."

And then when they got to Person 2's place, they would all unwind themselves with one of these Back to Mine mixes 😌.

So, it seems like with the first three releases in this series, all of which came out in 1999, Back to Mine was set on casting world-famous DJs in a different sort of light; ones who weren't known at all for playing chillout tunes. Nick Warren, Danny Tenaglia, and Dave Seaman were all heralded as masters of the packed dancefloors, but not so much the comedown rooms that adjoin them.

But as this excellent second volume shows, Seaman could certainly hack it in a setting such as this. In this hour-plus of downtempo, trip hop, and ambient bliss, the former editor of DMC's very own biblical electronic music monthly, Mixmag, starts out with a collection of total immersion and engrossment before branching out into heavier, more head-nodding fare, and then finishes off with Lamb's "Gorecki," a remarkably sublime tune that manages to simultaneously satisfy both categories.

But the journey to that capstone is well worth it too, as Seaman supplies us with a steady stream of tracks and remixes that seem to be done by some of electronic music's most dynamic duos: Global Communication provide some epic ambient, Kruder & Dorfmeister remix some mid-90s Depeche Mode, Paul Oakenfold & Steve Osborne strip out the vocals from Sneaker Pimps' trip hop classic, "Six Underground," and load up on rock guitar 🤘, and then the aforementioned Lamb takes us home with "Gorecki." Plus, there's also a somewhat lesser known pair from Liverpool called Desert, who deliver a sweet trip hop groove with a dusty snare break and nice breakdown in "Sonic Boom."

"A soundtrack without a film. Lie back. Close your eyes. And watch the in-flight movie on the inside of your eyelids," said Guardian critic Alexis Petridis in a review of this mix from a near-quarter-century ago that seems to still ring true to this day.

A terrific selection and sequencing of tunes here done by one of UK electronic music's brightest lights and foremost evangelists, Dave Seaman. A guy who's evidently not only just capable of bringing you out for a night of dancy hedonism, but can also take you home and tuck you into bed at the crack of dawn with some phenomenal chillout as well.

Listen to the full mix here.

Highlights:

Craig Armstrong - "Weather Storm" Genetica - "Future Past" Sasha - "Baja (Port Douglas Mix)" Global Communication - "Epsilon Phase" Depeche Mode - "Useless (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix)" Sneaker Pimps - "Six Underground (Perfecto Dub)" Desert - "Sonic Boom" Lamb - "Gorecki"

[witchoftime]

rereading homestuck is like a recreational activity to me now. i originally went in thinking i would do a very diligent reread but a week later im only 800 pages in but it really fun to just tune in whenever i feel like it and do fun things like mix music on daves . machine i forgot the name of. or finding joy in playing jades flute as you realize a makes her ascend and z makes her sleep and j makes her jump because you never got to play these flashes before. and homestucks just. fun . and im really appreciating that. because i forgot for a while it was so joyous

[denimbex1986]

'When EW last spoke with returning Doctor Who star David Tennant about his appearance in the three upcoming 60th anniversary special episodes, the actor said, "I just hope I look as fast as I did in the 2000s." Well, showrunner Russell T Davies has good news for both Tennant, who is reprising the role of the titular time-traveling alien, and his fans. "Don’t worry. That man limbered up. He's no fool," says the executive producer, laughing, upon being informed of Tennant's concerns. "We didn't need any camera tricks." Like Tennant, the showrunner left Doctor Who in 2010 but is now clearly delighted to be back and working with Tennant again. "He’s as fit as a fiddle," Davies continues about his star. "He's gorgeous!"

The pair are reuniting on the three shows with Catherine Tate, who played Donna Noble, a companion of Tennant's "Tenth Doctor." Tennant reveals that this get-together was inspired by a Doctor Who tweet-along that took place during the pandemic.

"Russell T Davies got involved, and then Catherine Tate and I got involved, and we all tweeted along to an episode," he says. "That led to a conversation between Russell and Catherine going, wasn’t that great, wouldn’t it be great to get the band back together for one last hurrah, which I think was only meant as an aspirational bit of fun really." But then? "It snowballed and, before we knew it, we were coming back to the show with the Doctor and Donna," says the actor. "Russell was running the show again and we were doing three in a row!"

Davies wrote all of the 60th anniversary episodes and describes them as "a mini-season, really. It's three different stories. There's a little link between them, each one kind of cliffhangs into the next, but actually they are three separate stories."

The first of those stories is titled "The Star Beast" and premieres on Disney+ Nov. 25. The tale starts with Tennant's Doctor arriving back on planet earth just as an extraterrestrial craft crashes in the vicinity of Tate's Noble. Davies describes the episode as "a great big family film. An alien spaceship falls in London, which is the Doctor’s meet and drink really. But is it by coincidence that that lands practically on the doorstep of an old friend of his who’s lost all memories of him?" The showrunner says the episode "becomes a huge, great big adventure with fights, and chases, and monsters, and terror, but also some great laughs as well."

"The Star Beast" is based on a comic strip by legendary comics writer Pat Mills and Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons originally published in Doctor Who Weekly more than 30 years ago. The story introduced the alien character of the Meep, voiced in the new episode by Miriam Margolyes.

"It's from 1979, an absolute classic," Davies says of the original strip. "Pat Mills and David Gibbons, they were kids back then, but they created this marvelous thing. It’s always been one of my favorite Doctor Who stories, and coming back I thought it would be such enormous fun to celebrate the 60th, and also to grab hold of a great idea, to adapt it, And for those who might know the comic strip of old, don’t worry, there’s a lot of new stuff woven into it."

Tennant, a lifelong Whovian, admits to being confused when he was initially sent the script for the episode. The actor recalls that "it arrived, and says on the cover page that it’s an adaptation of 'The Star Beast' by Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons, which I remember reading as a child. I was thinking, that can’t be what I’m thinking of. But, of course, Russell is a longterm Doctor Who fan, too, so of course it is. Actually that makes perfect sense, because that kind of storytelling energy that is in that comic strip is very reminiscent of Russell’s storytelling energy. It sort of is a perfect fit."

The cast of "The Star Beast" includes Yasmin Finney (Heartstopper), who plays Donna's daughter Rose. Davies reveals that he had never heard of the actress before casting her, "because that was before Heartstopper had been shown. Luckily enough, the director of Heartstopper is a man called Euros Lyn who is an old Doctor Who director. So I was able to phone him up and say, 'What’s Yasmin like?' He just said, 'Oh, cast her, cast her, cast her.' It’s a very lucky situation. I was writing a trans character, who’s a teenager, part of a London family, of mixed race, and that’s an unusual set of conditions for a character to meet. The list of people who would audition for that is not very long. Along came Yasmin, and we just closed the door after that, because there she was! She’s absolutely terrific, and she has more appearances to come, simply because I adore working with her."

Speaking of veteran Doctor Who directors, "The Star Beast" was helmed by Tank Girl filmmaker Rachel Talalay who, over the past decade, has established herself as one of the show's most important behind-the-scenes creatives.

"One of the episodes she directed with, called 'Heaven Sent,' has just been voted by fans the greatest Doctor Who episode in history, so she's so steeped in it," says Davies. "We had a whale of a time and the episode is epic, we’re absolutely delighted with it."

Tennant and Davies are much more tight-lipped about the second special episode, "Wild Blue Yonder," which premieres Dec. 2, though the latter teases that it is "a much more weird story. We're trying to keep it secret until transmission." Tennant is happier to discuss the third and final special, "The Giggle," which starts streaming Dec. 9 and costars Neil Patrick Harris as a villain called the Toymaker, originally played on the show by Michael Gough back in 1966.

"Oh, he’s good," says the actor of the How I Met Your Mother star. "I don’t quite know if he knew what to expect, but he dived in with such gusto and brio. I don’t want to give away too much about what might be required of the Toymaker, but you need a sort of all-round entertainer to play that part and a very good actor, so there aren’t a lot of people who could have ticked all the boxes required. We were really excited when Neil said 'Yes' and actually it’s impossible to imagine who else it might have been."

Davies confirms that "The Giggle" will also introduce Ncuti Gatwa, the actor who is playing the next version of the Doctor.

"Yes, in some shape or form you will be seeing a brand-new Doctor," says the executive producer. "You will have some questions answered, you will have more questions raised, leading into Christmas Day when Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor arrives properly (on the Doctor Who special holiday episode). But I can promise you some surprises, and some things that have been done in ways they’ve never been done in Doctor Who before, and an awful lot of fun."

While Davies is staying on as executive producer for Gatwa's first full season as the Doctor, which will premiere next year, Tennant will once again depart the TARDIS to make room for Gatwa, though maybe not forever. The actor did previously appear on the special 50th anniversary episode alongside Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor back in 2013. Has he told his agent to keep some time free ahead of the show's 70th anniversary in 2033?

"What age will I be then?" muses the actor. "Who knows if I will still be able to run up and down corridors. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t damage my knees this time out, so I wouldn’t want to tempt fate. But should my joints still be in working order, I will certainly consider any offers if they come through in ten years time."

The Doctor Who 60th anniversary special episodes will stream on Disney+.'

[mandssisters]

We stand Victorious! 27August 2023.

It was a #longday. But we weren’t the only ones having one of those. On paper I’m guessing Martha’s Vineyard USA to Portsmouth UK was just another booking but I take my hat off to all those involved in the logistics team for pulling it off. DDD to Portsmouth was bad enough!

A great line up at the festival, it was only a shame Ben Howard and The Vaccines were on “another stage”. 😝

The weather was a great British summers day, forecast was overcast all day and 17 degrees, I dressed for all seasons and woken up today with sunburn 🥵.

7 performances to enjoy before The Sons joined us. I won’t go through all the details as it will take the 9 hrs we watched for.

Summary of events:

Courting. Punk indie band great lead singer had the crowd going from the start.

Hard fi. Old skool indie rock band haven’t done a festival in 11 years. Hard Core fans came out.

The Go! Team. Sang songs across their 7 albums. 7 very talent musicians and great energy.

Dylan. hardcore set of young fans, think UK’s answer to Taylor Swift. All the moves and great performance. Dylan came down to do an impromptu meet and greet along the barrier post performance.

Sea Girls. Not what I was expecting but a very pleasant surprise. Oozed stage presence and that rock punk persona. Great skill at balancing on the barrier for 2 songs.

Sigrid. Norways Taylor Swift. Again great energy and her last festival this season. I surprised myself with knowing more of her back catalogue than I thought.

Ellie Goulding. Pop veteran. Such strong vocals and again I knew so many of her songs. Two blasts of the canon guns and everyone was happy.

Showtime:

2120hrs. We did it! OMG how can it be 4 years 2 months since my last Mumford gig. Would I still be able to bounce in all of the right places? Strong opening, Babel, LLM, Roll away. Paparazzi pleasers. The family of Rich, Nick and Dave reunited. Chris on drums, Matt on banjo.

All the feels came straight back, guiding light, below my feet. It felt like they had never been away. Not much banter, “pleased to be home doing a UK show”. “Our makers and friends all over the lineup”

A short Ditmas run down the sides of the alley and barriers. So much energy.

The new stage backdrop showing live action screen footage of the lads is excellent, really grabs you in and the laser light show during snake eyes is something else. Believe had pyros but no ticker tape as Ellie Goulding used the budget allocation. 😉.

It looked and felt like the lads were having a great time, the crowd sure were. Overjoyed to see and hear Delta again. There was much love in the audience for them. The UK have missed them. Just leaves you wanting more! The bounce was joyous.

The journey home. Take the shuttle bus they said, ease all your travel woes they said! On the way into the festival easy peasy, on the way out…. Who could have predicted a RTA in Pompey (Portsmouth) blocking all bus routes… plagiarising a fellow queuers song “we will wait, we will wait in queue”. A most pleasant 2hr wait along the seafront enjoying a stunning moonlit sea, various Isle of Wight ferry crossings, The Beach Club music providing all the vibes, the local chippy had never been so busy at 1.30am!!

Loved it. X

[cheatingexploitation]

thoughts on tristan?

oh i think about this little guy sooo fuckin much hes so fascinating to me

i really like what was done with him story wise since while he has a lot of pressure and scary stuff goin on around him, he does have support and he can do shit. i also like how he connects daves story and bambis story its a really nice little way to tie it together

i would like to make more content with him in it and i do want to give him a little more focus in that thing i'm writing so expect me to think more in the future i am just tired right now

admittedly i do think it's funny to completely change how i picture the expunged vs tristan battle at basically complete random . expungeds fate in home to you has changed at the very least 4 times in the course of writing it and i've done like 3 comics about it with different conclusions and i also sometimes just change it in my head and don't tell anyone and i find it so amusing . like yeah no i don't know what's going on there either

the only thing thats really constant there is that i think he would be older than he is currently in the mod, not just because i dont think hes gonna be defeating some guy at the ripe age of 9 but also because i think the topic of growing up while bad things are happening around you is a very interesting one and i like to show different parts of that. just also with what i mentioned earlier in mind, that he does have support. to me that's why instead of being sad and miserable he's instead literally got a heart of gold he's caring and joyous and awesome

lastly, i cannot stop calling him the stain. sorry

[daimonclub]

Sixty great Christmas quotes

60 great quotes and aphorisms on Christmas 60 sixty great Christmas quotes and aphorisms by famous authors selected by Carl William Brown for the World of English blog, that is English-culture.com I wish you a Merry Christmas sparkle with endless love, gladness and goodwill. Lailah Gifty Akita The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. George Carlin Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year especially I understand why. Queen Elizabeth II At Christmas we must all be more good-natured, not more stupid! Carl William Brown My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? Bob Hope Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip. Gary Allan What do you think of Christmas?" "I like it," she said. "I think we should have it every year.” Liz Flaherty Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you. Steve Maraboli At Christmas we should be more good, not stupider! Carl William Brown In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'. Dave Barry Moving between the legs of tables and of chairs, rising or falling, grasping at kisses and toys, advancing boldly, sudden to take alarm, retreating to the corner of arm and knee, eager to be reassured, taking pleasure in the fragrant brilliance of the Christmas tree. T. S. Eliot Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! Charles Dickens Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. Calvin Coolidge Christmas ought to be brought up to date,” Maria said. “It ought to have gangsters, and aeroplanes and a lot of automatic pistols. John Masefield Christmas Eve is my favorite... I think the anticipation is more fun than anything else. I kind of lost that. The idea that something - food, traditions, an arbitrary date on the calendar - can be special because we decide it should be. We make it special. Not just for ourselves, but for others. Kiersten White

60 best aphorisms and quotes about Christmas   Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need to be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive. Robert Lynd The two most joyous times of the year are Christmas morning and the end of school. Alice Cooper From a theological point of view, Easter is the center of the Church year; but Christmas is the most profoundly human feast of faith, because it allows us to feel most deeply the humanity of God. The crib has a unique power to show us what it means to say that God wished to be “Immanuel” a “God with us”, a God whom we may address in intimate language, because he encounters us as a child. Pope Benedict XVI Christmas it seems to me is a necessary festival; we require a season when we can regret all the flaws in our human relationships: it is the feast of failure, sad but consoling. Graham Greene I think commercialism helps Christmas and I think that the more capitalism we can inject into the Christmas holiday the more spiritual I feel about it. Craig Ferguson It's funny to think that Christmas - a time known for its joyful togetherness - can be the loneliest time of the year for some. Giovanna Fletcher Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! Francis Pharcellus Church Yes' it's true that I hate Santa too, dressed in his suit of silk. That's why this year with the homemade cookies, I'm going to leave some poison milk. Mark W. Boyer If you can't find the spirit of the holidays in your heart, you'll never find it under a tree. Michael Holbrook Stupid rich nations sell arms to helpless poor nations; then at Christmas they collect toys to send to the children of families ruined by the various conflicts of the planet. Carl William Brown I have always thought of Christmas-time... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. Charles Dickens T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Clement Clarke Moore Christmas isn't a parade or concert but a piece of home you keep in your heart wherever you go. Donna VanLiere The Christmas story is penmanship of the most brilliant sort, where God crafted a beginning that would never be subject to an ending. Craig D. Lounsbrough Christmas is supposed to be this time when everyone is nice to one another and forgives one another and all that, but the true meaning of Christmas is presents. And in the real world, Santa’s not fair. Rich kids get everything and poor kids get secondhand crap their parents bust their asses to afford. It costs money just to sit on Santa’s lap. Holly Black There’s no experience quite like cutting your own live Christmas tree out of your neighbor’s yard. Dan Florence And then she realized that after that Christmas party, she didn't really lose anything, except respect for everyone.” Crystal Woods Of course there is a Santa Claus. It’s just that no single somebody could do all he has to do. So the Lord has spread the task among us all. That’s why everybody is Santa Claus. I am. You are.” Truman Capote The three phases of Santa belief: Santa is real; Santa isn't real; Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Alton Thompson There is at Christmas time a great deal of hypocrisy, honourable hypocrisy, hypocrisy undertaken pour le bon motif, c'est entendu, but nevertheless hypocrisy! Agatha Christie I am sorry to have to introduce the subject of Christmas into these articles. It is an indecent subject; a cruel, gluttonous subject; a drunken, disorderly subject; a wasteful, disastrous, subject; a wicked, cadging, lying, filthy, blashphemous, and demoralizing subject. Christmas is forced on a reluctant and disgusted nation by the shopkeepers and the press: on its own merits it would wither and shrivel in the fiery breath of universal hatred; and any one who looked back to it would be turned into a pillar of greasy sausages. George Bernard Shaw I don't think Christmas is necessarily about things. It's about being good to one another, it's about the Christian ethic, it's about kindness. Carrie Fisher Christmas is best pondered, not with logic, but with imagination. Max Lucado I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a a note on it saying, toys not included. Bernard Manning Keeping Christ in Christmas" is like showing up at someone's house every year, insisting on a party they never planned and never agreed to. Rebecca McKinsey From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it. Katharine Whitehorn Christmas time! That man must be a misanthrope indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not roused—in whose mind some pleasant associations are not awakened—by the recurrence of Christmas. Charles Dickens Halloween isn't the only time for ghosts and ghost stories. In Victorian Britain, spooky winter's tales were part of the Christmas season, often told after dinner, over port or coffee. Michael Dirda Christmas is a conspiracy to make single people feel lonely. Armistead Maupin What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day. Phyllis Diller A good conscience is a continual Christmas. Benjamin Franklin

60 famous quotes about Christmas time Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. Dale Evans Rogers And so this is Christmas...what have you done? John Lennon I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph. Shirley Temple Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles Author Unknown We were so poor that my old man would go outside every Christmas and shoot his gun then come back and tell us that Santa Claus had committed suicide Jack La Motta The Pope: the only who never sees his boss, even at Christmas. Author Unknown What kind of Christmas present would Jesus ask Santa for? Salman Rushdie Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home. G. K. Chesterton People can’t concentrate properly on blowing other people to pieces if their minds are poisoned by thoughts suitable to the twenty-fifth of December. Ogden Nash I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. Harlan Miller Santa Claus has the right idea – visit people only once a year. Victor Borge Christmas is a time when you get homesick – even when you’re home. Carol Nelson I never believed in Santa Claus because I knew no white dude would come into my neighborhood after dark Dick Gregory Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves. Eric Sevareid Christmas is a holiday that we celebrate not as individuals nor as a nation, but as a human family. Ronald Reagan There is no more dangerous or disgusting habit than that of celebrating Christmas before it comes. G.K. Chesterton Read also our other posts on Christmas  ; Christmas quotes ; Best Christmas songs ; 60 great Christmas quotes ; Christmas tree origin and quotes ;  Traditional Christmas Carols ; Christmas jokes ; Christmas cracker jokes ; Christmas food ; Christmas thoughts ; Christmas story ; Christmas in Italy ; Christmas holidays ; Christmas songs ; Christmas poems ; An Essasy on Christmas by Chesterton ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGWCeYyhtPQ Read the full article

[papermoonloveslucy]

THE BOUNDING MAIN!

Nautical Lucy ~ Part 1

There’s nothing as joyous as being on the open water! Whether it be a lake, a river, or the ocean - Lucy was as funny on the sea as on land. Here are some early maritime escapades! 

“I’m Building a Saleboat of Dreams” (1939) ~ by Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin, sung by Desi Arnaz. 

In real life, Desi Arnaz loved fishing and owned a boat called the Desilu. Being from Cuba, he had a special affinity for the ocean. 

Lucy and Desi leaning over the rail of a motorboat in 1943. 

Meet the People (1944) ~ The Commander (Bert Lahr) names his boat after Julie (Lucille Ball). It was formerly the Lana Turner! 

“The Quiz Show” (1948) & “Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (1952) ~ To make sure he wins, Lucy steals the answers, but then they change the questions!  The same nautical question was first used on “My Favorite Husband.” 

ORIGINAL QUESTION: Why was the steamship Ile de France put in dry dock recently? FISHBOWL QUESTION: Why did the French people put Marie Antoinette under the sharp blade of the guillotine? LUCY’S ANSWER: To scrape the barnacles off her hull.

“Secretarial School” (1949) ~ An episode of Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband” references “On A Slow Boat to China” a popular song by Frank Loesser, published in 1948. In October and November 1948, it was recorded by no less than five artists: Kay Kyser, Freddy Martin, Benny Goodman, Art Lund, and Larry Clinton. 

GEORGE: “Now explain this last shorthand mystery to me: a circle, a ship, and laundry ticket.” LIZ: “That’s the title of a phonograph record I want to buy - 'A Slow Boat To China’.”

“Liz’s Radio Script” (1950) ~ An episode of “My Favorite Husband” references the inventor of the steamboat and the 1929 musical Show Boat. George makes fun of Liz’s radio script. 

LIZ: “Go ahead and laugh. They laughed at Robert Fulton, too, you know!” GEORGE: “Robert Fulton? What did he write?” LIZ: “You think I don’t know? ‘Show Boat’”!

Show Boat’s most famous song, “Old Man River”, would be referenced on several Lucille Ball sitcom episodes. 

On August 9, 1952 Lucy and Desi were featured on the cover of TV Digest, a competitor of TV Guide as part of their inside story “Visiting The Stars on Vacation”.

The cover photo was part of a larger photo shoot of Lucy and Desi in a motorboat.

“Lucy is Envious” (1954) ~ When a wealthy high school chum (Mary Jane Croft) puts the bite on Lucy for a charitable donation, lucy fibs about owning a yacht. 

CYNTHIA: Where do you go in Florida? Miami or West Palm Beach? LUCY: Uh, you go West Palm Beach, huh? CYNTHIA: Miami. LUCY: Oh, we go West Palm Beach. CYNTHIA: But, darling, the harbor's so small there. What do you do with your yacht? LUCY: To make it fit, we crank down the smokestack and squeeze in the poop deck.

“Nursery School” (1955) ~ The first painting Little Ricky does is interpreted as an elephant sailing a houseboat. Lucy says he will be another “Grandpa Moses”!

Dell’s “I Love Lucy Comics” (1955) ~ published a story about Lucy and Ethel and a cruise ship - very different from the one on the television show. 

“Staten Island Ferry” (1956) ~ To make sure Fred won’t get seasick on their transatlantic crossing, Lucy accompanies him on a test sailing on the Staten Island Ferry. 

Although the episode was filmed in Hollywood, second unit footage of the real Staten Island Ferry was used. The ferry seen in the episode is named the 'Gold Star Mother,’ which entered service in 1937.

Full of dramamine, both Lucy and Fred conk out on the deck! 

“Bon Voyage” & “Second Honeymoon” (1956) ~ To get the gang to Europe, the show goes by sea on the S.S. Consitution, which was a real life transatlantic liner operated by American Export Lines.

In a last minute deal, the line agreed to supply Desilu with technical support and branded props. This was similar to the deal Desilu made with Pontiac for the trip to California. 

ETHEL: This sea air makes me hungry. FRED: We haven’t even left the dock yet. (To the others) Wait till she finds out the food’s free. She’ll be the biggest bundle Britain’s ever seen.

No actual filming was done on the Consitution. Desi Arnaz recreated the ship on the Desilu soundstage, one of the most expensive sets in television history. 

Second unit footage of the actual Constitution in New York Harbor was intercut with studio footage, including aerial footage of the Constitution, the pilot boat, and the tug boat. In “Second Honeymoon” (set entirely on the ship), the plot emulates the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, ending with Lucy stuck in a porthole, just like Marilyn Monroe in the film. 

LUCY: Ethel, what’s the name of this boat? ETHEL: The S.S. Constitution, why? LUCY: From the way everybody’s paired up, I thought maybe it was the S.S. Noah’s Ark!

“Deep Sea Fishing” & “Desert Island” (1955) ~ While vacationing in Miami Beach, the Ricardos and Mertzes make use of a Cruis Along fishing boat.  Although Lucy and Desi had actually visited Miami the previous summer, this episode utilizes extensive second unit footage using doubles for the cast.

FRED: This Cruis Along is a dandy little boat, Rick!

In addition to the logo being clearly visible on the boat, Fred’s line gives the company verbal advertising. At some point, the company became a subsidiary of the Century Boat Company, which is still in business today.

The fishing boat scenes were re-created on a California sound stage using a water tank and rear projection for sea and sky.

“Lucy Takes a Cruise To Havana” (1957) ~ The very first hour-long adventure of the Ricardos and Mertzes tells how Lucy and Ricky met when she took a cruise from New York to Havana with her friend Susie MacNamara (Ann Sothern) in 1940. As usual, the episode combines studio footage and insert shots of the actual ship. 

The ship that Lucy and Susie sail on is the R.M.S. Caronia, which was a real-life Cunard Line vessel. However, the ship did not enter service until 1949 and this episode is set in 1940. Cunard was then known as Cunard-White Star Line.

Single Susie calls the ship the S.S. YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association). Bachelorette Lucy mentions that she heard that this was the ship’s 'maiden’ voyage – making a pun about the lack of available men on board. Coincidentally, Fred and Ethel Mertz are on the ship as well – on a belated Honeymoon cruise - even though they were married in 1928!

Also sailing is crooner Rudy Vallee, who jumps overboard to escape his female fans. 

CRUISE DIRECTOR: “If Mr. Cunard ever hears about this I’ll be demoted to the Albany Night Boat.”

While filming second unit footage in and around Havana, revolutionary violence broke out. Desi instructed his crew to get out of there fast!  

Forever Darling (1957) ~ Lucy and Desi play Susan and Lorenzo Vega. Chemist Lorenzo is developing an insecticide and plans to test it on a camping trip with Susan, but rafting on the lake to collect specimens lands them both in the drink!

“Lucy Goes to Mexico” (1958) ~ The end of this hour-long episode is set aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown, one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the US Navy.

The Admiral of the Yorktown says he’s been leery of actors ever since he saw The Caine Mutiny, the action of which is set on the U.S.S. Caine. The 1954 film starred "I Love Lucy” and “Comedy Hour” performers Fred MacMurray, Claude Akins, and Van Johnson. The stage play The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial was mentioned by Miss Hanna (Ellen Corby) in “Lucy Meets Orson Welles” (1956).

“Lucy’s Summer Vacation” (1959) ~ Lucy and Ricky escape to a lakeside cabin in Vermont. Unfortunately, it has been double booked - with Howard Duff and Ida Lupino. Howard and Ricky want to do nothing except fishing. Lucy drills holes in the row boat to keep the men in the cabin, not on the lake. 

The Arnaz family boarding the French Line’s S.S. Liberté in New York in 1959. Greeted by a line of the ship’s bellhops, one of who holds Lucy’s fur coat for the photo. Liberté was featured prominently in the Jane Russell film The French Line. Liberté made an appearance in the opening credits of the 1953 film How to Marry a Millionaire, as well as the 1954 classic film Sabrina, starring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. She was scrapped in 1962.

Facts of Life (1960) ~ Lucy and Bob Hope play married folks - but not to each other - who are flirting with infidelity. Abandoned by their spouses and a third couple for deep-sea fishing on their Acapulco vacation, Larry and Kitty bond on the high seas. 

“Lucy Buys a Boat” (1963) ~ Lucy talks Viv into buying a boat that’s barely seaworthy. When they finally get it on the lake, it slips away from its moorings, trapping a seasick Viv and a bossy Lucy without a sail. 

An ad in the Danfield appeals to Lucy, who said when she was a little girl she practically lived on boats.

Answer the call of the seven seas!  An unforgettable adventure for your whole family! For sale: 26 foot sailboat, sleeps 5, large galley, complete with trailer, only $100 down.  

Lucy says that Viv has brought enough seasickness pills for the Queen Mary. Lucy Ricardo also brought a supply of seasickness pills when sailing on the S.S. Constitution (above). 

Then the leaks start springing up!

Nautical Vocabulary!

VIV: “I’m afraid I’m just a landlubber at heart.”

Landlubber ~ Lubber is an old word (dating from the 14th century) meaning a clumsy or stupid person. The term landlubber refers to an unseasoned sailor.

VIV: “I’ll bet this is the first time anybody’s been shanghaied on a lake.”

Shanghaied ~ force someone to join a ship lacking a full crew by coercion or other underhanded means.

JERRY (to LUCY): “You’d better give us a rest, or you are going to have your first mutiny.”

Mutiny ~ an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers. The most famous in popular culture was in Mutiny on the Bounty, so Jerry is continuing the analogy of Lucy to Captain Bligh.

VIV (to LUCY): “Oh, go shiver yer timbers.”

“Shiver Me Timbers” ~ is an exclamation usually attributed to the speech of pirates in works of fiction. The word ‘shiver’ means “to break into small fragments or splinters” while the ‘timbers’ refer to the wooden support frames of old sailing ships. So the saying was most likely alluding to the shock of a large wave or cannonball causing the hull to shudder or split asunder.

LUCY (into telephone): “We’ve been working on her for days and she’s really yar!”

Yar ~ When a boat is trim, responsive, and in all ways lively in handling. In The Philadelphia Story (1940), Kate Hepburn’s character famously says about a boat “My, she was yar!”

In 1965, Lucy and Gary Morton attend the premiere of the film Ship of Fools, based on the book by Katherine Ann Porter set aboard an ocean liner from Germany from Mexico in 1933. The film was a punchline in “Lucy and the Little Old Lady” (1972). 

[thejacksmit]

First Take: I Wanna Dance with Somebody - the alternative to that film about avatars

SYNOPSIS: A joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.

One of the joys of times like this in the industry is seeing what the distributors use to counterprogram major box office successes. So when Sony realised they’d be up against Avatar, they brought out The Voice and a fully authorised biopic about her, penned by the writer of Bohemian Rhapsody. The result is a fine, if a little bit clunky film.

Kasi Lemmons has the directors chair for this 2 hour 26 minute film, she does a great job keeping this story to this length, but elements of it do drag on slightly at times- saying that, judging by the press for the film, it does look like the Houston estate gave her free reign to tell the story in her way, which is a rarity in these biopics. Anthony McCarten’s script is good, dealing with most of the major moments of Houston’s career, but sadly the 12 certificate limits how much and how deep this exploration of her life can go- this is a high end 12, so not one for the kids to come along to. On a technical level, there isn’t much to fault- Barry Ackroyd’s cinematography is fantastic as ever, and Chanda Dancy’s score supplements a soundtrack featuring every Whitney song you could think of.

Speaking of Whitney, on to the cast we go- and Naomi Ackie nails it. Obviously the vocals on 95% of the songs are the real vocal, but Ackie does a brilliant job embodying Whitney Houston through the years this film covers (1983 to 2012), with talk of awards nominations when Oscar season rolls around very soon. Rounding out the cast is Stanley Tucci as her longtime manager Clive Davis, Ashton Sanders as ex-husband Bobby Brown, alongside Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, Clarke Peters and Dave Heard, and they are all great in this film. 2022 has been a good year for biopics about musicians, and whilst this isn’t the best one of the year, it is still pretty damn good.

THE VERDICT

Powerful, emotional, but suffering with a mixed script and a little bit of pacing issues, I Wanna Dance with Somebody tells Whitney’s story very well for an officially authorised biopic - no stone is left unturned, and the soundtrack alone makes it a proper big screen experience.

RATING: 3.5/5

[guttersnarls]

Papal regalia, on-stage rituals and razzle-dazzle rock’n’roll: Why Ghost are the biggest Satanic band on the planet

 Independent 3/6/22

I ask if Forge identifies as a Satanist and without hesitation he opens up. “You know, Christianity is to blame for so much evil. And you have Isis, you know. That’s all in the name of God, right?” He goes on to say that modern Satanism is probably closest to his own belief system. “Pop cultural Satanism is all about humanity. It’s all about being able to express yourself and having the ability to. We’re f***ing humanists.” He goes on to say that he’s been invited onto TV debates with various religious leaders but always politely declines. “At the end of the day, I am an entertainer,” he reasons. “We’re here to make people happy, our goal is not to make [religious people] angry.

The wildly successful Swedish group are bringing fun and theatrics back to heavy metal. Jak Hutchcraft meets founder Tobias Forge to talk blasphemy, steampunk and their wild new album ‘Impera’ -

“What we’re trying to do is orchestrate a religious event, with all the bombastic nature of a mass, but without the guilt,” explains Tobias Forge, the enigmatic frontman of Swedish metal band Ghost, of a typical gig. “We want you to make you feel good about yourself when you leave.”

For well over a decade, Ghost have been doing a pretty good job of that. Spreading their joyous gospel far and wide, they’re currently in the middle of a massive global arena tour and have just graced the covers of heavy metal bibles Kerrang! and Metal Hammer. In a few days, they release Impera, their extravagant fifth album. They are both very big and very weird – fans of ultra-gothic face paint, expensive-looking masks and dressing up like The Pope. A recipe for cult success maybe, but how did Ghost get so popular?

Let’s go back to the start. This eight-piece metal band began in 2006 in the small, lakeside cathedral city of Linkoping in southern Sweden. Theatre enthusiast and songwriter Tobias Forge had been cutting his teeth in local glam and death metal bands since the mid Nineties, but had long dreamt of being part of something bigger.

What he came up with was the airtight concept of anonymous musicians dressed in papal regalia, flamboyant stage shows in the style of Iron Maiden, and classic rock-edged, AOR-inspired gothic metal. Forge’s aim was to bring the razzle-dazzle of Alice Cooper and Kiss to the 21st century, with softly sung lyrics gunning for organised religion and political corruption. In 2008, he posted three songs on MySpace. Within a year they were signed.

Since then Ghost (originally known as Ghost BC in the US) have released four critically acclaimed albums, won two Grammys and toured the world with Guns N’ Roses and Alice In Chains. They’ve even sold out the Royal Albert Hall. They’ve got plenty of rock star fans – including Dave Grohl, who produced a 2013 EP – but their most important achievement is the dedicated on-the-ground following they’ve cultivated, spanning hardcore kids, veteran rockers and emo teens.

It would be hard to pinpoint a typical Ghost devotee, due to the impressively broad range of fans they attract. You could say it’s a broad church. “Style-wise you have the metal heads and the not-so-metal heads, and the pop girls,” says Forge. “They like Star Wars, they like comic books, they like horror films. They like rock music with a slight nostalgia touch of the Seventies and Eighties.”

Ghost’s frontman and master of ceremonies is currently between gigs. The band played a sold-out show in Cincinnati last night and Forge is gearing up for Milwaukie in a few hours. After their epic American crusade, there’s a run of shows across the UK and Europe – including the 20,000 capacity O2 Arena – to further share the lavish sounds of Impera.

Its 12 tracks don’t stray too far from the extravagant metal of their previous records, full of dark sing-alongs and vintage songwriting that sounds as if rock never entered the Nineties. When it comes to inspiration, Forge name-checks artists as diverse as US punk trailblazers Bad Religion, singer-songwriter Tori Amos and Danish heavy metallers King Diamond. It’s a combination that makes Ghost truly unlike any of their contemporaries and Impera is the sound of a band at their musical peak. Try the gothic groove of single “Call Me Little Sunshine” – a highlight on an album that’s full of them. Not only will it make old fans rejoice, it’s the perfect starting place for the curious and uninitiated.

“On this record, we are in a kind of Victorian industrialism,” Forge explains of the concept behind the new LP. “It’s the late 1800s and there’s no city that fully embodies that more than London, so it’s set there.”

In January the band projected huge, eerie images onto landmarks in the capital, including St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, to promote the record. Forge cites Tim Burton’s Batman and Bram Stoker’s Dracula as inspirations for the semi-fantasy world of Impera, while closing track “Respite on the Spitalfields” is a story of companionship and fear in the time of Jack the Ripper.

“Not only is it a visually pleasing and interesting era, but it’s similar to today in the sense that the world was also going through a big industrial revolution,” explains Forge, channeling this historian within. “People were made redundant, but back then there were a lot of other jobs. Nowadays, for every invention, for every app that some asshole comes up with, there are so many people who are made completely superfluous. That is not good for humanity.”

Speaking of redundancies, Ghost have gone through four incarnations of Forge’s frontman character over the years. First he was Papa Emeritus I, dressed as a wicked Pope with skeletal black and white makeup, then he became Papa Emeritus II, before Papa Emeritus III and Papa Nihil. Each character is dramatically killed off or replaced at the end of each album campaign, with the new character foreshadowing and teasing the theme of the next record. Impera is the first to see Forge performing as Cardinal Copia aka Papa Emeritus IV, complete with bejeweled robes and immaculate corpse paint.

For the first 11 years of the band’s career, Forge was an anonymous and unnamed frontman, further adding to the mystery of Ghost. But his anonymity was brought to an abrupt end in 2017 when four ex-Ghost bandmates tried to sue him for allegedly cheating them out of their share of profits. Forge maintains that they had “no legal contract” and were paid as session musicians. He won the case but in the process lost the mystique he’d meticulously maintained for over a decade. In 2019 he was quoted as having “slightly mixed emotions” about being unmasked. Now he barely gives it a second thought. The unexpected big reveal made little impact on the hold Ghost have on the imaginations of their fans – if anything, it seems to have brought them even more attention.

The fans – who are known as “Ghuleh” if women and “Ghouls” if men – can often be seen dressed in homemade Ghost-inspired attire at gigs; flowing robes, painted faces and ceremonial masks. I ask Forge about his vision and intentions for the live shows, known within the community as “Rituals”.

“Well, it’s theatrical. We are sort of the opposite of Pearl Jam, in that way,” he laughs. The dark side of divinity drives Forge’s creativity. “I’ve always had an intense relationship with organised, linear religion, let’s put it that way. I’m very fascinated with the art and the history of it, but maybe not so much with the rules and the blame and the guilt.”

Ghost’s flirtations with religion have caused some bumps in the road. In 2018, a Christian group prayed outside a gig in Texas, accusing Ghost of “bringing glory to Satan”, and their second album Infestissumam was delayed because manufacturers refused to print its “blasphemous” artwork. I ask Forge whether this kind of reaction is an issue as they continue to ascend into the rock mainstream. “A lot of that [Christian backlash] sort of disappeared after the Eighties,” he shrugs. “You had the crazies or the pastors on TV who came out and said ‘Don’t go and see Ozzy Osbourne! He’s the devil’s advocate!’ But all that did was sell out the show and maybe sell 500,000 more records. They learned their lesson after that.”

I ask if Forge identifies as a Satanist and without hesitation he opens up. “You know, Christianity is to blame for so much evil. And you have Isis, you know. That’s all in the name of God, right?” He goes on to say that modern Satanism is probably closest to his own belief system. “Pop cultural Satanism is all about humanity. It’s all about being able to express yourself and having the ability to. We’re f***ing humanists.” He goes on to say that he’s been invited onto TV debates with various religious leaders but always politely declines. “At the end of the day, I am an entertainer,” he reasons. “We’re here to make people happy, our goal is not to make [religious people] angry.”

It’s true that the world of Ghost is a fun one. There’s a playfulness in their on-stage theatrics, catchy choruses and shock ‘n’ roll celebration. As pop’s major players endlessly share personal content on social media, mystery and myth seem hard to come by. But Ghost have resurrected rock’s arcane and exciting distant past; the epitome of a creative vision well-executed, a cult-following captivated, and the longevity and success that comes with both.

Impera is released 11 March

[mmmmalo]

Spent some time sitting in the woods just seeing how many things I could notice and started laughing when I realized that's the same thing I do at home.

Disarray of obscene speculation below, antisemitism cw:

Homestuck:

Sort of suspect that "cake" is our occluded "k*ke". In Act 1, John sticks a pair of arms on top of a cake and starts giggling like mad: the arms act as horns. In that same spirit, the "caret cake" programming language summons the image of orange spires (carrots) on top of the "cake", which is the visual language of trolls horns, likewise inspired by the antisemitic tropes derived of Moses. (Funnily enough, the disputed term that gave Moses his horns was "karen", a word that sounds like carrot and survives in the present through words like Capricorn, "goat horn") The caret ^ also would then also anticipate the antisemitic connotations of the arrow ==> , which beget the various puns on "ark" (archery, archeology...)

If cake was a slur though, you'd expect it to function like Dave's ninja sword when thrown? Rose shoving the cake in Kanaya’s face during the Jewish wedding fits the bill, plugging in a (friendly?) barb to a joyous occasion feels very Homestuck. John launches a razor and a cake at Matthew McConaughey after noting that cakes are at least useful for "dead weight", recalling the ovens... but even if Matthew is a Jewish name (Mattityahu, Gift of God), McConaughey isn't Jewish, and John's initial mockery of the actor focuses on A Time to Kill's antiracism? Maybe this is more "ninja sword" / "juice" convergence, or maybe McConaughey is being ejected from whiteness on the basis of that antiracism? Like the assignment of Jewishness via cake-as-pejorative amounts to calling McConaughey a race traitor? The PDA is launched during this same sequence -- the cake is also manbro bukkake theatre for John's "gross manbro crush", a Public Display of Affection -- so perhaps "race traitor (affectionate)". Again, a friendly barb...

This would likely make the act of baking cakes in the oven into an extended Holocaust reference, if the evil baking empress is referred to as Sea Hitler... John notices the scent of Betty Crocker's baking after donning a false nose (visible noses are simultaneously black and Jewish). Dad's superabundant cakes had seemed like they served a fantasy of the racial Other's dauntingly excessive virility (like Jake's invasive pumpkin patch), but context is everything I guess... the association of cake and the Holocaust offers an explanation for why Rose describes the mass grave in CotL as having the texture of a decadent dessert... Or since the oven seems to function as a womb symbol, it's contrary symbolic function as place of death would let the oven prefigure the Mothergrub as a nexus of death and rebirth? God

And I just remembered there being a small uproar about Spades Slick (SS, Schutzstaffel, as with Cronus's scars) telling all of the Felt to get into Biscuit's oven on that year's Holocaust remembrance day... late breaking variation on having an in-comic ball drop on New Years, I guess. God

Tangential: while trying to find a verb that expresses "rendering something Jewish" (the word I wanted is "judaize"), I found a wikitionary entry for jew-as-pejorative with the example sentence (from some nutty Usenet article) "In both cases, the Jews used Blacks as political weapons to wreck healthy White countries" -- black liberation is painted as a Jewish plot. So deploying the antiracist white lawyer of A Time to Kill as an antisemitic flytrap feels less out of place now... offers an alternate explanation for Caliborn's mix of black and Jewish signifiers as well

"Cage" is one letter off from "cake", is Nic folded into this? If the carrot cake is used to invoke the horns trope, it becomes interesting that they focus on the Cage movie with the bunny... man, the literal meaning of "ark" is just "box", I found that out when trying to link Dirk box-suicide to his impulse to return himself to his essence, is "putting the bunny back in the box" about uniting two Jewish signifiers into one, sealing them to prevent proliferation? Alternatively, John brings up the bunny metaphor for "a tattered exterior concealing a heart of gold", which is more denigration of the flesh in favor of the spirit, the (Cameron) Poe? I had assumed Equius's con-air hair (haha without air, Heir of Void) was a white signifier that contrasts with his black motifs, but is it instead a Jewish signifier that complements his (attempts at) "archery"?

For that matter (this is only getting stupider) is "Con Air" being misread as "without hair", leading to Dad's preoccupation with shaving? Is that also a Jewish signifier? In the same manner that the ejaculatory connotation of launching "cake" is a slur linked to the Holocaust through baking, is the ejaculatory foam of Barbasol linked to "gas chambers" via the tube's containment of Aerosols? Would certainly account for shaving cream being so lethal...

There's no way Erisolsprite would come out of this clean if that were the case, let's check in with him... only vaguely Jewish allusions seem to come from Jake, who calls Erisol "too rich" (potential veiled reference to cake, Peter Pan uses the same description) and asks if he should put the "kibosh" on his relationship with Dirk (sounds Yiddish! but seems to more likely stem from Irish allusions to execution like caip bháis or cabos'd... both of which sound like caboose? Hm)

ERISOLSPRITE: your flu2hed quadrant ii2 a black hole and wwe are all beiing dragged 2creamiin through iit2 evvent horiizon.

Psycholonials:

Is the ass (the "flushed" quadrant with a "black hole") being construed as a "gas chamber"? The bad end in Bronya's route is obviously amenable to puns on "baby sitter", but the ass-killing of infants is also situated amid discussion of purges... I had suspected that Hiveswap's Olive bloods were ass-ass-ins as a pun on Nepeta's :33 emoji, does this recolor her pacification of Equius (practitioner of "archery") with reference to genocide? Inviting Karkat inside a little house would become more ominous... Laika's Air Conditioning (or lack thereof) was also linked to death in Friendsim. And back to Equius, do the phallic connotations of the arrow superimpose the notions of lethal "gassing" and anal sex? Is attraction to Jake's ass suicidal? Is Candy route (taking place within ur-anus's Umbra's black hole) being conceived as a gas chamber?? Ugh, I don't even know. This has got me dizzy

Not sure how much of this will survive elaboration

In less tenuous/elaborate news, I think Abby may just be a pun on Abbey, in reflection of her initial status as sanctuary from the pejoratively judaized police force. Abbey's ironic status as a mother figure to Z would be consistent with the christian encoding of white motherhood in Homestuck