#nova rock report

[matan4il]

Update post:

Today marks 123 days since Hamas launched the war in Gaza with its massacre of Israeli civilians.

There were two terrorist attacks today in Israel, both stopped before anyone was injured. The first entails Palestinians from the West Bank shooting at a home in kibbutz Meirav in the Gilboa mountains (where the Israelite king Shaul and his sons died 3,000 years ago), the house was damaged, but no person was hurt. This kibbutz was attacked several times along 2023. The second was in the city of Shchem (you might know it as Nablus, the Arab mispronunciation of the Greek word 'Neapolis,' because Arabic doesn't have the sound 'p'), I'm attaching the pic of the gun and knife which were found on the terrorist after he was neutralized. I found reports about them on two Israeli websites (Ha'aretz and Now14), but both are in Hebrew. The latter also mentions a rock throwing terror attack earlier today, against the car of a woman named Rachel Yaniv. Her brothers, Halel and Yagel Yaniv, were murdered by Palestinian terrorists almost a year ago.

We got the info today on an Iranian attempt on the lives of Jewish leaders in Stockholm, that was stopped in 2021. These terrorists, believed to be linked to the IRGC, infiltrated Sweden under the guise of Afghan refugees, and were deported (rather than put on trial) in 2022. This is a small reminder that the Islamist axis led by Iran, and which includes the terrorist organizations it funds (including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis), as well as countries that chose to align themselves with Iran against the west, such as Qatar, is not anti-Zionist, it IS antisemitic.

In an Israeli TV interview conducted in Arabic, an Israeli journalist asked the right hand man of Palestinian Authority's president Mahmoud Abbas, whether he's willing to denounce the Oct 7 massacre. He didn't. Instead, he insisted that the occupation is the source of all this violence (even though terrorist attacks against Jews in Israel by Arabs predate both the war in 1967, which used to be defined as the start of "the occupation," and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948), and that as long as the occupation continues, so will such acts [as the Oct 7 massacre].

As part of the campaign against the antisemitism and bias at the BBC, an employee who called the Jews Nazis, and denied the Holocaust, has finally been fired.

Israel's most popular sketch comedy show decided to tackle UNRWA with this funny short vid:

In the segment where the UNRWA teacher shows how he teaches biology, history and English using Hitler's Mein Kampf, on the left side of the wall behind the "teacher" you can see the lyrics of a song titled Fedayeen (a term used for Egypt-funded Palestinian terrorists who attacked Israelis in the 1950's), and the pics of two Hamas leaders who are heading the war in Gaza now, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif ('deif' is a nickname, his real name is Mohammed al-Masri, a last name that literally means "the Egyptian," so guess where his family is originally from).

Jewish singer Montana Tucker proved she's the bravest artist from among countless performers who attended the biggest American entertainment award shows recently, as she wore an enlarged version of the yellow ribbon to bring the Israeli hostages back home to the Grammys. She didn't just speak up for her people, she made sure everyone would hear her. She's been regularly speaking up for Israelis and Jews since Oct 7.

The ceremony also included a nice gesture to the over 400 people in Israel who were either murdered at or kidnapped from the Nova music festival on Oct 7. Taylor Swift broke yet another music industry record, so this is a good time to remind everyone that there are several Hamas leaders who are each individually richer than her. It pays more to kill Jews, than to be one of the most successful musicians ever (her net worth is estimated at about 1 billion dollars).

This is 19 years old Idan Alexander.

His mom Yael recounted how cool he was in every given situation, and how proud his family was of him, when he told them that he intends to leave New Jersey and make Alyiah. Moving to Israel of course meant he'd have to serve in the army, too. On Oct 7, Yael got to talk to him, and hear that he has seen some horrible things already. She knew something was off, because unlike his usual behavior, he sounded stressed. Idan was kidnapped by Hamas, and it took 6 days before the family even learned whether he's alive or dead. He's been in captivity for 4 months now.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[luminalunii97]

A quick update on what's been going on in Iran

In the last month or so, the street protests have decreased. There have been sporadic demonstrations here and there but the fire from the first three months has paled. I believe soon the fire is going to be back because the financial situation is getting worse by hour now and the regime, instead of appealing to people's good side, has been enforcing inhuman laws stronger than before.

On the 40th day memorial of 2 of the executed protesters, the fire did come back alive and there were multiple big demonstrations in many cities around Iran.

The obligatory hijab law is being enforced harsher than before. Many of my fellow iranian women still refuse to wear hijab out considering all the risks. In the last two weeks, at least two drugstores have been closed because the pharmacist owning the place refused to wear hijab. A couple of higher education students have been banned from using the national library because they took off their hijab inside of the library, and many university students have been forced to sign statements that said they promise to not take their hijab off again or else they're going to be expelled from university and they won't be able to attend any university inside of Iran again. The regime has also threatened women who don't wear hijab on the streets that they would disable their id cards and ban them from receiving social services.

A female engineer also did something really courageous in an event and I suggest you check that out. The news links are below.

More than a week before the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, there was an earthquake in Khoy, a northwestern city in Iran. Not only the Islamic Republic didn't send any help to the city, they tried so hard to stop us, people, from sending help there. They restricted some of the celebrities bank accounts and prevented people from raising money for the city. Turkey even offered their aid but the regime refused. People of other cities did send some food and clothes and blankets for the victims of the earthquake in the end. Even though the casualties of the earthquake wasn't high, many people lost their homes and had to reside in tents in cold snowy weather. But the most bewildering thing was that when the turkey earthquake happened the Islamic Republic volunteered to send help to Syria while still doing nothing for the people in Khoy. Unsurprisingly the help packages they sent to Syria didn't reach the places where earthquake happened, instead it went to Assad inventory.

Also this guy, a true hero. A human rights activist to his very core:

This is it for now. I appreciate anyone who has supported people of iran so far. We won't forget you. Woman life freedom ✌️

[wedonthaveawhile]

The Serpents Hold // Chapter Twelve

Summary: When Sebastian turns to dark magic to cure his sister, Nova and Ominis find themselves reluctantly thrust into a partnership to aid him. Amid the disapproval of Ominis' family, Nova wrestles with her growing feelings for him and also with the nagging suspicion that Ominis knows more about Anne's condition than he's letting on.

AO3 // Masterlist

The unsteady gable of the covered bridge groaned beneath the weight of snow as Nova tumbled onto the outskirts of Hogwarts in a disoriented heap. Her trembling legs betraying her as she reached for one of the tall rocks, struggling to regain her footing.

Ominis touched down nearby, his arrival significantly more graceful than her own. Nevertheless, he extended his fingers to find support from the timber beams while concealing a grimace of pain.

"You really should go to the hospital wing," Nova urged, watching with growing concern as he began to pace circles around the stone formation with an intermittent limp.

Ominis brushed off her suggestion, his pride preventing him from acknowledging the pain caused by his brother's strike. "It was a warning," he uttered between panicked heaves of his chest. "If he had intended harm, he would have acted upon it."

"That's not the crucial part," Ominis snapped, his fingers scraping down his face, tugging at his skin until it stretched taut beneath his bony fingers. “I warned you this was coming. I've angered someone, it's in our best interests for you to maintain your distance from me."

"I don't understand. What did he even mean by 'suffer the same fate' as your former girlfriend? Who was he referring to?"

"Could he have meant Alice?" she pondered aloud before promptly dismissing the idea. “Noctua?" she acknowledged the possibility with a hint of discomfort. An incestuous insinuation from Marvolo, but given his family, not entirely surprising.

"Nova, you need to understand what I'm saying."

"He mentioned Noctua; could that be what he meant?" Nova furrowed her brow, barely registering Ominis' indignant pleas. "He mentioned 'leaving her there,' so he must have been with her in the scriptorium, right?"

She only became aware of her frantic pacing when Ominis grasped her shoulders and brought her to an abrupt halt.

“You need to stop,” he stressed through clenched teeth. “The 'why' and 'how' don't matter. What matters is I've angered them, and they're targeting you if I misstep. Don't leave the castle, avoid Hogsmeade, and stay away from Feldcroft. If you receive an invitation to go anywhere alone, report it to Sharp, not Black. Repeat that back to me.”

"No, you don’t understand - Marvolo was in the scriptorium," Nova grabbed onto his arms, baffled by his lack of reaction to his brother's confession. "Noctua didn't die because she had no one to cast the curse on; he cast the curse on her… then abandoned her.”

"Nova…" Ominis growled, his teary eyes causing her breath to catch.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." A lump caught in her throat, and though a part of her longed to provide reassurance that she would take the warning seriously, her racing thoughts prevented her from finding the right words of comfort. Instead, she blurted out, "I just... why would they have gone in together?"

Ominis pressed his finger and thumb firmly against his eyes, attempting to wipe away the moisture before it could spill. "Noctua wanted to prove to my family that Slytherin was about more than just blood status. She tried to persuade my father to join, but when that failed, I suppose she turned to my brother."

“Do you think he followed the same paper trail as Sebastian?” She knew the pieces were right in front of her, but her mind spun so wildly that she couldn't weave them into a coherent picture. “We need to warn Sebastian-”

Her mouth snapped shut in surprise as Ominis seized her wrists and clamped them down at her sides. He pushed her back until she was cornered between him and one of the towering rocks that surrounded them.

"Listen carefully," Ominis demanded with an alarming sense of urgency. "Sebastian must not find out about this, do you understand? You won't breathe a word about what happened here."

"But what if Sebastian goes after that relic, and Marvolo already has it?" Her forehead came close to colliding with his as she fought against his grasp.

"He’s not going to go after the relic.”

“But-”

"But nothing. Stop obsessing over it and just stay away from me," he insisted firmly, his words at odds with the persistent grip he maintained on her wrists.

"Is that really what you want?"

She observed a subtle twitch traverse up the bridge of his nose as he grappled with her question. Eventually, he tore himself away from her with an irate huff. "Yes."

She rolled her eyes, her posture stiffening defensively. "I know we promised not to discuss what happened, but—"

"Nothing happened!" He fired back, attempting to storm off, but she grabbed his arm.

"Why do you insist on running from everything? It did happen—"

"Yes, well, I wish it hadn't."

She flinched at the sting of his words, her fingers releasing their hold on his arm as she pushed him away. "Enough with the words, act on them. Fuck off." She fought to mask the humiliation that tainted her voice.

"Fine," he snapped, his heated steps sending clouds of dust swirling around his feet as he stormed toward the bridge.

 

 

Nova paced in a furious circle, mentally hurling every insult she could conjure at an imaginary Ominis. Her heels kicked up dirt until her relentless path etched itself into the ground.

After what felt like an eternity, her unsteady legs reluctantly carried her across the vast expanse of the bridge, the biting breeze assaulting her tear-stained skin as it whipped through the passage.

Heels squeaking across the desolate hallway floor, she made her way towards the Undercroft in search of Sebastian. Her eyes remained glued to the floor as she carefully counted each floorboard, a desperate attempt to keep her racing thoughts at bay. Her intense focus on the task nearly resulted in a head-on collision as Sebastian abruptly darted into her path.

The same distressed expression she wore was mirrored on his own freckled features, a delicate layer of snow clinging to his hair and cloak. This was enough to snap her out of her trance.

"Sebastian, what's wrong? Where have you—" She began to brush the snow from his sleeves, but as her fingers met the warm texture, she realised it wasn't snow; it was ash. Her eyes followed a trail of smoke that had accompanied him out of the Undercroft, curling up into the air behind him.

"Is there a fire?" She stared at him with wide eyes, the raw despair on his features leaving no room for doubt. "Who did this?"

Sebastian's voice was raspy, yet Nova discerned his words with absolute clarity.

“I did it."

 

 

The formidable matron immediately spotted them as they rounded the corner to the hospital wing. Nova's legs trembled under the strain of supporting most of Sebastian's weight.

"Oh dear." The ample woman teetered precariously on her stepladder, perusing the dried herbs positioned high on a cabinet. Nova held her breath as she descended with such heavy stomps that it seemed the ladder might snap in half.

The matron briskly strode over to them and practically hoisted Sebastian off his feet, gently depositing him onto one of the vacant beds.

"Tell me what happened here?" She demanded, brushing away the ash that had settled on the otherwise pristine sheets.

"I think he was caught up in a fire, but I'm not sure about the details," Nova explained, massaging her aching arm from the effort of hauling Sebastian up all those stairs.

The matron's accusing eyes darted back and forth between them. "It's a recurring pattern that nobody ever seems to have all the details," she remarked. Leaning in closer, she gently gripped Nova's chin with her fingers.

"And what's this?" She inspected the length of Nova's scar. "What a shoddy job someone's done here. Take the next bed; I'll see to that properly for you."

Nova cautiously settled onto the bed beside Sebastian, observing the first droplets of rain trickling down a nearby windowpane. She selected a hefty raindrop and tracked its journey as it outpaced the others, a feeble attempt to divert her wandering mind.

"Very minimal smoke inhalation, no visible burns…" the matron reassured, her stack of enchanted parchment on a desk diligently recording Sebastian's vital signs. "I believe he's mostly just shaken. I'll keep him overnight… Now, about this." She gripped Nova's chin with pudgy fingers. "This lousy job… is it in any way linked to my missing dittany?"

Nova's thoughts were a chaotic jumble as she frantically searched for an excuse. With Sebastian's safety secured, the weight of her situation began to claw its way back under her skin.

"Oh dear, oh dear," the large woman clucked sympathetically as Nova found herself drawn into the comforting softness of her ample bosom. Initially bewildered, Nova's thoughts slowly cleared, and she became aware of the sound of her own heaving sobs. The matron must have detected the signs, promptly conjuring a bucket just as Nova expelled the evidence of her lunch.

 

 

With a few well-executed crocodile tears, Nova had managed to secure a night in the hospital wing, taking the opportunity presented by the numerous vacant beds. Resting close to Sebastian brought her the comfort she desperately needed.

The gentle creaking of the lanterns swaying in the breeze that drifted through the open windows thwarted her attempts to fall asleep. It was sometime after curfew when the matron quietly departed ahead of her shift change.

"Are you awake?" Nova whispered, seizing the opportunity to reach out to Sebastian. She peered through the darkness, straining to discern the contours of his silhouette.

"Mm-hmm," Sebastian finally grunted in response.

Nova made an effort to stifle the creaks of the old bed frame as she clambered out of her bed and settled cross-legged at the foot of Sebastian's. His face remained buried in the thin pillow, his chest rising and falling at an irregular pace.

“What happened?”

It took him a while to get the words out, pausing to catch his breath between most syllables. "I fell asleep at the desk, must've been having another nightmare, and I knocked over a lantern. Everything's gone."

It struck her as remarkably coincidental that Sebastian had ‘accidentally’ ignited Salazar Slytherin's manuscripts on the very same day Ominis had erupted in rage concerning his family's legacy. Snippets of mindless chatter from prefects strolling down the hall snagged her thoughts, and an image of the evening she had spent in their bathroom flashed in her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, determined not to spiral.

"Have you memorised everything you need? It can't all be for nothing, given how much you've studied," she prompted, trying to keep Sebastian engaged in conversation.

"Yeah," he admitted, his hands covering his face as if it were a dreadful admission. "I know how to get to the relic, but I can't... I needed more time. More information."

Her stomach twisted into knots. If Marvolo had indeed followed the same trail of clues as Sebastian, there was a significant chance he had already pilfered the relic from the catacomb, rendering all of Sebastian's efforts useless anyway.

“Sebastian, that relic, what exactly does it do?"

"It grants the power to harness an ancient form of magic, and it's the most promising solution I've found so far. Maybe St. Mungo's haven’t been able to cure Anne because her curse was cast by someone who somehow already possessed this particular type of magic—"

Sebastian let out a startled yelp as Nova's fingers clamped onto his leg.

"Sebastian?" she rasped, feeling the room start to spin wildly around the bed frame. "Was there ever something... anything between Ominis and Anne?"

"No," Sebastian snapped with a protective edge, and Nova released a shaky breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding.

"At one point, his family assumed it though," he added bitterly. “They thought he left home to chase girls, refused to acknowledge it was their abuse that drove him away.”

Her stomach churned, and whatever remnants remained inside it fought to ascend her throat.

"But you're a pureblood," she whispered her words in a contemplative murmur as she attempted to make sense of it all.

"What?" Sebastian rolled over to face her, confusion creasing his brow. "Oh shit, you look terrible. Should I call the nurse back?"

“You’re a pureblood,” She repeated, "So Ominis' family wouldn't have cared, right?"

"They cared a great deal, actually," Sebastian replied with a sigh. "My family tree can only be traced so far, and they'd rather see Ominis dead than have their bloodline tainted… Look, if you're going to be sick, you'd better get out of my bed…"

She scrambled to her feet, hastily tearing her cloak from where it hung on the end of her metal bed frame before sprinting out of the infirmary.

 

 

The castle appeared to conspire against her as she reeled through a tangle of halls, repeatedly stumbling over her own feet. She paid no heed to the disapproving tutting of the portraits, who scolded her audacity for venturing out past curfew.

The frantic pounding of her chest propelled her forward with a singular purpose: she had to find Ominis.

Her unsteady footfalls merged with the torrential rain pelting against the windows as she hurtled toward the Undercroft, her hope hinged on finding him there, sparing her the necessity of creating a scene in his dormitory.

 

 

The fierce stench of ash assaulted her lungs upon entering the passage, yet the absence of smoke and flames left no room for doubt that Ominis had been there at some point. Given the lack of ventilation, it was evident that the fire had been extinguished manually.

A small hiss of agony escaped her lips as jagged debris sliced into her bare feet. The candles at the base of the pillars flickered diligently, but the columns themselves bore the scars of considerable damage, as though every conceivable offensive spell had been hurled in every direction.

Her wide eyes swept across the wreckage, eventually landing on Ominis slumped against the wall, a portrait of defeat amid the self-made chaos. Every callous remark she had mentally hurled at him dissolved as he half-heartedly raised his head upon hearing her enter. The redness surrounding his eyes accentuated his striking blue irises as he blinked hard against the ashy air.

She hurried to his side, carefully examining his exposed skin for any signs of injury. Aside from a few scarlet scrapes marring his pale skin, he appeared physically unharmed.

"Ominis, are you alright?"

He was shivering despite the lingering heat from the fire, and she gently laid the back of her hand against his clammy forehead.

"I'm sorry," he croaked, his eyes closing as he leaned into her touch.

"I know, I'm sorry too," she said softly, draping his discarded cloak over his shoulders to offer some extra warmth.

He let out a long, deep breath before speaking, "There's something you need to know."

"I've already pieced it together," she told him quietly, carefully choosing her words. "Your brother, he cursed Anne, didn't he?"

Rubbing his eyes vigorously, he mumbled into his arm, "How can you bear to be near me?"

"This isn't your fault."

"Sebastian will think so, Anne too," he murmured. "Are you planning to tell them?"

Nova sighed, her fingers gently massaging her temple. "I can't see any good coming from telling him. We both know he'd try to confront your family, and I don't want to be responsible for that.”

This thought didn't appear to bring him any comfort. He leaned his head back against the stone wall with a soft thud.

“How long have you been aware of this?"

"I honestly don't know. I recall the thought creeping into my mind, but I pushed it away."

His uncharacteristically scruffy hair fell across his forehead, and she tenderly brushed it aside, revealing his weary eyes. "You should get some rest. Would you like me to help you to your dorm?"

He clasped his icy fingers around her wrist, his thumb gently stroking across her skin. "Can we stay here for a while?" he whispered.

She surrendered to his gentle tug, her body sinking against the wall as she rested her head on the curve of his shoulder. It appeared that wasn't sufficient enough for him as he administered another weak pull, coaxing her closer.

She inched nearer, nestling herself comfortably between his legs and resting her weight against his chest. His breathing tickled her neck as he burrowed into the thickness of her hair. Drawing his knees up, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

Despite the danger linked to being entangled with the descendant of Slytherin, she couldn't recall the last time she had felt this safe. The pressure of his arms against her skin satisfied a longing she hadn't been aware of.

"This can't mean anything," Ominis protested weakly near her ear, possibly more to himself.

"I know," she whispered, the gentle rhythm of his chest rising and falling against her back, soothing her to sleep.

Taglist: @glimmering-darling-dolly @slootmagix @wedonthaveajiffy

[tlatia-the-radiant]

@askthecaptaingeneral

+MULTIPLE WARP ANOMALIES DETECTED+

Cried the alarms as multiple ships flew out of a warp jump, a few were easily recognized.

The Moiraides.

"General quarters, general quarters, all hands, man your battle stations!"

Third Captain Celaya was already directing the ten vessels of the meagre Dawn Legion fleet into a defensive pattern by the time that Tlatia reached the Combat Information Centre aboard the Dawnbringer.

"Situation report!" she demanded.

"Confirmed sighting of the Moiraides! Elite Legio Custodes vessels! They're engaging us!" Celaya shouted back. "Destroyer Sunlight, burn retro thrusters and vector behind the Pax Nova! Destroyer Crucis, plug the gap!"

Damn. Damn, damn, damn!

The ship rocked as one of the golden-armored vessels fired a broadside into the Dawnbringer's prow.

"Void-shields are down!" an ensign reported, camouflaging the sheer horror in their voice with steely duty.

"Stars damn it all, that means we're vulnerable," Tlatia growled.

"Vulnerable to what?" her Fifth Captain, Anahuarque, asked, just as a new set of alarms began blaring.

"Teleportation signatures from all Moiraides ships! We're boarded!"

"Vulnerable to that," Tlatia grimaced. "Rally anti-boarding teams! Drive them from this ship!"

"Pax Nova has taken critical damage! Her engines are out!"

"Damn it all! Prioritize evacuating her passengers and crew to the Summer Light!"

"Enemy boarders are in the hangar! They're killing everyone!"

Tlatia clenched her fists and swore. "I'm heading to the hangar. Prepare an anti-boarding team to follow me," she told Anahuarque. The Fifth Captain nodded.

"Yes, my Lady."

Before Tlatia could even turn to begin leaving the bridge, the air buzzed with electric potential—too much potential, like a magnet being spun around another magnet.

Five Custodians, arrayed in Allarius Terminator armor, and ten in the standard garb of the Dread Host, appeared on the bridge between the CIC and the elevator.

[samclaflin-fans]

Sam video interviews - Daisy Jones & The Six - Past Week

It's been a busy few weeks for Sam following the release of Daisy Jones & The Six but we've linked a bunch of interviews from the past week!

Daisy Jones & The Six star Sam Claflin recalls making "insane" leap to Hollywood blockbusters // Radio Times

We Need to Arrange the Sam Claflin-David Beckham Meeting // The Late Late Show

Sam Claflin Felt Sexy While Filming Daisy Jones & The Six // Watch What Happens Live

What Does Sam Claflin Know About the Peaky Blinders Movie Rumors? // Watch What Happens Live

Jimmy Fallon and Sam Claflin Give a Damn About Taylor Swift’s Upcoming Tour // Watch What Happens Live

"Daisy Jones & The Six" Cast Designs Pet Rocks for '70s Style Nostalgia // The Drew Barrymore Show

Riley Keough Wasn't a Singer Before "Daisy Jones & The Six" Casting // The Drew Barrymore Show

Sam Claflin & “Daisy Jones & the Six” Cast On Growing Close, Being Embraced By Audiences | SXSW 2023 // The Hollywood Reporter

Sam Claflin Warns ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ Finale Made Him CRY! // extratv

We confront Daisy Jones & The Six star Sam Claflin about how he ‘doesn’t read’ // The Edge NZ

Interview with Sam Claflin & Riley Keough - Daisy Jones & The Six // Agents Of Fandom

Daisy Jones & The Six Cast Attempts An INTENSE Acting Test | That's So Emo // Cosmopolitan

Daisy Jones & The Six Interviews // YR Media

The "Daisy Jones & The Six" Cast Finds Out Which Characters They Are // Buzzfeed Celeb

Clint Drieberg and the Cast of "Daisy Jones & The Six" on Prime Video // Radio Nova 100FM

Sam Claflin's WILD Meryl Streep Impression // Capital (Short)

Sam Claflin's favorite '70s band? Fleetwood Mac! | Daisy Jones & The Six // Prime Video (Short)

Sam Claflin Recalls Musical Auditions that Didn't Go Well // The Drew Barrymore Show (Short)

[lucan-multiverse]

[maisy/isaac]

The jungles of Surkesh were far from her favourite places to be but the joint exercise had been too important for the Alliance not to be a part of. Maisy had returned back to the SSV Liberation with the sense of a job well done – but also with a layer of ooze caked across her armour that was so pungent even her unfaltering stoic husband couldn’t hold back his faint grimace as she exited the decontamination bay and strode up to him. 

The stink wafted around her like a cloud.

“Hi, baby,” she smiled. “Do I get a kiss?”

She leaned in expectantly and chuckling softly against his mouth when he finally bravely pecked her lips. She loved that about him - that she could be so disheveled and drenched in blood and soot and the worst horrors known to humanity and he would still want to touch her.

She had to resist curling her fingers into his hair and smearing his perfectly pressed uniform because even with the stench around her, he tasted like home and she had been away far too long.

“You smell like a Salarian quagmire,” he told her honestly and she laughed, knowing he wasn’t wrong.

“I know. I’ll go shower before I give my report.” She flashed him a coy smile but the effect was probably ruined by the gunk smeared across one cheek and caked into her dark hair. “Join me?”

His lips twitched with amusement as he looked her over again, considering. “How about I give you a head start?”

She laughed again and stepped away, blowing him a kiss over her shoulder and adding an extra sway of her hips for his benefit as she walked off down the hall. “Don’t take too long, Admiral.”

--

The water was soothing on her skin and the plumes of steam and frothy fragrant soap washed away the worst of the Surkesh stink. Her water ration was almost up but she couldn’t bring herself to move from under the spray of the shower. It felt far too good to be home and she was just rinsing out the frothy soap from her long black hair when she sensed she was no longer alone. A warm body pressed against her and she sighed and smiled as a pair of wide palms settled against her hips. Warm lips found her neck.

She shivered as those lips began to nibble. “I missed you,” she sighed. “A week was a long time without your face.”

He hummed against her skin. “I missed you too, baby.”

“I saw the holo message from your mom and the kids,” she said, enjoying the way his strong arms cradled her. With his chest against her back, they rocked gently together in the steamy shower, soaking in the fact they were together again. The video message had been the one thing that had stopped her from immediately diving into the shower – that tiny red light blinking to notify them of a message from the farmhouse on Terra Nova had been too tempting to ignore.

The message itself had been short – typical morning chaos with dark haired twins perched at a rustic kitchen counter, squirting far too much syrup on their freshly cooked pancakes and a laughing, exasperated Mara. Both toddlers had looked healthy and happy and Maisy had loved it. It went a long way to assuaging some of the guilt she carried for being so far away from them.

“Luca looks like he needs another haircut,” she commented, laying her head back against her husband's temple. “I swear the more we cut his hair, the faster it grows.” She turned in his arms and reached for his hair, digging her fingers gently against his scalp and rubbing his short strands. “What aren’t you telling me, Mr Cerrillo? Are there hidden curls here somewhere under this strict military cut?”

His lips twitched at her playfulness but his expression is deeply solemn. “You’ll never know."

She laughed and kissed his perfect nose. “Well, they certainly didn’t come from me. And he has your eyes. He’s you all over, really.”

“Just like Livie is all you.”

“My gorgeous girl,” Maisy sighed contentedly and placed a hand against her heart, her whole being filled with affection. “Did you see her tucking all her toys into their little beds? So sweet.”

She fell silent as familiar doubts crept in and she became suddenly all too eager to find her husband’s mouth and lose herself in his kisses. Isaac obliged, holding the back of her head to deepen the kiss. His tongue sliding against hers made her knees weak and heat pool in her core. Her hands had only just started to claw against his muscled shoulders before he pulled back and she made a small, disappointed noise at the broken contact.

His eyes were dark and soft as he gazed at her. “Are you alright?”

She knew he meant more than just the exercise.

“I am now. I’m with you. I'm home.”

His eyes turned molten at her words and he pulled her close for a punishing kiss. Her breasts flattened against his fuzzy chest as his arms came around her and tightened like a vice. The heat of his half hard cock against her hip made her moan softly into his mouth. “Zac. I love you.”

“I love you too. Maisy. I need to taste you.”

“Yes,” she thrilled at his words and he chuckled as her blunt nails dug into the thick corded muscle of his shoulders. She quickly found herself hanging onto him as he nudged her back. The cold tiles of the cubicle made contact with her feverish skin but it was easy to ignore the mild discomfort as he crowded her against the wall to kiss her deeply. But just when she thought she was going to lose herself completely in his kiss, he drew back.

“Maisy.”

The way he said her name had always made her feel good. There was tenderness threaded through each note and it was matched by the look in his dark eyes. She stroked his face lovingly, noting the faintest stubble under her palm and the way his hair was starting to curl from the moisture in the air. She loved his face, his dark brows, the creases on his forehead when he frowned, his strong nose. She trailed each feature adoringly with her fingertips and he chased her fingers with his lips.

“Oh,” she murmured as he sucked in one digit into his hot mouth and swirled his tongue. She considered briefly just shoving him to his knees so she could experience that talented tongue right where she wanted it most but she knew he would get there eventually.

He held her gaze as he sucked and did the same to her other fingers until they were dripping, then he took her wrist and guided her own hand between them.

She reached for his cock but he surprised her by forcing her own dampened fingers inside of herself.

“Oh,” she said again, eyelashes fluttering as he kissed his way down her torso and settled onto the floor of the shower between her knees. Somewhere along the line, the rainfall of water dissipated to steam and the air was damp and hot and she couldn’t tell if the beads of dampness across her collarbone and dripping between her breasts were sweat or a result of the steam.

He kissed her belly she realized she didn’t care.

“Show me, Maisy,” he said, and his tone carried something new. Something authoritative that wasn’t there before. She knew what he wanted. After that many years and two babies together, they were well versed in each other’s language.

She moved her legs, spreading her stance and bracing her back against the shower wall. She stroked herself with her fingers, dipping them between her own folds, letting him hear the squelch from her rapidly pooling juices. He watched her hungrily and she hummed, pleased to have his whole, entire focus.

She spread her folds with her fingers, letting him glimpse the deepest, most secret parts of her. She almost trembled with anticipation.

“Is this what you want to see?”

[atlanticcanada]

First victim of Nova Scotia floods identified as member of local rock band

A man who died during a torrential rainstorm last weekend in rural Nova Scotia has been identified as Nicholas Anthony Holland.

Holland was one of four people, including two small children, who went missing early Saturday after the vehicles they were in were swept off a road and submerged as they fled their homes.

His former wife, Julie Giffin Holland, confirmed to The Canadian Press that the 52-year-old, a member of the local rock band Hogtooth, died trying to escape the floodwater.

He leaves behind a partner and two children.

An obituary on a funeral home website describes Holland as a talented musician who played in many bands over the years and for whom music was his life's passion.

Holland's body was recovered Monday in Brooklyn, N.S., and in the obituary his family thanked search and rescue teams, private citizens and Holland's bandmates for their efforts to find him.

A youth aged under 18 who was travelling with Holland remains missing, while the remains of the two children who were in a separate vehicle were recovered this week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2023.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

For the latest Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/vZXcydG

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up July 11, 2022

Under the cut: 

The death toll from a missile strike on an apartment block in Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine has reached 33 

Explosions rock Russian-occupied town in southern Ukraine for second time in four days 

The governor of Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Anton Alikhanov, has proposed a total ban on the movement of goods between the three Baltic states and Russia, in response to what authorities in the exclave have called a “blockade” by Lithuania

Ukraine restores Danube River ports in emergency effort to get grain out

80% of the residents of Donetsk have evacuated the area

“The death toll from a missile strike on an apartment block in eastern Ukraine has reached 33, according to Ukraine’s state emergency services (SES).

The SES reported that they have retrieved a body of another victim, approximately a 9-year-old child, around 11.30pm on Monday evening.

In total, since the beginning of the work, the bodies of 33 dead people, including 1 child (born approximately in 2013), have been found at the scene, and 9 people have been rescued from the rubble. Works are ongoing,” Ukraine’s ministry of internal affairs said in an update.

Rescuers have continued to pull survivors from the rubble of the destroyed block of flats in Chasiv Yar, although hopes are beginning to fade of finding more still alive.”-via The Guardian

~

“A series of large explosions rocked the town of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region of Ukraine on Monday night. The town, like much of Kherson, is under Russian occupation.

It's the second major explosion in four days in the town, the site of an important hydro-electric dam and a link in the water supply to Crimea through the North Crimea canal.

Video posted on social media showed loud explosions and a huge ball of fire lighting up the night sky.

Serhiy Khlan, a Ukrainian official who is a member of Kherson regional council, said on Facebook: "In Nova Kakhovka minus one Russian ammo depot. They brought, brought, stockpiled, stockpiled and now have fireworks at night."”-via CNN

~

“The governor of Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Anton Alikhanov, has proposed a total ban on the movement of goods between the three Baltic states and Russia, in response to what authorities in the exclave have called a “blockade” by Lithuania.

“As a reciprocal measure we propose to completely prohibit the movement of goods – including those in transit from third countries– between the three Baltic States and Russia,” Reuters reports the governor said.”-via The Guardian

~

“Ukraine is restoring and expanding some of its long-decommissioned river ports on the Danube to facilitate the exportation of grain due to Russia’s Black Sea blockade.

Before the war, Ukrainian river ports on the Danube were seldom used, with some of them in complete disrepair. But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its control of exit routes to the Black Sea , Kyiv is resuscitating its old river harbours in order to avoid the sea blockade and accelerate the exportation of the country’s wheat.

“Take the example of the Reni River port,’’ Alla Stoyanova, the head of the department of agricultural policy of Odesa region, told the Guardian. The port was among the most important of the Danube region during the Soviet Union and a passageway to Romania. “It wasn’t used at all recently. So now we are working to expand it, alongside other river ports, to increase capacity. As we speak, over 160 ships are awaiting in the Black Sea to enter the Sulina canal, but they can’t because the capacity of that canal is only 5-6 ships a day.”

At the beginning of the Russian invasion, silos and ports across Odesa were brimming with more than 25m tonnes of grain. Today, 5m of these have been exported via alternative street, rail and river routes.”-via The Guardian

Here’s a link to a Ukrainian language Facebook post from Ukrainian Navy with more information.

~

“The governor of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which has been the focus of intensive Russian attacks in recent weeks, says about 80% of its pre-war population has now evacuated, the Kyiv Independent reported Monday.

Pavlo Kyrylenko said about 340,000 people, or 20% of the local population before Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February, remain.

Kyrylenko urged the region’s remaining population to flee last week, after Russia stepped up its offensive. Recent missile attacks on Donetsk have resulted in numerous civilian deaths, with Ukraine accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting residential areas.

Donetsk is the last remaining eastern province of Ukraine partially under Kyiv’s control, and its military has been fighting to hold ground.

“The destiny of the whole country will be decided by the Donetsk region,” Kyrylenko said last week “Once there are less people, we will be able to concentrate more on our enemy and perform our main tasks.””-via The Guardian

[whileiamdying]

Rita Lee, Brazil’s undisputed Queen of Rock, dies aged 75

Tributes pour in for founder of Os Mutantes, who sardonically named her tumour after far-right president Jair Bolsonaro

Rita Lee, the legendary Brazilian musician, composer and founder of the trailblazing band Os Mutantes, has died at 75, prompting emotional tributes to Brazil’s undisputed “Queen of Rock”.

Rita Lee was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021, memorably nicknaming her tumour “Jair” – a sardonic reference to Brazil’s widely loathed then president, Jair Bolsonaro.

The pioneering artist and feminist icon, who sold more than 55m records during a six-decade career, went into remission last year but died at her home in São Paulo on Monday night.

“At this moment of profound sadness, the family thanks everyone for their affection and love,” read a message on Lee’s Instagram account, inviting fans to a public wake at the city’s Parque Ibirapuera, one of Latin America’s largest parks.

News of Rita Lee’s death sparked an outpouring of emotion and reverence towards one of the most important figures in contemporary Brazilian music.

“I’m a wreck. The Greatest has left us … There will never be another Rita Lee,” tweeted the Brazilian rock singer Pitty.

Brazil’s culture minister, the singer and composer Margareth Menezes, hailed her as a “revolutionary woman”.

“The world has lost one of the most unique and incredible people who ever existed,” one of her sons, João Lee, wrote on social media. “What an intense and spectacular life you had. Admired and loved by so many people. So ahead of your time.”

Rita Lee’s huge domestic following was matched by an army of international fans, reputedly ranging from the Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain to King Charles.

In 1988, the Daily Mirror reported that during a British embassy banquet in Paris, the then Prince of Wales had asked for a Rita Lee record to be played. When the appropriate LP found its way on to the turntable, the future king “already knew the words by heart”, the British newspaper claimed.

Rita Lee Jones de Carvalho’s first forays into the world of music did little to hint at the stardom to come.

As a young girl born in São Paulo to an American father and a Brazilian mother, she took classical piano lessons but, according to one newspaper report, suffered from stage fright and wet herself during one audition.

Rather than retreat from performing, however, Rita Lee threw herself into music, founding the seminal psychedelic-rock group Os Mutantes in 1966 with Arnaldo Batista and Sérgio Dias.

“[The group] has come from another planet to take over the world,” the singer-songwriter declared in her first interview with the Folha de São Paulo newspaper.

She was right. The subversive, LSD-fuelled trio became a key part of Brazil’s Tropicália movement which, spearheaded by composers Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé and Gilberto Gil, blended traditional Brazilian music with electric instruments and foreign sounds.

“The bottom line is that we were light years ahead of everyone else,” Rita Lee remembered in a 2001 interview with the New York Times.

An immediate sensation in Brazil, it took Os Mutantes several decades to find international fame and recognition – but eventually it came. Kurt Cobain met the group during a 1993 trip to Brazil, hailing their “revolutionary” sound and the “guts” they showed producing such daring music during the 1964-85 military dictatorship.

Rita Lee left the group in 1972 but not before helping produce a staggering catalogue of classics including Balada do Louco, Baby and Ando Meio Desligado.

As a solo artist, the red-haired rocker recorded a succession of equally successful and irreverent hits such as Amor e Sexo and Lança Perfume. Her more than 40 albums included a 2001 bossa nova-infused homage to the Beatles called Here, There and Everywhere.

Bolsonaro, whose followers were reportedly outraged by Rita Lee’s decision to name her tumour after him, said nothing about the musician’s death. But his successor, the leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, posted a lengthy tribute calling Rita Lee “one of the greatest and most brilliant names in Brazilian music” and “an artist ahead of her time”.

“She thought the title of Queen of Rock was inappropriate but the nickname does justice to her trajectory,” Lula wrote. “She … inspired generations of women in rock and in the arts. She will never be forgotten.”

In her 2016 autobiography, Rita Lee wrote what she hoped would be her epitaph. “She was never a good example,” she wrote. “But she was a good person.”

— The Guardian

[arsonist-chicken]

Knock knock, don't mind me, just asking how the festival went! Did you have fun? Did you end up watching that scary band after all? Did you make it home safely? The audience (me) wants to know everything!

Definitely not asking this because I miss you, shush, what are you even talking about?

It took a few weeks, but here's the Nova Rock report for you! ✨🦝🌈 it's only 4400 words, have fun.

Huh, I didn’t go 🥺🥺😭💖💗 over "I missed you" and the withdrawal symptoms you mentioned on discord, haha no, what?

The most important things first: I did have so much fun; I did watch the not-actually-scary band, and we did make it home safely and even without any delays (well except the one who had to travel to NRW with the DB but well) with only a weird little sunburn on my back from my shirt with cut-outs at the back.

We took the night train, so I went to the train station, thought "why are there always such weird people here at midnight", then remembered I was sitting there in my pyjamas with my hair still smelling of the fresh hair dye. I read your new chapter, had to stop myself from screaming, asked my sister + friend (NOT the random lady there) what they thought about the blind cat, we found a little ladybug in our compartment who then continued being in our tent, at the camp side, on the train home, and in my room back at home again. He’s actually flying around my lamp right now (well he was when I started writing this, he’s since left for the outsides).

We went with a whole bunch of people (like.. 20? My friend’s brother and his friends and friends of friends, you know), met two VERY annoying drunk Bregenzerwälder with their Hölzler shoes (who the FUCK wears those shoes to a festival??) and luckily lost them again, but everyone who was with us was really cool and chill to hang out with.

They had to cancel the first few bands because of the deep mud the rain had turned the stage areas into, but nothing I wanted to see luckily (although, go listen to Gloryhammer’s “Fly Away”, very fun), so I just sat there at the camping ground with my phone trying to listen to my zoom class (because of course the one lesson the whole semester I really wanted to be at was that week, but well, at least online); and after we went to a band I didn’t know before but someone said they were good, and they were (Coffeshop Company)! Which is something I really like about festivals, you can just go hang out by the stages for a bit to listen to new bands and see them on stage and if you don’t like them, you can just move along to another stage or sit with others by your tents. AND AND AND!! Oh yeah, we saw Evanescence for a bit, they’re okay. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY. I had been trying to see Rise Against live since I was 14, so 10. Years. now, and now I finally did see them!! And they were everything I expected! They were so energetic and they joked around a bit and the singer pointed out a few signs, and their energy and everything was so good! And their songs are fucking amazing live, they’re SO GOOD. Everyone and their grandmother always insisted on telling me how bad their sound was live, and now I got to judge for myself finally, and they were so GOOD!

BRING ME THE HORIZON BRING ME THE HORIZON BRING ME THE HORIZON! Friday was BMTH day! It was still muddy as hell, like my sister went to the toilets and came back with her whole boots covered up above the ankle in mud, but the organisers really came through and covered the entire stage area with what I learned is called Holzschnitzel (wood chips), so no problems there anymore. We went to see Battle Beast, which – wow, the singer’s voice is unbelievable! She has such power in her voice! We also had some food, my sister dropped a perfectly fine mozzarella stick into the mud (highly relevant info), and my friend and me went to see Maneskin. I wasn’t that excited for them anymore because I don’t like their new music very much, but I thought I’d go see them for a bit, and well – they have amazing stage presence! They just come out and start off right off the bat with such power and energy, I can really see how they pull new audiences in at festivals! The ... guitarist? Bassist? I’m not sure which one the woman plays and I can’t tell the difference anyway, but she had some, uuuh, trouble with her outfit, in that she had a bit of tape on her chest and otherwise a net shirt that kept riding down to her stomach and some tech guy or the singer had to keep pulling back up for her. She also had HIGH heels which I don’t understand how she didn’t fall even once, running around in that, good for her. The singer once almost hit someone with a bottle or something and said, “Sorry if I hit you, my brother, my sister, whatever you are”, which 🌈🌈🌈 They’re, well... I could do with less sexual stuff but it’s their show. It was funny though how within 20 minutes, three of them were wearing almost nothing on top, except the guitarist (?) with his full long-sleeved cowboy outfit and cowboy hat.

We left a bit early and still watched the rest of Skillet 😊 had a snack on the floor while Korn was playing (they’re not bad actually), and then went into the first... like the areas in front of the stage are divided right? We went into the front section for Heilung. Because BMTH was playing right after them and we really wanted to be towards the front for them because well. Bring Me The Horizon 💖 which meant I had to stand there and suffer through 75 minutes of a god-awful boring weird band. They’re… you know, I already talked about them in the blind cat post, I’ll keep it short here: I thought they’d be creepy from seeing their music videos, especially with the red-blinking windmills in the background, but turns out, you can’t scare or creep me out if you just bore the hell out of me first. Their music is so slow it makes me want to scratch my skin off to feel something, they don’t interact with the audience at all, and you can’t understand their lyrics because they sing in I don’t know how many languages, half of them dead. On top of being boring as fuck, they’re also weird as hell, using instruments made of [redacted] and having very unpleasant to watch parts in their show that I don’t think they should be allowed to just act out like that at a festival that allows 8-year-olds in. Yes, the parents are responsible, but like I said – at a festival, you also just randomly walk around the stage area and see what happens even if you’re just passing by to a different area. Actually even forgetting about minors, I’m 24 and I didn’t like seeing that. Anyway, they’re boring, they’re weird and pretentious, don’t listen to them, @ Nova don’t book them again jesus christ.

ANYWAY. FRIDAY WAS BRING ME THE HORIZON DAY. Aka the absolute highlight. They came on stage, you could see how HAPPY they were to be there, they started out with “Can You Feel My Heart”, they’re happy, I’m happy, I feel nothing but joy FINALLY hearing them again after having been rescheduled three or so times. Remember how I said they’d cancelled bands because of the mud, and I said to a friend if I missed BMTH for any reason, I’d cry? Because I’d been waiting to see them since, well. Whenever in 2020 the concert would have been idk man. WELL. Turns out, the security at that festival is abysmal every year (we got checked twice in four days, but god forbid you take a plastic bottle or Tetrapak with you to the stages), and they didn’t close the front area when there were as many people there as allowed. I’m not gonna drag this out with details but long story short, it was okay during the first song but got too bad to stay when the second song + circle pits started (I have… opinions on them, should I elaborate?), we tried to leave but it was very cramped, we got separated, and next thing I know some guy (thank you <3) pulls me up from the floor and helps a security guy get me over the fence, who then drags me away to the paramedics, whom I tell I’m fine, just a bit dizzy, I just want to sit down on the side and watch from there, I can hear “Teardrops” fading into “Dear Diary” aka the song I’d been fucking annoying about being excited to hear, so naturally, they drag me away to the Red Cross tent. Where I just sit for a few minutes getting more and more upset over missing one of the few bands I really, really wanted to see. Anyway, we met two others from our group there too, a guy had twisted his ankle or something and his girlfriend, who – she is SO SWEET, she always asked how everyone was, she’s funny, she gave me Traubenzucker (seriously I still don’t know the English word) and hugged me and said we should just all go out and sit down on the side to watch the rest of BMTH, which we did, and actually suddenly a bunch of our group were there somehow? Anyway, I cried a little more watching them until I calmed down again, and the rest of the show was SO GOOD FUCK. They have such energyand excitement to be there and they go hard on stage, they really do, and the singer’s voice is so nice again now that he’s recovered, there is so much power behind and in his voice when he sings; anyone who says BMTH have become soft or worse or whatever since they have less screaming can fight me (the Florians?). I’m already looking forward to seeing them again in February (covid don’t even LOOK at February you fucking bitch) so much! They still played “Kingslayer” which is always great, “Drown” which is *chef’s kiss*, a few more songs (my concert memory is so bad, the most I can usually say is yeah it was great), and ended with “Throne”, which you know, *all the chef kisses in the world*. Seriously, if you like BMTH and ever get the chance to see them live – GO! They’re SO GOOD live, they’re so happy to be there, their energy takes over the audience immediately, you can scream along or just be there and vibe… They’re just such a great band, in general and to see live (ignoring my situation here, not the band’s fault but the security’s + drunk large guys who don’t look out for others), it’s so fun to be at their shows – oh, everyone who likes BMTH should get the chance to see them live! They’re so GOOD my god I’m excited for the new single tomorrow.

Have you listened to the 30 second thingy they put out already? I can’t get over the way he sings “forever”, someone who actually knows something about music explain to me what it is about that particular way he sings that makes it so 🥺✨💖🍀 Something about the way his voice… vibrates? So to say, and the slight rasp maybe? Not even mentioning the lyrics themselves! This week sure is a busy week for me with a new BMTH song tomorrow plus the BC album on Thursday and then everything else going on as well plus weaselling my way into the playlist with whatever BC song I’ll like the most by then at the drag party so I’ll see what you’ll come up with to bribe me.

Saturday was Electric Callboy day! It was finally warm and sunny and one guy convinced all of us to go to a band no one knew but said were fun to see live, and they were (Liedfett)! I wouldn’t listen to them otherwise but live there, they were fun, and somehow our group turned their band name into a Marco Polo thing. Also, since pretty much almost all of us were there, we asked a guy to take a picture of us and I’m 95% sure the guy was high of some sorts, but the photos turned out well. Also, another guy took a picture of all of us at the camping side once and I don’t know if he was a photographer or something, but he moved around, changed angles and took about 40 pictures, “so you’ll have a really good one!” My sister, friend, and me went to a Ferris wheel they had put up and from the top, you could see across the whole area, which was both huge but also looked smaller than I had expected. A few of us got some food and watched a bit of Jinjer, they’re okay but a bit boring maybe. But but but! After them, Electric Callboy played! Awww Ruby, I wish I had a picture of their faces pretty much anytime they showed them on the screens up-close, they looked so HAPPY, it was beautiful to see! They were so GOOD and so excited to be there and play their show and they always smiled and laughed so beautifully*, it was wonderful to see 🥺 And it was so fun too, they talked quite a bit, once before “Spaceman”, the smaller singer Nico, as Fine taught me, took Kevin to the front of the stage to teach the audience the lalala-ish sound, but the way he did that was to take Kevin by the hand and walk with him to the front of the stage hand in hand while saying something like “Komm mal mit mein Lieber, also der Typ, der kann Sachen machen mit seiner Zunge, ich schau ihm jeden Tag beim Üben zu, haltet eure Freundinnen und Freunde fest, da könnt ihr noch was lernen”.. oder so. Ngl for a second I was wondering if surely he wouldn’t just go ahead and kiss the guy, right? Oh, a few others of our group who didn’t or not really know them came too and they all loved them, some even said they were their highlight of the festival! Which is not at all surprising, I mean you’ve seen them too, right, you know how just… Their energy and fucking around and their easy-to-vibe-with music make it really easy I think for anyone to really, really enjoy their concerts, even if you don’t really know them. I know I already loved them in April when I forgot to listen to more of their songs than I knew at the time before their EC/BC Munich concert, and it was still so much fun. Their stage presence and happy-go-lucky attitude and how obviously happy they are to play their music just makes it really easy to have fun. *I asked Fine, Laura, and Lou if it would be very weird to send them a message or email or something telling them how nice it was to see how happy they were on stage and how beautiful their smiles and laughs were, and got an “you are so cute” in return, but I’m telling you – they were the cute ones with how utterly HAPPY they were 🥺 I feel like I haven’t said a lot besides “it was so nice to see how happy they were” in various shades and slightly to the left but it just cannot be said enough. It was beautiful to see. Maybe I’ll still write them a message or a letter or something. Oh I also saw parts of The Offspring, Bad Religion, Seiler und Speer, Dame, and Deichkind later that day but none really convinced me, so in the end I had an early night (like... midnight “early”).

Sunday was Billy Talent day! Also a few other bands before that, Kissin’ Dynamite are fun to watch and their singer seems like a little shit (I could see him and Joonas fucking around on stage together), a bit of Eluveitie (boring) and In Flames (better than I remembered). We went around a bit before Billy Talent for food and then one booth had just run out of all meats, mozzarella sticks, whatever else, idk they only had fries left so we went to get a pizza, had a discussion in line with some guys about what the pizza names mean, and found out some sinners put eggplant on pizza. My friend works at a zoo and told us they can only feed eggplants to one breed of their stags because not even the pigs eat those. Oooh, Billy Talent were also so fun to watch! I’m not sure why there were so many more people than the day before, maybe because they were the second-to-last band to play? Anyway, very fun! Almost all of our group were there again, I knew about half of the songs they played and it’s just so easy to sing along and see everyone else also sing and jump along and just enjoy being there! Except the couple right in front of us who just spent the whole show making out. Why. Move. The singer made fun of the shape of the stage, talked a bit about other stuff and joked around, they also just have a presence that makes you enjoy their concert regardless of how well you know them, they make it easy to have fun.

Ah, the last band was Five Finger Death Punch, which I didn’t really know before, maybe a song or two in passing, but they were really entertaining to watch. To me – apparently quite a few people thought the singer talked to much or sang weirdly or was drunk? I don’t know, I didn’t hear it, I just had fun with his jokes and I thought his voice was quite powerful too. I don’t really know them but I think they were a good final act to put on.

There’s not much to be said about the trip home, we got up at 5 or so to avoid the “everyone leaving” waves, had some more floor breakfast at the Vienna train station, chatted some more, and on the train everyone fell asleep one after the other, but not before witnessing me almost losing my jacket with no idea how it ended up there and despite looking at it several times before another traveller asked his friend whose jacket that was, and throwing my phone on the floor five seconds later. I had to get off earlier than the others at my uni town, which meant I got a hug goodbye from the only guy still motivated to stand up (feel you), almost forgot my chair, and then almost fell down the train stairs. I was tired okay. Also at like... 8pm or so, a few hours after I’d already showered and thrown everything into the dishwasher washing machine, we finally got the text from the one who had to take the DB to NRW that she’d arrived home, about two hours late, unsurprisingly. I know I complain about the ÖBB a lot and rightfully so I think, but how do you all just live like that regularly?

Remember how you said on discord you’d gotten withdrawal symptoms and I said it was five days and you said, "5 days in which anything could have happened you know"? Well. Nothing happened for me (where is my festival romance huh? BC concert first date idea? Huh, did someone say something?), however. I sit at the camping side with a bunch of others on Saturday noon, enjoying the sun finally being here, when I hear my sister + friend say my name, so I go over to see what they’re gossiping about me, only for my sister to tell me a guy from our group randomly (“randomly”, you should have been there, it was so fucking obvious there was something there, and that’s from me who never notices shit until it’s pointed out to me) asked her if she’s single the day before, she later asked him to do something after the festival and he said he would have asked her if she hadn’t asked first. They’ve had a few dates since then, I think it’s going well.

I haven’t talked about the sunsets yet! Oooh, so that festival is in the Pannonia fields, which basically means in the middle of nowhere on some farmers’ fields which are packed with windmills which at night blink red rhythmically and that looks so cool at night! Just a few dozen windmills in the background blinking red in sync. And the sunsets were beautiful! Just being by the stage, listening to or waiting for a great band to play, and left and right of the stage seeing the sunset over the fields 🥰 (don’t go there to see mountains, the area’s highest one is 302m)

Oooh!! Do you know how I hate phones at concerts a little? Like I get taking a few pictures or short videos, but I’m really annoyed by people recording whole songs or the whole concert wth is wrong with people because the people behind you can’t see goddamn it. I don’t want to be mean to or about teenage audiences, I don’t. It has to be said though, the difference in phone usage at concerts with a primarily teenage audience vs a primarily adult audience is staggering. This year, I’ve been to a Louis Tomlinson, 5SOS, and EC/BC concert and now the festival, and the difference in the audience is huge. At LT + 5SOS, there were so many people there who were constantly recording and watching so much of the concerts through their phones (you miss everything?!), whereas at EC/BC and the festival, people also took photos or recorded but like… very, very few people constantly did so, most took a picture or video of their favorite songs and then put their phones away again. And I have to say, the difference in the energy of the audience is very noticeable. People are just much more into it, just being there enjoying the show, singing and jumping along etc. etc., you know what I’m talking about. I once saw a video of a Halsey show where phones were banned, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that since then every time I see people constantly on their phones at concerts.

It was also so goddamn nice to be – well technically you’re reachable, most people have their phones with them, but in reality, I can just turn on flight mode and only take it off that when I need to find my friends (well and that one class) and ignore everything else for four days. Ideal existence tbh. No uni, no work, no being contacted if you don’t want to, no other adult responsibilities, just hanging out with fun people, sharing snacks, and enjoying good music together, half of the days even in the sunshine. Speaking of sun, why did no one tell me my hat looked stupid, I wore that for the whole weekend 😤 oh, also, I got a BMTH shirt! It’s so pretty and it’s white but somehow still too warm for a 30-degree day. Then again everything is, probably. But I had a clean shirt to wear for the journey home with my dust-covered skirt, that was nice.

I met a woman with really pretty multi-coloured hair at the showers. Once there was suddenly a bridal party at the camping spot asking for a beer for their flunky ball bridal party game and invited us to join and offered glitter tattoos. Oh, the guy who hurt his ankle, some of our group borrowed a… those small things you can put boxes or other stuff on you need to transport and wheel it around? One of those to have the guy stand on and wheel him back to our camping area. We found a really nice spot a bit farther away from one of the stages for when we wanted to see a band but just relax and vibe, maybe have some food there and sit down a bit, that was a good spot, I swear we weren’t just on our feet 12h every day in front of the stages. Just peppering in all the random things here that I’m remembering that didn’t fit elsewhere. We built the ladybug a little home in one of the glass holder nets in my camping chair. You said you missed me. Oh, we camped in the Green Area which is just like, less trash and noise, and by day two, there was a hole in the fence which was quite practical because it made the way to the stage area shorter. By day four, a whole fence thingy had been moved. Also, that area was supposed to be quieter but they had a party area or something that played music with heavy bass until 4am or so, which apparently bothered quite a few people about sleeping, but I found quite soothing actually. Oh, the fiancé/husband of the bride with her bridal party was also somewhere with his friends, I kept seeing them in their pink safety vests vs. the women in the orange ones.

So yeah, the security, paramedics, and non-alcoholic drink situation where not it (they had… Red Bull and water stations, but 95% of the drinks sold were alcoholic – please remember the minimum age is 8, also some people (hi) don’t like to drink, especially not at festivals), but the people I was there with, the bands, how obviously happy they all were to be there, the eating food on the floor with each other, the shared snacks at the camping area, the just hanging out and chatting at the camping area talking about the bands and whatever else really, the “guess what I just saw on my way to the toilets” stories shared, the random people around us, the “travelling together and having food and listening to music together” human experience – yeah, that was very much it 🥰🥰🥰💖✨🌈🦝🍀 Writing all that down took about 2 pages of my happy memories book, 100/10 would recommend grabbing your favorite snacks and a few friends, putting your phones into flight mode, and wandering off to a festival for a few days 🥰🥰🥰

[fuelleg75]

Expensive diamonds are some of the most well-known gemstones

Article About Diamond jewelry Diamonds are some of the nearly all popular gemstones inside the world. They have been used for centuries for their beauty and sturdiness. 2 Per Row , diamonds are usually still a well-known choice for proposal rings as well as other excellent jewelry. Diamonds are created from carbon, and they are the toughest known natural material. Diamonds are transparent, plus they refract lighting very well. This particular makes them sparkle and shine. The particular color of the diamond is decided by the existence of other mineral deposits in the rock. The most typical colors are whitened, yellow, and darkish. Diamonds are rated on a scale from D (the highest quality) to Z (the minimum quality). The several C's (carat, coloring, clarity, and cut) are used in order to determine a diamond's value. The carat weight is the scale the diamond. The colour is judged over a scale from D (no color) in order to Z (a yellowish tinge). Clarity is judged on a scale from IN THE EVENT THAT (flawless) to I3 (included). The trim is judged on a scale by Excellent to Inferior. Diamonds are found in many places around the globe, but most arrive from Africa. Gemstones are also present in Australia, Brazil, Nova scotia, China, India, and Russia. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, including circular, oval, pear, marquise, emerald, and princess. The most well-known shape is the game brilliant cut. Expensive diamonds are occur precious jewelry using a number of options, including prong, frame, invisible, and tension. The most popular setting is typically the prong setting. Whenever buying diamonds, make sure to buy from a reputable jeweler. Request to see some sort of grading report from a reputable laboratory, such as the particular Gemological Institute associated with America (GIA). When you are getting a diamond online, be sure you do your analysis. Make sure the particular website is secure, and that the company is some sort of member of the Better Business Institution. When shopping regarding diamonds, keep throughout mind the 4 C's. The far better the quality with the diamond, the extra expensive it may be. However, understand that a higher value does not often mean better good quality. When purchasing diamond jewelry, always keep in mind that the stone is really a life-time investment. Be sure you get care of it, and it will last some sort of lifetime.

[xtruss]

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge with the Rare Photo of the Iceberg. Image: CorinMesser/BNPS

Unearthed Titanic Iceberg Photo Gives Rare Glimpse At Giant Ice Rock That Sank 'Unsinkable' Ship

The historic image shows a large glacier oddly shaped like an elephant above the surface of the north Atlantic two days after the luxury liner struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sank

— By Graeme Murray | News Reporter Paul Vass | 13 April 2024

A newly unearthed photo of the iceberg that sank the Titanic gives a rare glimpse at the giant ice rock that forced the 'unsinkable' ship to snap in two.

The black and white image was captured by an undertaker working on the body recovery ship that arrived on the wreck site in the aftermath of the sinking. It shows a large glacier oddly shaped like an elephant above the surface of the north Atlantic and was taken two days after the luxury liner struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sank with the loss of 1,522 lives. The photographer, believed to be funeral director John Snow Jr, later put the snap in a cardboard mount and simply captioned it 'Titanitic' (sic).

Titanic leaving Southampton bound for New York on her ill-fated journey. Image: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Mr Snow's father ran an undertakers in Nova Scotia and when news of the tragedy broke he and his staff of embalmers were summoned to Halifax. They boarded the cable-laying ship the Mackay-Bennett which was loaded with 100 coffins and 100 tonnes of ice to preserve the bodies.

They had set off for the wreck site 800 miles away and arrived four hours later on April 17, 1912. The crew began their grim task the next morning. In all they recovered 306 bodies from the sea.Those identified as first class passengers were embalmed on the ship and placed in coffins. These included the bodies of John Jacob Astor IV, the richest man aboard and Isidor Straus, owner of Macy's department store.

Second class passengers were embalmed and wrapped in canvas and some 116 third class passengers and crew were buried at sea. The ship returned to Halifax seven days later with 190 Titanic victims. The 5ins by 3ins photo of the iceberg was passed down through the Snow family until it was acquired by a collector of Titanic memorabilia about 30 years ago. It is now coming up for sale at Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers of Devizes, Wiltshire for an estimated price of £4,000 to £7,000.

Another Picture of an Iceberg Taken by Captain Wood That Sold in 2020. Image: BNPS

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "Nobody can say for sure that this was THE iceberg that sank the Titanic. But what we can say is that after the rescue ship Carpathia, the Mackay-Bennett was one of the first ships to reach the wreck site and that the undertaker on board decided to take a photo of this iceberg.

"He must have had his reasons for taking a photo of this iceberg. He captioned it Titanic and mounted it for posterity. It hasn't been sold before and was acquired directly from Mr Snow's family by our vendor in the early 1990s. It is an extremely rare photograph and we are sure it will attract a lot of interest."

The 'unsinkable' Titanic was speeding through an ice field in the north Atlantic when it struck an iceberg at 10.20pm on April 14, 1912. Lookout Fred Fleet struggled to spot the glacier at first because the water was so calm that no waves were breaking at the base of it which was a tell-tale sign of one.

The liner sank at 2.20am on April 15. A photograph of another iceberg that could also have been the one Titanic struck on the night of April 14, 1912, has been seen before. That was one taken by a crew member of the Minia, another body recovery ship which arrived on the scene on April 22 - a week later.

And in 2020 a photo of an iceberg that was taken two days before the tragedy by the captain of a passing passenger liner sold at auction. Captain W. Wood was on the SS Etonian and he noted the geographic coordinates of the glacier which were almost the same for when the Titanic floundered 40 hours later. The latest photo is expected to be sold on April 27.

Another view of what appears to be the same iceberg that may have sunk the Titanic that is seen in a photograph up for auction this month. This image (above) was owned by Captain De Carteret, the Captain of the CS Minia which was sent to recover bodies from the wreckage site in April 1912.

[skrillnetwork]

Is Nova Minerals Ready for the Gold Project in 2024?

Nova Minerals Limited’s (ASX: NVA) latest project has been nothing short of impressive and revolutionary. It has taken forward its exploration and development of its flagship Estelle Gold Project in the Tintina Gold Belt, Alaska.

Now that over a month of 2024 has passed, the business is set up for a successful year. Naturally, the goal of this is to expand on the successes and benchmarks reached in the previous year.

Drill Results at RPM Valley

One of the standout achievements for Nova Minerals (ASX: NVA) in 2023 was the exceptional drill results obtained at RPM Valley. The consistency of mineralization was confirmed by high-grade drilling at RPM North. With over 10 broad intersections grading above 5 g/t Au, the results underscore the richness of the Estelle Gold Project.

The continuous success at RPM Valley not only reaffirms the project's potential but also indicates the scalability of the resource. These promising results form a solid foundation for Nova as they continue their exploration and development efforts in 2024.

The company’s commitment to understanding the Estelle Gold Project is evident in the surface exploration program conducted during the 2023 field season. Head of Exploration, Mr. Hans Hoffman, led a comprehensive mapping and sampling program covering the entire 513km2 project site.

This included

21 stream sediment samples

100-line km traverses

446 samples of rocks

674 samples of soil

This program led to the discovery of new prospects and unearthed various insights into the geological and mineralogical makeup of the region. Nova's dedication to understanding the project site's nuances positions them favorably for making informed decisions in the upcoming phases of development.

An image of a mining site with operations ongoing from the top view

Phase 2 Scoping Study

This study confirmed the chances of a commercially strong mining operation. It also de-risked the Estelle Gold Project. The scoping study reported

Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 53%

Net Present Value (NPV5%) of US$654M

Fast capital payback period of just 11 months

The scoping student doesn’t just bring home confidence in the project’s viability. It also acts as a complete roadmap for the next phases in development. Namely, Nova Minerals’ (ASX: NVA) announcement of stibnite being discovered by the team.

What is stibnite? It is the primary ore source of antimony. It is related to gold systems across the project site. This is a big deal because antimony is listed as a vital mineral for the economic and national security of the USA. Right now, it has no current domestic supply.

To further assess the potential of this discovery, Nova has appointed a reputable national consulting group and assembled an influential internal team. The goal is to access potential US federal grants and funding. It will help the team investigate and move forward the discovery across the entire supply chain.

Strategic Review and Future Plans

The strategic assessment that was started as a part of Nova's ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) level studies demonstrates the company's forward-thinking attitude. In keeping with its goal of creating a "right size" beginning operation, Nova has appointed top mining engineers.

It has also brought in Rough Stock Mining Services in Alaska and METS Engineering in Australia. The objectives are to minimize capital costs, determine a steady-state mine plan, and provide explicit strategies for expansion.

CEO Mr. Christopher Gerteisen views the Estelle Gold Project as a unique opportunity that will help capitalize further. All results will be incorporated into a PFS updated resource estimate. It has the potential to give stakeholders an insider’s take on the scope of the project.

Conclusion

It is impressive to note Nova Minerals Limited's (ASX: NVA) progress at the Estelle Gold Project in Alaska. The culmination of these exceptional results positions Nova for a promising 2024.

Investors and stakeholders alike can anticipate further positive developments as Nova Minerals (ASX: NVA) propels the project towards production. This will help in further solidifying its position in the gold and lithium mining sector in North America.

Read more update on ASX News - Skrill Network: Latest Business Insights, Financial News, Investor’s Hub & Startup News

[mariacallous]

A police officer working in Bulgaria’s National Service for Combating Organised Crime and an employee of the state security agency were arrested on Monday for allegedly spying for Russia, Bulgarian National Television reported. 

The operation in the national anti-organised crime service took place on Monday morning. “This individual was passing sensitive information for months, for a bit less than a year. There’s a possibility of more consequences and arrests,’  the general secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Zhivko Kotzev, said. He expressed sorrow that the case concerns a police officer. 

The second arrest was initiated at the state national security agency a few hours later. There are fewer details as yet. But the Ministry of Interior has clarified that both individuals were communicating with a Russian who has been designated persona non grata and is a former employee of the Russian embassy in Sofia. According to Nova TV, the police was activated by international security services. 

On January 31, Democratic Bulgaria MP Atanas Atanasov accused the security agency of not acting against a channel for infiltrating Russian spies through easily granted Bulgarian citizenship, for which it has full details. Atanasov, director of the agency from 1998-2001, said the scheme is organised by a Russian-Ukrainian in Moscow and operates under President Rumen Radev’s protection.

Previously, in July, General Prosecutor Borislav Sarafov, then recently appointed to the post, said that too many terrorism and espionage charges had been investigated for years without success or adequate consequences. Sarafov said that one of those pending cases concerned espionage within national security structures. 

In the last few years, several Bulgarian and Russian officials colluding with the Kremlin have been exposed. Last September, the abbot of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia and two clerics from Belarus were accused of espionage and had to leave Bulgaria. 

Sofia has expelled more than 100 alleged spies in recent years and has arrested a number of Bulgarians accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence. The most publicized case was in March 2021, when six people were detained, including three from Bulgaria’s own Defence Ministry.

Russian influence remains evident in the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the successor to the former ruling Communist Party, and in the far-right Revival, both of which are broadly hostile to the European Union and the United States.

More marginal political figures, including Nikolay Malinov of the “Russiophile Movement” party, were designated in 2023 by coordinated UK/US sanctions on some Bulgarian politicians.

President Radev, an opponent of Western sanctions on Russia, and of military aid to Ukraine, is a vocal critic of the current ruling coalition, which has a pronounced Euro-Atlantic profile and has pushed for reform of the national security services.

Recent constitutional changes, adopted by the end of 2023, have limited the President’s powers; during Bulgaria’s election spiral, in 2020-2022, Radev hand-picked three interim cabinets that often blocked reforms and stayed close to his political line.

In 2022, parliament stopped the “golden passports” scheme by which Bulgaria granted citizenship in return for investment, and which attracted numerous wealthy Russians.

[chloeunitfive]

Fast Fashion:

Fast fashion is a design, production, and marketing strategy that focuses on creating large quantities of garments in a short period of time. Fast fashion garment manufacture makes use of trend replication and low-quality materials (such as synthetic textiles) to offer low-cost fashions to the end customer. These low-cost, fashionable items have resulted in an industry-wide tendency towards excessive consumption. As a result, the environment, garment workers, animals, and, eventually, customers' wallets suffer.

Until the mid-twentieth century, the fashion business was based on four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. Designers would prepare for each season and estimate which trends people would desire months in advance. This strategy, while more meticulous than current fashion, stripped the wearers of agency. Fashion was prescribed to high society before it became available to the public, and there were standards to follow. It wasn't until the 1960s, however, that a well-timed marketing effort for paper garments shown that customers were ready for the rapid fashion trend. As a result, the fashion industry has accelerated and reduced expenses. However, it wasn't until a few decades later that fast fashion hit rock bottom. The Sunday Style Times reports that "it particularly came to the fore during the vogue for 'boho chic' in the mid-2000s."

Fast fashion brands now manufacture 52 "micro-seasons" every year, or one new "collection" per week. According to author Elizabeth Cline, this began in the early aughts when Zara switched to bi-weekly delivery of new products. Since then, it's been standard practise for retailers to keep a massive amount of stock on hand at all times, so companies don't have to worry about running out of items. These firms can generate new, attractive looks monthly, if not daily, by duplicating streetwear and fashion week trends as they occur in real time. The businesses may then stock vast volumes of apparel and ensure that clients never run out of options. While retailers such as H&M, Topshop, and Zara have faced criticism about overproduction, even premium firms assess growth by expanding production. According to Fast Company, "apparel companies make 53 million tonnes of clothes into the world annually," a figure that has undoubtedly climbed since the article's first publication in 2019. "If the industry keeps up its exponential pace of growth, it is expected to reach 160 million tonnes by 2050." Clothing is manufactured in a hurried way, and firms sell extremely low-quality clothing. There isn't enough time for quality control or ensuring that a garment has the proper number of buttons, especially when there is a pressing need to get items to the masses. The fast-fashion production method leaves much to be desired, and products are sometimes discarded after only a few wears. The same hurry that drives down quality also drives down the price of these clothing. Companies such as Topshop and Fashion Nova are concerned with their bottom line and rely on the "ocean of clothing" they produce for profit. Because of the huge volume of products sold, some businesses generate millions of dollars despite offering pieces at low prices. And, without a doubt, garment workers are paid far less than the minimum wage. In the documentary "The True Cost," novelist and journalist Lucy Siegle said it best: "Fast fashion isn't free." Someone, someone is footing the bill."

Referencing:

AUDREY STANTON. (2023). What Is Fast Fashion, Anyway?. [Online]. The good Trade. Last Updated: 3 Novermber 2023. Available at: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion/#:~:text=Fast%20fashion%20is%20a%20design [Accessed 6 November 2023].

[beckywarrennycquebec2023]

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 — SOMEWHERE AT SEA. Aaargh, twas a rough day at sea.

The same weather system that flooded the streets of NYC yesterday made for a blustery day on the water. The ship was noticeably rocking and rolling, making it difficult to walk around without feeling like we'd had one "bottle of rum" too many. It was impossible to be out on the deck without being battered by the wind.

So we spent the day familiarizing ourselves with this very large ship. We learned that this is not considered a cruise ship, but an ocean liner. That's a distinction that surely means something to someone, but is lost on us. We found the observation deck, the impressive library, the theater, the spa… oh, and the shops! Fortunately, no money was spent there. Yet.

The food on the ship is abundant and impressive. We enjoyed a delightful breakfast, a lovely lunch at a table by the window looking out on the crashing waves, and a special gala dinner, where everyone was dressed up (including me!).

Tomorrow is our first port stop, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I'll be doing an excursion to a place called Peggy's Cove. It has a lighthouse!

For now, it's time to turn out the lights and get some sleep. I'm pleased to report that, once again, it's been a good day.