#rich cowan

[bethanydelleman]

Have you done a ranking or a review on the different Darcy portrayals in the adaptations?

If I must. I prefer Book!Darcy above all others and I don't think he's ever been properly portrayed. I'm also not the best person to answer this, most of the Pride & Prejudice adaptations I've only watched once. But here we go, best first:

#1. Lewis Fiander, BBC 1967 miniseries. He was snobby, he made jokes with Caroline, he was different in different situations. He's my favourite Darcy hands down and I think the best representation of this complex character.

#2. David Rintoul, BBC 1980 miniseries. They really played up the "stiff" but I still like him better than the others. He's not broody at least.

#3. Laurence Olivier, 1940 film. He's way too charming to be Darcy, he has charmed me...

#4. Martin Henderson, Bride & Prejudice film. He is snobby, he is rich, he takes care of his baby sister. I don't like his voice for some reason but he's a fairly good Darcy.

And then the rest:

Broody McBroodface, ShyBoiTM, Raspy Voice, and Idiot

(Aka: Colin Firth BBC 1995 miniseries, Matthew Macfadyen 2005 film, Sam Riley P&P&Z film, Elliot Cowan Lost in Austen miniseries)

To be honest, my dislike of 1995 and 2005's Darcys have less to do with the portrayals themselves than the way they've overridden the character in the novel and become faux canon. Also, I'm immune to Colin Firth, don't find him attractive at all, even in a wet shirt.

[jimmyspades]

JAMES SPADER as William Ashbury SHADOW OF FEAR (2004), dir. Rich Cowan

[pwlanier]

Ontario Police Have Arrested Eight People Suspected of Forging Thousands of Artworks Attributed to Indigenous Artist Norval Morrisseau

Forced child labor, murder, and a member of the Barenaked Ladies all factor into the story around the elaborate forgery ring.

Taylor Dafoe, March 6, 2023

Artist Norval Morrisseau in a photo from 1977. Photo: Graham Bezant/Toronto Star via Getty Images.

Eight people in Ontario, Canada have been arrested in connection to an art forgery ring responsible for producing and selling paintings falsely attributed to the late Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau.

The suspects now face 40 total charges related to forgery, fraud, and criminal organization, according to information shared by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) last week.

The arrests, made on March 1, mark the culmination of a multi-year investigation into the elaborate forgery scheme—the full story of which also includes forced child labor, murder, and a member of the Barenaked Ladies.

Considered by many to be the grandfather of contemporary Indigenous art in Canada, Morrisseau—or Copper Thunderbird, as he was sometimes known—was a member of the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation who fused Indigenous lore, mystical symbols, and political messages into his vibrantly colorful work. When he died in December 2007, Morrisseau left behind a rich and seemingly abundant body of work—though how much of that work is authentic remains somewhat of a mystery

The probe into fake works by the artist began in 2019, when Detective Sargent Jason Rybak of the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) in northwestern Ontario was researching the death of a man named Scott Dove.

“During that, [Dove’s] mom called me and asked if I had seen this documentary called There Are No Fakes, which had information on the murder of her son,” Rybak recalled in an interview last week with CBC/Radio-Canada.

Released earlier that year, the documentary begins with Kevin Hearn, keyboardist and guitarist for Barenaked Ladies, who had filed a complaint against a Toronto-based gallery alleging that a Morrisseau painting he had purchased there was a fake.

Hearn’s lawsuit had, at the time, been dismissed by a local court, but the film found evidence of a forgery ring that likely produced the artwork he owned, and suggested that they may have even been created by underage forgers in sweatshop-like conditions. (In September 2019, the ruling in Hearn’s case was overturned by the Ontario Court of Appeal and the rockstar was awarded $60,000 in compensation.)

After watching There Are No Fakes, Rybak reached out to Hearn. “That really was the jump-off point for this investigation,” the detective said.

Not long after, TBPS officers obtained a warrant to search the home of Gary Lamont. There, police “started seizing painting after painting after painting,” Rybak explained. “We quickly realized the magnitude of what we were getting ourselves into.” It was at that point that the team behind the investigation called the OPP for help.

A suspected Morrisseau forgery seized by police. Courtesy of the OPP.

Lamont is one of the eight suspects charged last week. The others are David John Voss, Diane Marie Champagne, Linda Joy Tkachyk, Jeffrey Gordon Cowan, James White, David P. Bremnerand, and Benjamin Paul Morrisseau—a nephew of the late artist.

Together, the suspects represent three different, yet connected groups of Morrisseau forgers. The first was launched back in 1996, while the others were established in 2002 and 2008, respectively. At times, all three rings collaborated.

Police believe Morrisseau made for a lucrative target both because he was an important artist and a prolific one.

The forgers “knew his lifestyle,” Rybak said. “They knew that he had struggles. They knew that he never kept a list of his paintings… At times [Morrisseau] would just give paintings away to people for milk and and eggs, and so they knew that there was no way in their mind of tracking legitimate paintings.”

To determine which paintings were fake, the investigative team took a “multifaceted approach,” according to OPP detective inspector Kevin Veillieux.

“We conducted a wide range of witness interviews that provided very valuable information,” Veillieux told CBC. “We had reached out to different groups that had the ability to do certain forensic testing for us.”

In total, investigators seized more than 1,000 fake Morrisseau artworks from a variety of sources, including collectors, galleries, and museums. Some were purchased for “tens of thousands of dollars,” according to police.

And there are likely many more Morrisseau forgeries still out there. Some even suggest there might be 10 times as many fakes as there are genuine Morrisseau artworks on the market. Veillieux encouraged owners of other suspected imitations to seek legal counsel before going to the police.

Artnet News

Comment from me regarding the last paragraph of this article.

“And there are likely many more Morrisseau forgeries still out there. Some even suggest there might be 10 times as many fakes as there are genuine Morrisseau artworks on the market”. This reminds me of a joke a dealer friend of mine used to tell. It was also a commentary on “savvy” American tourist/collectors. Regarding the extremely prolific and easy to forge landscapes by Camille-Corot he said “of the 15,000 documented Corot paintings in the world…..25,000 of them are in the United States”

[classicmarvelera]

Mary, Luke & Danny

Mary Jo Duffy's run on Power-Man and Iron Fist series is a significant contribution to the development of these two urban superheroes. Her unique perspective and storytelling style brought a fresh approach to the characters, making them more relatable to readers. Her work on these titles is still relevant and engaging for today's audiences, making it a must-read for any fan of the superhero genre

Duffy's run on Power-Man and Iron Fist began in 1979 where she took over where Chris Claremont had left off to focus on X-Men and lasted till 1982. During this time, she created a memorable cast of characters and storylines that explored the complex issues faced by the heroes. She also introduced new villains and allies that added depth to the series

One of the most significant contributions Duffy made to the Power-Man and Iron Fist series was the development of Luke Cage's character. Duffy explored Cage's past as a former criminal and how it affected his relationships and his superhero career. She also delved into his personal life which helped to humanize and flesh out the character

In addition to Cage, Duffy also developed Iron Fist's character by exploring his relationship with his mystical powers and his duty as a protector of K'un-Lun. She introduced new challenges and conflicts for Iron Fist, making him a more complex and layered character

Duffy's storytelling style was also unique and groundbreaking for its time. She incorporated socio-political themes into her stories with a lighthearted approach, addressing issues such as racism, poverty, and social inequality. This approach was considered daring and revolutionary at the time, and it helped to distinguish Power-Man and Iron Fist from other superhero titles

Her run on Power-Man and Iron Fist series was a significant contribution to the development of these two urban superheroes. Her original approach and unique perspective helped make the characters more relatable and engaging. Her work on these titles is still relevant and exciting for today's audiences, making it a must-read for any superhero fan

Mary Jo Duffy's run on Power-Man and Iron Fist is remembered more than her other works for Marvel Comics for several reasons. Compared to her other works, Duffy's run on Power-Man and Iron Fist was more consistent and had a greater impact on the characters. Her run on Power-Man and Iron Fist lasted for almost three years, during which she developed the characters and their relationships in a way that had lasting consequences. She introduced new villains and allies (El Águila, Señor Muerte / Señor Suerte to name a few)  that added to the richness of the series, and her socio-political themes and unique storytelling style helped to set the series apart from other superhero titles

In contrast, some of Duffy's other works for Marvel Comics were shorter and less impactful. For example, her run on the Wolverine series was only four issues long and did not leave as much of a lasting impression on the character or the series. Similarly, her work on the Fallen Angels series was relatively brief and did not have as significant an impact on the characters or the Marvel Universe as a whole

While Duffy's work on Power-Man and Iron Fist is undoubtedly her most memorable, her other works for Marvel Comics are still noteworthy for their unique perspectives and storytelling styles. In addition to the Wolverine and Fallen Angels series, Duffy also contributed to various other titles, including Star Wars, and The Defenders. Her contributions to these titles helped to shape the Marvel Universe and showcase her versatility as a writer

She worked with several talented artists during her run on Power-Man and Iron Fist, but two of the artists with whom she had the best chemistry were undoubtedly Kerry Gammill and Denys Cowan 

Cover Art by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson

Cowan worked with Duffy on several issues of the series, including some of the "Sabretooth" issues. His artwork perfectly complemented Duffy's writing, bringing her stories to life with dynamic action scenes, expressive character designs, and a strong attention to detail

Gammill's style was well-suited to the urban setting of Power-Man and Iron Fist, and he was able to capture the gritty, street-level feel of the series with ease. His artwork was also able to convey the emotional depth of Duffy's stories, particularly in scenes that focused on the characters' relationships and personal struggles

Both’s artistic contributions to Power-Man and Iron Fist helped to make Duffy's run on the series one of the most memorable and influential in the history of the characters

From Iron Man Vol. 1 No. 103

Overall, while Mary Jo Duffy's run on Power-Man and Iron Fist is remembered more than her other works for Marvel Comics, her entire body of work is noteworthy for its unique perspectives, socio-political themes, and groundbreaking storytelling style

If you want to experience Duffy's run on Power-Man and Iron Fist for yourself, be sure to check out Marvel Comics' collected editions, available now via Amazon.com Affiliate links. These collections are a great way to experience the entire run of these groundbreaking series and to appreciate the impact that Mary Jo Duffy had on the world of comics

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

Does anyone have suggestions of redhead actresses who could replace Sophie Turner as Rose Blossom (Riverdale)? My go-to ideas would be Ellie Bamber or Holland Rosen or Abigail Cowan but I’ve used them already, and I love Sophie but the vibes aren’t really spoiled rich bitch as much as I’d like

[theessayproject]

ISU Presentation notes

Biography of Emily Brontë

Born as Emily Jane Brontë 

Known by friends and family as Ellis Bells

Emily was born in Thornton, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom on July 30, 1818

She was the fifth child to Reverend Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell Brontë

She died on December 19, 1894 at Haworth, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom.

She attended Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge at age 6

She loved literature as a child as she has read extensively and came up with many stories as a child

Emily Jane Brontë was known better by her friends and family as Ellis Bells was born in Thorton, Yorkshire, England on July 30,1818. She was one of they five children growing up in the Brontë household.

Summary of Wuthering Heights

A servant who resides in Wuthering Heights tells a traveller of the unfortunate story of lovers Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, who despite their deep affection must live life without each other.

Nelly Dean who is one of they people who narrate the part of they story and Mr. Lockwood narrates they majority of they rest.

Characters in the book

Catherine Earnshaw

Daughter of Mr. Earnshaw, sister of Hindley, foster sister and true love of Heathcliff, wife of Edgar Linton, and mother of Cathy Linton

Gorgeous and Fiery. Penetrating eyes. Woman of Conflict. She craves luxury and more (Edgar) but still runs wild across moors for Heathcliff.

She loves Heathcliff with a huge and overwhelming passion.

She is impetuous, proud, and sometimes haughty

Heathcliff

Foster son of mr. Earnshaw; Foster brother to Hindley and Catherine. Husband to Isabella; Father of Linton.

He is the conflicted villain/hero in the novel

Mr. Earnshaw found him on the street and brings him home to Wuthering Heights where he and Catherine become ‘Soulmates’

He is the ultimate Outsider

He eventually owns Wuthering Heights but he doesn’t feel at home like he does on moors.

His love for Catherine is gigantic and untamed and matters to him more than anything else.

He’s not a bad guy. He’s a poor orphan who got success but not in the way he wanted

Themes in the book

One of the most popular themes in this book is ‘Twisted Love’. We see that in the beginning of the book where Heathcliff says he wants to be nothing like those rich men, just to be himself and when he leaves he returns as a rich man himself.

Catherine marries out of family love and an arranged love where she isn’t loved. 

There is also what is more-likely called two sided people. Where we see Heathcliff vowing that he will not be like the rich me when he grew up but when he left to return three years later he is the rich man he vowed to never be.

There is revenge in the book, since growing up Heathcliff is severely bullied by Hindley he wants revenge and wants Hindley to pay for his said actions.

The social class that ties the story together. We see people who want to be together but they can’t due to the fact of their social differences.

Twisted Romance

When you put two very different people together theres only so many options on what could happen. They will either look past their differences and carry on with life or they will attack each other about that singular difference.

Catherine said she couldn’t marry Heathcliff because he wasn’t able to support her needs. Even though Catherine loves Heathcliff deeply she lets a difference get in the way.

Heathcliff on the other hand doesn’t care about his social status and or his money issues. When he marry’s Isabella it’s out of jealousy because he couldn’t have Catherine

This type of love that they both deny are leading them into a very self-destructive type of love.

Two Sided People

When you meet someone you get many different impressions about them. As children Heathcliff and Catherine were what many people would describe as ‘Childhood Sweethearts’ as they got older and matured more their feelings developed for each other, but Catherine said she could never be in a devoted relationship with Heathcliff just do to their way’s in life.

Heathcliff thought Catherine was the true love of his life. When she ‘rejected’ him he realized that love could never be real unless your with the right person.

Revenge

Hindley severly bullies and beats up his so called ‘adopted’ brother because Mr. Earnshaw seems to take a better liking to Heathcliff.

When Mr. Earnshaw does pass the bullying only got worse as Hindley saw it as Heathcliff’s mistake.

When Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights and comes back we see that the role of bully has reversed. 

Heathcliff now has married Isabella Linton and severely mistreats Hareton who is Hindley’s son.

Heathcliff then takes an advantage on a drunken Hindley on winning Wuthering Heights for himself

Social Class

The role in the social classes are able to determinate who marry’s who, the hatred over who’s better, the ownership of Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights.

In the book Catherine ends up marrying Edgar because of they social class that is between her and Heathcliff. She said that he wouldn’t be able to support her lifestyle and thus making Heathcliff leave for 3 years and coming back as an very wealthy man.

Summary of the Movie

The story of two teenagers who have Cystic Fibrosis who must stay at least 6 feet apart but when they offer each other a friendship they make a rule about being five feet instead of the original six. This goes terribly because Stella who is very into her daily check-ups in the hospital and keeping herself on track is let off the rails by Will who rebels against all rules at bay.

Stella has grown up in they hospital for most her life due to her condition of Cystic Fibrosis. She makes friends along the way like Poe. (Spoiler: He dies) But when most of her friends have either died or gotten transplants for new lungs she’s left by herself. When Will decides to offer her an friendship where they exchange there thoughts Stella hesitates until she realises that she needs someone to talk to.

Characters in they Movie

Stella is one of those people who live by the rules. Round the clock check-ups and medication at certain times. She is living her life as best as she can while waiting for a new lung transplant.

Will is what most people would call the rebel in the movie. He lives but not living at all, he doesn’t take his medication and sneaks out and does rebellious things.

They both equally share one braincell in the world of romance. When they agree on friendship and medical help. They offer something to the other which they both never knew they needed.

Clip Explanation

Stella at this point accepts Will’s idea of being friends. 

She wants him to understand that she may be a bit square in the way of rebelling but she’s willing to get some chips around her corner if it gains her a friend.

Will himself agrees fully because in the beginning he was going on about how there’s more to life than just basic hospital procedures.

We see Stella holding a meter stick that is approximately 5ft long and accepts they friendship with Will while breaking one of the biggest rules (6ft) Stella offers Will an life where rules are made to be followed but can be made exceptional

How does it relate to my book

Since revenge was a theme. We see Stella revenging her teenage years by accepting the friendship with Will. She grew up knowing the hospital walls and Poe who was her only other friend before he had died, and nothing more. She wants to revenge what she has missed as a full teenager such as the romance factor in her life.

There’s somewhat a social class but it doesn’t have to do with what it was many years ago. When you have Cystic Fibrosis everybody has a level of severity in their cases. Some more deadly that others. Stella herself still has a chance at life because she is waiting on a lung transplant. Will doesn’t have much of a chance since he discards his medication and refuses to follow the rules. The social class in the movie is like a rank of your health.

[amphtaminedreams]

Mid-year Fashion Update for 2024 in (Mostly) A-Z Format: RTW, Pre-fall, & a Little Haute Couture (Part 1)

-top to bottom: 3.1 Phillip Lim RTW F/W24, Acne Studios “, Adeam “-

-clockwise l-r: 16Arlington RTW F/W24, Ahluwalia “, Akris “, Alain Paul “-

-top to bottom: Alaïa RTW F/W24, Alberta Ferretti “, Alessandra Rich “-

-clockwise l-r: Alejandra Alonso Rojas RTW F/W24, Ambush “, Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood “, A.W.A.K.E. Mode “, Angel Schlesser “-

-clockwise l-r: Alexander McQueen RTW F/W24, Alexis Mabille “, Altuzarra “, Alexis Mabille haute couture S/S24-

-top to bottom: Ann Demeulemeester RTW F/W24, Anna Sui “, Antonio Marras “-

-clockwise l-r: AO Yes RTW F/W24, Danielle Frankel “, CPlus Series “, Dion Lee “, Emilio Pucci “-

-clockwise l-r: ArdAzAei RTW F/W24, Ashish “, Atlein “, ATXV “-

-top to bottom: Area RTW F/W4, Armani Privé haute couture S/S24, Bally RTW F/W24-

-clockwise l-r: AVAVAV RTW F/W24, Avellano “, AZ Factory haute couture S/S24, Batsheva RTW F/W24-

-clockwise l-r: Balmain RTW F/W24, Bibhu Mohapatra “, Bottega Veneta “, pre-fall 2024, Benito Santos RTW F/W24-

-clockwise l-r: Baum und Pferdgarten RTW F/W24, Bevza “, Blumarine “, Calvin Luo “, Dominnico “, Bora Aksu “-

-clockwise l-r: Brandon Maxwell RTW F/W24, by Marlene Birger “, Carven “, Casablanca “-

-clockwise l-r: Burberry RTW F/W24, pre-fall 2024, Carolina Herrera RTW F/W24, Central Saint Martins F/W24-

-top to bottom: Cecillie Bahnsen RTW F/W24, Chiara Boni La Petite Robe “, Chopova Lowena “-

-top to bottom: Celia Kritharioti haute couture S/S24, Celine RTW F/W24-

-clockwise l-r: Chet Lo RTW F/W24, Chocheng “, Christian Cowan “, Chika Kisada “, Christopher Esber “-

-top to bottom: Chloé RTW F/W24, pre-fall 2024-

-clockwise l-r: Christian Siriano RTW F/W24, Colville “, Coperni RTW F/W24, Colville RTW F/W23-

-clockwise l-r: Collina Strada RTW F/W24, Connor Ives “, Cult Gaia RTW S/S24, Des Phemmes RTW F/W24-

-top to bottom: Courrèges pre-fall 2024, RTW F/W24-

-top to bottom: David Koma pre-fall 2024, RTW F/W24, Del Core “-

-top to bottom: Di Petsa RTW F/W24, Diesel “, Dries Van Noten “-

-clockwise l-r: Dilara Findikoglu RTW F/W24, Diotima “, Durazzi Milano “, EENK “-

-clockwise l-r: Elena Velez RTW F/W24, Ernest W.Baker Men’s RTW F/W24, Ester Manas RTW F/W24, Eudon Choi “-

-top to bottom: Elie Saab RTW F/W24, haute couture S/S24-

-top to bottom: Emilia Wickstead RTW F/W24, Emporio Armani “, Erdem “-

-top to bottom: Ermanno Scervino RTW F/W24, Etro “, Fendi RTW F/W24, haute couture S/S24-

-clockwise l-r: Feben RTW F/W24, Feng Chen Wang Men’s RTW F/W24, Filippa K RTW F/W24, Fetico “, Gabriele Colangelo “-

-top to bottom: Ferragamo RTW F/W24, Ferrari “, Gabriela Hearst “-

[weirdlookindog]

Russell Thorndike - The Master of the Macabre (Rich & Cowan, 1946)

[yssa3002]

Giving Transverse Identities: Cabaret (Fosse, 1972) Viewing Response II

In his 1972 film, Cabaret, Bob Fosse sets the scene for a doomed love story between Sally Bowles, a cabaret singer, and a British PhD student, Brian Roberts, in Berlin 1930, when Berlin was experiencing the rise of the Nazi presence. Through cabaret numbers paired with Sally and Brian's frivolous romance, Fosse explores nonconforming sexual identities and behaviors, along with the growing political tension of the time.

In the photo above, we see Sally (left), Brian (right) and Maximillian (center) dancing in a circle in a drunken daze. Some time after Sally and Brian's relationship became sexual, the rich baron, Maximillian von Heune, entered their lives. Maximillian represents the temptations money allows--especially for Sally who dreams of becoming a famous actor--spoiling Sally with everything from expensive perfume to fur coats. In one particularly profound scene, Maximillian tries to gift Brian with a cigarette case which he refuses to accept. Later, when the three of them visit Maximillian's estate, he tries to give Brian the case again, which he finally accepts. Though the two mens' relationship had come off as strained seeing as Brian had expressed his worries to Sally about her leaving him for Maximillian, it is at this point that viewers begin to realize there may be something more between them. The reality that both Sally and Brian will have sexual relations with Maximillian--a married man in a non-monogamous relationship--becomes clear during the scene pictured above. During this entire, fleeting weekend trip with Maximillian, the scene cuts to the MC saying "money" for only a second or two, referencing the song he and Sally had just performed about how money "makes the world go round". I thought this scene nicely exemplified the purpose cabaret has in the film. Their weekend trip--out of the city--filled with extra-marital sexual relations, drinking, dancing, and fine dining, is an escape from the real world, just as the cabaret is.

In her essay, "We Walk Among You: Trans Identity Politics Goes to the Movies", Sharon Cowan uses Cabaret to understand how film creates meaning from our preconceived notions of sex and gender. She argues that the cabaret setting is one of experimentation, writing, "The viewer is drawn into a world where frontiers are made to be crossed, boundaries to be broken down, and the fluid movement from one to the other is achieved with humour and playfulness" (Cowan 106). This "humor and playfulness" is a sort of manufactured happiness, which is the purpose of the cabaret. This kind of fleeting happiness is also what our main couple experiences in their frivolous excursions with the baron, a kind of happiness found only when trying to escape harsh realities.

[eloisesundal]

Exploring Trans Identity in Cabaret: A Cinematic Analysis

In Bob Fosse's Cabaret (1972), Sharon Cowan's analysis of trans identity politics illuminates the nuanced portrayal of gender and sexuality, particularly in the iconic "Money" scene. As Sally Bowles performs amidst the decadent backdrop of the Kit Kat Club, Cowan's insights shed light on the subversive nature of gender presentation. The mise-en-scène, characterized by extravagant costumes and exaggerated makeup, challenges conventional gender norms, inviting viewers to question societal constructs.

Cowan's examination of narrative dynamics is evident as Sally's performance blurs the boundaries between masculine and feminine, embodying a fluidity that transcends binary categorizations. The cinematography captures the ambiguity of gender through close-ups that emphasize Sally's provocative gestures, inviting viewers to confront their preconceptions.

Moreover, the lighting design contributes to the scene's subversive undertones, with stark contrasts accentuating Sally's defiance of societal expectations. Through strategic editing, Fosse amplifies the tension between conformity and liberation, underscoring the complexities of identity politics.

Ultimately, Cowan's analysis enhances our understanding of Cabaret's thematic richness, illustrating how cinematic elements converge to challenge normative notions of gender and sexuality. The scene serves as a microcosm of the film's broader exploration of identity, underscoring the enduring relevance of Fosse's masterpiece in contemporary discourse.

[lustbitten]

mobile friendly muse page

all fcs on this page are also available for new charas * means not yet added to full muse page

males:

andrew rogers / sebastian stan fc / heterosexual / 31-36 yo / mob boss august cowan / pablo schreiber fc / heterosexual / 41-48 yo christian deleon / lewis tan fc / heterosexual / 33-42 yo / handyman darren pittman / dacre montgomery fc / heterosexual / 28-34 yo grant carpenter / andrew lincoln fc / heterosexual / 49-53 yo / rich divorcee jason griffin / henry cavill fc / heterosexual / 35-39 yo jude vega / jon bernthal fc / heterosexual / 42-51 yo nicholas vaughn / ben barnes fc / heterosexual / 34-39 yo samuel hart / frank grillo fc / heterosexual / 48-54 yo vincent jimenez / pedro pascal fc / heterosexual / 44-52 yo

females:

addison greer / anne hathaway fc / pansexual / 36-42 yo aida warren / alycia debnam carey fc / pansexual (prefers ladies) / 26-32 yo arden blackwell / jessie mei li fc / pansexual / 29-34 yo celine houston / alexis ren or lili reinhart fc / pansexual / 25-31 yo channing graves / elizabeth olsen fc / pansexual / 28-34 yo cherry bennett / natalia dyer fc / pansexual / 22-28 yo frankie benton / jessica chastain fc / pansexual / 38-46 yo hanna burgess / madelyn cline fc / pansexual / 23-29 yo heather galvan / alexa demie fc / pansexual / 28-34 yo ivanna marks / camila mendes fc / pansexual / 26-31 yo maria almasi / may calamawy fc / pansexual / 34-40 yo marie mcdaniels / famke janssen fc / pansexual / 41-47 yo mayson hayes / morena baccarin fc / pansexual / 38-42 yo rowan dunn / grace van dien fc / pansexual / 25-29 yo stella monroe / dianna agron fc / pansexual / 26-37 yo

faces i'm willing to play

lili reinhart madelaine petsch sydney sweeney dakota johnson ella purnell sophie nelisse camila morrone savannah smith liz gillies alexa demie natasha lyonne oscar isaac jensen ackles glen powell charlie cox andrew garfield john boyega + more, just ask!

[foodsgoodforheartdiseases]

FOODS GOOD FOR HEART DISEASES

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a cumulative term used for several conditions which effect your heart. It includes diseases like -

·         Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease

·         Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)

·         Heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects)

·         Heart valve disease

·         Disease of the heart muscle

·         Heart infection

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Heart diseases can be treated easily when caught early. Each disease has its own symptoms but here are a few common ones.

·    Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort   (angina)

·    Shortness of breath

·    Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood     vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed

·    Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back

Dizziness, light-headedness and fainting.

Now, that we’ve established the symptoms and causes of a heart disease, let’s look at the list of foods that help maintain a healthy heart.

Right foods for a healthy heart

Healthy heart is the way to go. When trying to mind the health of the heart, one’s food habits matter a lot. One should maintain a healthy diet and try to cut back on food with high level of sodium, high fat dairy products, fatty meats, etc.  and should focus on including more fibre in their diet.

1.   Reishi Mushroom are rich in sterols

Reishi mushrooms have a lot of nutrients which includes beta-glucans and triterpenoids, compounds that can lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels, reducing your diabetes and heart disease risk. They help in boosting immunity and reduce stress levels.

Research shows that people with clogged arteries have reduced chest pains and shortness of breath with the consumption of reishi mushroom extracts. Reishi mushrooms are also rich in sterols, which in combination with triterpenoids helps in maintaining healthy blood lipid levels.

 2.   Fish High in omega-3s

According to a study, Omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish may have a protective role in the risk of developing heart disease and slightly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease events and arrhythmias. They help keep your arteries clear, put your blood pressure on an even keel, and curb your triglycerides, which are fats in your blood that can raise your heart risk.

 3.   Dark chocolate for your cravings and arteries

Several studies have shown that consumption of dark chocolate less than six serves a week has helped with lowering the risk of heart diseases like developing calcified plaque in the arteries and coronary heart disease. It is advised to consume a high-quality chocolate containing at least 70% of cocoa (The fibre and protein increase with higher cocoa and the sugar decreases).

 4.   Legumes are high in fibre

According to results of an abstract published by the department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, consumption of legumes four or more times in a week can reduce risk of coronary heart disease by 22% and cardiovascular disease risk by 11%, as compared to those who consumed legumes only once a week. Consumption of legumes, which are high in bean protein and water-soluble fibre, may be associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

 5.   Flaxseeds and chia seeds strengthen the heart walls

Flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, fibre and phytoestrogens to boost heart health. Chia seeds also provide omega 3, fibre and protein and can be eaten whole. As a plant source of fatty acids, chia and flax seeds contain alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), which has antioxidant properties. According to a combined study conducted by the universities of East Anglia, Durham and Manchester, UK, consuming ALAs may slightly reduce heart attack risk and death from coronary events.

 6.   Leafy Vegetables contain magnesium

A new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Joondalup, WA, in Australia finds that leafy greens and other vegetables high in nitrates in particular confer significant cardiovascular benefits. Spinach is one of the best sources of dietary magnesium, and consumption of spinach is associated with a raft of health benefits. Regular consumption of magnesium helps maintain a healthy heart beat.

 7.   Berries are full of antioxidants

Berries are also full of antioxidant polyphenols, which help to reduce heart disease risk. Berries are a great source of fibre, folate, iron, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C, and they are low in fat. One study, conducted by the Universities of Nevada and Oklahoma, in 33 adults with obesity showed that consuming strawberries at two and a half servings for 4 weeks significantly improved insulin resistance and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

 Tips for a healthy heart diet

·     Check your portion sizes – Managing the portion size of every meal is a very important step which helps in preventing all kinds of diseases, especially those of the heart. One should keep in mind to not cut off important nutrients.

·     Include Physical exercise in your routine - A number of studies have also shown that people who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer a sudden heart attack or other life-threatening cardiac event. While exercise has benefits in and of itself, the best way to prevent heart disease is to combine exercise with a healthy diet.

Additional benefits of exercise

Improves     the muscles’ ability to pull oxygen out of the blood, reducing the need     for the heart to pump more blood to the muscles

Reduces     stress hormones that can put an extra burden on the heart

Works     like a beta blocker to slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure and     increases HDL or “good” cholesterol and helps control triglycerides.

Including the foods mentioned above along with a balanced diet and an active life style is the secret to a healthy heart.

[byneddiedingo]

Bette Davis and Claude Rains in Mr. Skeffington (Vincent Sherman, 1944) Cast: Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Walter Abel, George Coulouris, Richard Waring, Marjorie Riordan, Robert Shayne, John Alexander, Jerome Cowan, Johnny Mitchell, Dorothy Peterson, Peter Whitney, Bill Kennedy. Screenplay: Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, based on a novel by Elizabeth von Arnim. Cinematography: Ernest Haller. Art direction: Robert M. Haas. Film editing: Ralph Dawson. Music: Franz Waxman. Although the title role of Mr. Skeffington belongs to Claude Rains, the movie is really centered on Mrs. Skeffington, née Fanny Trellis, played by Bette Davis, a fact reflected in the Oscar nominations to Davis for best actress and to Rains for supporting actor. It's a film that gives Davis the opportunity to run the age gamut, from youthful beauty to haggard old lady. Unfortunately, although the screenplay is credited to the usually reliable Julius and Philip Epstein, who also served as producers, the director is the undistinguished Vincent Sherman, and the resulting film is tediously conventional. It lacks some of the verve of Hollywood movies of the era that was often supplied by a gallery of character players, leaving Davis and Rains to do what they can to carry the story: Spoiled, flighty woman marries a rich man she doesn't love, both of them suffer but are reconciled at the end when she's old and he's blind. It has the distinction of being one of the few films of the period to deal directly with antisemitism, but it doesn't do so with much real conviction. Still, Davis is always fun to watch, even if the nearly two and a half hour run time tends to challenge even that fun.

[rolledspinepodcasts]

Dark Horse Presents

Species (1995-2007)

Species #1-4 (1995) by Dennis Feldman, Jon Foster, & Brian Kane

Species: Human Race #1-4 (1996) by Phil Hester, Denys Cowan, Mark A. Nelson, & Various

Species: Naked Aggression by John Layman & Rich Bonk (2003)

Avatar Press Species Special: "Offspring" by Brian Pulido & Mico Suayan (2006)

[xtruss]

The Notorious Pirate King Who Vanished With the Riches of a Mughal Treasure Ship

In the late 17th century, Henry Avery—the subject of the first global manhunt—bribed his way into the Bahamas

— Sean Kingsley and Rex Cowan | April 2, 2024

Some said the pirate king went to ground in London or Scotland, others that he died penniless and was buried in an unmarked grave in Devon. Or was he sipping fine French wine in the hills above Marseille? Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Henry Avery stealthily steered past Hog Island. In the English-controlled waters of the Bahamas, his crew was under strict orders to call him Captain Henry Bridgeman. The Fancy’s gold, silver and diamonds, plundered off the coast of India from a Mughal emperor’s treasure ship, the Gunsway (or Ganj-i Sawa’i), were tucked away under false floorboards in Avery’s cabin.

Palm trees bowed toward the battered ship and the newly nicknamed pirate king. Sea oats shimmered in the early morning breeze. With blue skies and light winds, it was going to be a beautiful day. The final leg into Nassau’s calm harbor was tricky. It took a skillful old hand to squeeze through the narrow channel. On either side, shifting sandbars waited to chew up and spit out wayward traders, nationality be damned. One false move, and all the months of jeopardy would be for nothing.

It was April 1, 1696—a day to make fools of the smartest of men. Luckily, Avery knew all about the island of New Providence. He understood what made the darkest of souls tick and was skilled at turning any man to his way of thinking.

New Providence was the perfect place to make landfall. It straddled the ancient sea lanes between the Province of Carolina and Jamaica (both British colonies) and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Havana was just a three days’ hop away. From Nassau, would-be pirates could watch the panorama of New World trade gliding by.

At 28 miles long and 11 miles wide, New Providence, the heart of the islands of the Bahamas, was big enough to lay low. Best of all, it had a reputation for aiding and abetting villains. The pirate mantra “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies” could have been invented for this dodgy outback.

Avery knew the bad folk of New Providence were as rotten as a shipwrecked barrel of apples. In fact, he was banking on it. The Bahamas’ motley mob included experts in fishing wrecks sunk along the Florida coast, locals who rushed to salvage Spanish, British, Dutch and French valuables lost to hurricanes and storms. It was easy and generous work that beat breaking one’s back tilling the hateful earth.

A view of New Providence today. Sean Kingsley

The New Providence of 1696 was a long way from becoming the world’s wickedest Republic of Pirates, its chaotic lanes home to such notorious figures as Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Calico Jack Rackham, Charles Vane, Mary Read and Anne Bonny. By the fall of 1717, as many as 800 pirates would rendezvous in New Providence to divide spoils, fence looted cargo and party away their ill-gotten gains. At times, the lair swelled to a thousand cutthroats, commanded by a changing “who’s who” of crazed leaders. Brawn and brains were respected, but strength always won control. All pirate captains understood that on these shores, the “strongest man carries the day.”

Avery had a knack for reading places and people like others read books. As an ex-Royal Navy sailor who became the skipper of the meanest pirate ship on the high seas, he needed to decide in a blink of an eye who he could trust and what gossip peddled in some mosquito-infested East African tavern was hogwash. His gut rarely let him down.

Peering through his eyepiece, Long Ben—as Avery’s crew called him on deck—made out a few dozen makeshift huts inland of the trees screening the coast. He spied what was little more than a shantytown on the make. Locals were gathering salt to hawk to passing cod-fishing traders from Newfoundland and New England, who used it to stop shipboard meat from rotting too quickly. The New Providence of 1700, with 160 houses and a church, was still a few years away. Up the slope, piles of masonry were being cut and plastered into foundation trenches to build the town’s desperately needed Fort Nassau, paid for by port customs’ profits. Equipped with 28 cannons, its gates would only open in February 1697.

Aurangzeb sits on a golden throne while holding a hawk. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Avery, the man who put the world’s economy on a knife-edge by plundering the flagship of Aurangzeb of India, possibly the richest person in the world, drew deeply on a pipe filled with Virginia’s finest tobacco. The gray smoke billowed into the charred rafters of the Wheel of Fortune inn and out the chimney stack to freedom. Avery was thinking about liberty, too. The hard knocks of family life as a child, and betrayal by the Royal Navy, had shattered any dreams Avery once cherished. These days, he was a cold-blooded hyper-realist.

Avery had just become the first pirate commander to chase down a Mughal emperor’s treasure ship. Overnight, he and his crew were millionaires, celebrities, notorious. The pirate would enjoy the moment before deciding his fate. There was much to be said for staying in the Americas—the laid-back lifestyle, the tropical mood, the sun on your back standing next to the tiller.

But he viewed the people as vermin. And the culture. What culture? Avery had rolled out his deadly plans with all the guile and strategic know-how that his navy training had taught him. His scheming wasn’t over yet. Ever since he’d stripped the stricken Gunsway off the coast of Surat, Avery had been thinking about payback: to the family of his old governor who cheated him out of his fortune, to his country for betraying his men in A Coruña, Spain, and pushing him to mutiny.

An 18th-century illustration of Henry Avery. Public domain via the Internet Archive

Avery wondered how much power a man with a fortune like his could buy. To him, power meant returning home to England, the land of his fathers, and Bideford in Devon, a town thick with bittersweet memories. Yet again, he would prove the world wrong.

The nectar of the pirate’s sweet tobacco was a welcome respite from the anarchy of New Providence. The town had no proper governing body and little order. Human waste and garbage choked the alleys. Outside the tavern window, Avery saw the bones of repairs, abandoned hulls and burned-out prizes littering the shores. The island’s wide, open beaches were perfect for careening hulls, beaching ships and listing them to one side to scrape off the foul barnacles and shipworms that infest the tropical Caribbean.

Avery sipped his glass of wine. His plan had gone just how he’d hoped. On paper, Nicholas Trott, governor of New Providence, was an upstanding pillar of the community. Avery knew better. He had gained intelligence about the top dog’s true nature.

Trott liked to frog-march around the harbor with his crisp leather ledger tucked under his arm, all-important. But make no bones about it: Avery knew that the governor was a snake in the grass without a shred of experience serving king and country. As Richard Coote, the powerful First Earl of Bellomont and the governor of Massachusetts Bay, warned London in 1699, Trott was “the greatest pirate-broker that ever was in America.”

An 18th-century depiction of Avery, with the Fancy shown in the background. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

The king of the pirates would play nice, try diplomacy. If that failed, he would have no qualms strangling Trott’s neck until his eyes popped out.

To Avery, dropping into Nassau and dealing with Trott held no big risk of being slung into a dungeon for piracy. Trott was no gamble. Here was a man who could be bought, greedy to top up his demeaning £30 annual salary. Money meant power. Power meant status. The question was: What was Trott’s price?

To be sure his reckoning was sound, that morning Avery had moored the Fancy off the island’s coast and sent three of his men to New Providence with a personal note for the governor. Avery, in the guise of Bridgeman, pretended his ship was a slaver bending the rules as so many did, trafficking enslaved Africans and elephant tusks without the seal of approval from the Royal African Company, which owned the British crown’s monopoly over the trade.

The Fancy’s tall tale claimed the crew needed permission to take on provisions before going straight. Avery sent a purse stuffed with pieces of eight to make sure the governor got the point. In return for the courtesy of letting him land, Trott could expect a tip of 20 silver pieces of eight and 2 pieces of gold from each crew member. Avery would pay double as captain.

Trott’s fawning reply played the innocent to perfection. With a nudge and a wink, he embraced Avery’s crew as “soldiers of fortune” who “had done no Christian nation any damage and were the king’s subjects.” Trott sent the trio back to the Fancy, weighed down with a cask of wine, a hogshead of beer and a cask of sugar, as well as permission for Avery to land at his leisure.

A proclamation for Avery's apprehension. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Avery knew full well that the clincher for Trott would be the offer of the added tip of the Fancy, with its 46 guns and 100 barrels of gunpowder. French forces had recently seized the island of Exuma, 140 miles away. Rumor had it they were heading for Nassau with three warships and 320 men. Fear filled the air. Nassau had no men-of-war ships, and Trott’s stone fort was still a building site. But with dozens of guns lining the shore, the French would think twice about raping and pillaging.

By the time Trott grounded the Fancy on Hog Island and started stripping its bones bare, he had raked in a small fortune. The strong man was rich and had hardly needed to lift a finger.

As the weeks unfolded, however, only one winner emerged. Avery’s crew scattered. The pirates were spotted openly walking the streets of Philadelphia, thick as thieves with judges and sheriffs, the Gunsway’s riches buying influence and power. Others preferred spending their loot in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. A few of the crew stayed local. Two men settled in Bermuda. Some seven of Avery’s crew married in New Providence and bribed Trott to sign royal pardons. Most of the pirates went straight.

All the while, the rumor mill churned alarmingly. The wrecking ball of Avery’s recent past was catching up with him. East India Company agents were seeking the pirate king in Bombay and Calcutta. The Royal Navy was thinking about dispatching battleships to hunt for the Fancy in the waters between West Africa, Madagascar and Arabia. Bounty hunters crisscrossed the world from the Indian Ocean to the English Channel. Avery was the most wanted man in the world. The world’s first global manhunt was underway.

As the number of guns for hire searching for the pirate grew, proclamations for his apprehension flew from port to port. The legend of Avery the pirate king echoed through the world’s taverns, smoky coffee shops and fashionable ladies’ salons. Avery had shown the world how to unpick the richest treasure box on earth and revealed the wealth waiting to be stolen from heathens’ pockets.

A 19th-century illustration of Captain William Kidd. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Every pirate wanted to match Avery’s strike. The golden age of piracy had begun. Men of fortune flooded the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Captain William Kidd, the Scottish privateer sent on a mission in September 1696 to hunt down and destroy pirates, instead joined the free-for-all by seizing the Quedagh Merchant. Four years later, Kidd ended up dangling from the end of a rope at London’s Execution Dock.

Avery, for his part, wanted to keep his precious head on his neck. So far, his plan had worked like a dream. Trott was eating out of the palm of his hand. Avery was now the strongest man in Nassau.

The burning question in need of an urgent resolution was how to slip through the closing net. Should the pirate king hide out in the Caribbean or head to England for payback? Should he live a life of luxury in the West Indies or risk it all and be damned for retribution on far more dangerous British soil?

Within a few months of his arrival in the Bahamas, Avery was back on the waves. He was seen landing in Ireland in June 1696. That November, five of his crew members were hanged in England. But Avery himself escaped punishment. Some said the pirate king went to ground in London or Scotland, others that he died penniless and was buried in an unmarked grave in Devon. Or was he sipping fine French wine in the hills above Marseille?

Most ballads and books were convinced that Avery vanished in Madagascar, home to a supposed utopian pirate colony called Libertatia. But one fact was certain: When the Lords Justices of England offered the “assurance of our most gracious pardon” to all pirates in December 1698, only Kidd and Avery were excluded by name. The pirate king was still wanted, dead or alive.

[writemarcus]

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS Make Their New Jersey Premiere At Mile Square Theatre In April

The 24 Hour Plays are a non-profit theater company that bring creative communities together to write, rehearse and perform new plays and musicals in twenty-four hours.

By: A.A. Cristi

Mar. 27, 2024

On April 7th, The 24 Hour Plays make their New Jersey debut at Hoboken's Mile Square Theatre. Established in 1995, The 24 Hour Plays are a non-profit theater company that bring creative communities together to write, rehearse and perform new plays and musicals in twenty-four hours.

“Mile Square Theatre and The 24 Hour Plays honor an abiding belief in the power of creative collaboration to develop transformative multicultural voices for the theater,” said Kevin R. Free, Artistic Director of Mile Square Theatre. “We're thrilled to be a partner to The 24 Hour Plays for its New Jersey premiere and host to a delightful mix of talents from New Jersey and New York City to make the program really sing.” 

“The relationships artists build during formative theatre experiences like The 24 Hour Plays last their entire careers,” said producer Leo Layla Diaz. “We seek the very best cross-section of multi-generational and multi-cultural theater artists – and we arm them with what they need to hone their voices for this unique event."

Actors slated to participate include Gabriel Hernandez (Quarter Rican), Nirvaan Pal (School of Rock), Matt Lawler (“Station 11”, “Billions”), Kennedy Kanagawa (Into the Woods), Stephanie Kurtzuba (“The Irishman;” Wolf of Wall Street;” “Annie”), Joy Katharine Donze (Funny, Like an Abortion), DeAnna Supplee (B.R.O.K.E.N. code B.I.R.D switch.), Jason Yanto, Joelle Zazz, Maya Jeyam, Julia Way, Rich Frohman, David F. Gow (“The Girls on the Bus”), Jordan Ho, Grant Madison Stanton, Ross Cowan, Keivana Wallace (The Christmas Tree Farm) and Ian Lloyd Sanchez.

Writers include Susie Felber (Host/Producer "The Hawk"), DW Gregory (The Yellow Stocking Play, Radium Girls), Iraisa Ann Reilly (The Jersey Devil is a Papi Chulo), Pia Wilson (Black Bee), Marcus Scott (Sibling Rivalries), and Raakhee Mirchandani (JOURNEY TO THE STARS: KALPANA CHAWLA, ASTRONAUT). Directors include Julie Tucker, Rachel Dart (The Christmas Tree Farm) and Goldie Patrick (Paradise Blue). Musical Guests include Faye Chiao and Tasha Gordon-Solmon (Fountain of You). Additional artists to be announced.

Participating actors, writers, directors and production staff gather for the first time on the evening of Saturday, April 6th to introduce themselves and share prop and costume items they've been asked to bring. The writers will take inspiration from this meet and greet to write new plays overnight. In the morning, the actors and directors will receive the six new plays and team up with production staff to begin their rehearsal and tech process, with curtain at 7pm that night.

The 24 Hour Plays: Hoboken are produced by Leo Layla Diaz and Mark Armstrong in conjunction with Mile Square Theatre's Artistic Director Kevin R. Free.  The event will honor the long-standing contributions of the Rostan Family to Mile Square Theatre with the dedication of the naming of the gallery space. Proceeds from The 24 Hour Plays: Hoboken will benefit Mile Square Theatre's non-profit theatre making and educational programming.

About The 24 Hour Plays

The 24 Hour Plays (est. 1995) bring together creative communities to produce plays and musicals written, rehearsed and performed in twenty-four hours. Through our radically present approach to theater, we make work that responds immediately to the world around us, builds communities and generates new artistic partnerships. Our events include The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway and The 24 Hour Musicals, as well as productions in Athens, Denver, Dublin, Finland, Florence, Germany, Little Rock, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco, Savannah and more. Beginning March 17 2020, The 24 Hour Plays Viral Monologues series generated over 600 new free-to-view theater pieces, featuring over 1000 artists, viewed millions of times worldwide and archived in the Library of Congress. 

About Mile Square Theatre

Mile Square Theatre, a non-profit company, has been producing original and gently used theater since 2003 in Hoboken New Jersey. Located at 1400 Clinton Street in Hoboken, New Jersey, Mile Square Theatre enriches and engages the region through the year-round production and presentation of professional theatre and innovative arts education.