#mark r (1959- )

[justforbooks]

The actor Lou Gossett Jr, who has died aged 87, is best known for his performance in An Officer and A Gentleman (1982) as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, whose tough training transforms recruit Richard Gere into the man of the film’s title. He was the first black winner of an Academy Award for best supporting actor, and only the third black actor (after Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier) to take home any Oscar.

The director, Taylor Hackford, said he cast Gossett in a role written for a white actor, following a familiar Hollywood trope played by John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Victor McLaglen or R Lee Ermey, because while researching he realised the tension of “black enlisted men having make-or-break control over whether white college graduates would become officers”. Gossett had already won an Emmy award playing a different sort of mentor, the slave Fiddler who teaches Kunta Kinte the ropes in Roots (1977), but he was still a relatively unknown 46-year-old when he got his breakthrough role, despite a long history of success on stage and in music as well as on screen.

Born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Louis was the son of Helen (nee Wray), a nurse, and Louis Sr, a porter. As a child he suffered from polio, but became a high school athlete before a basketball injury led to his joining the drama club. His teacher encouraged him to audition professionally, and at 17 he was on Broadway playing a troubled child in Take a Giant Step, which won him a Donaldson award for best newcomer.

He won a drama scholarship to New York University, but continued working, in The Desk Set (1955), and made his television debut in two episodes of the NBC anthology show The Big Story. In 1959 he was cast with Poitier and Ruby Dee in Raisin in the Sun, and made his film debut reprising his role in 1961. On Broadway that year he played in Jean Genet’s The Blacks, in an all-star cast with James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Roscoe Lee Brown, Godfrey Cambridge and a young Maya Angelou; it was the decade’s longest-running show.

Gossett was also active in the Greenwich Village folk music scene. He released his first single Hooka Dooka, Green Green in 1964, followed by See See Rider, and co-wrote the anti-war hit Handsome Johnny with Richie Havens. In 1967 he released another single, a drums and horns version of Pete Seeger’s anti-war hymn Where Have All the Flowers Gone. He was in the gospel musical Tambourines to Glory (1963) and in producer Mike Todd’s America, Be Seated at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

His plays became more limited: The Zulu and the Zayda and My Sweet Charlie; the very short run of Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights, in which he played a black man owning a white slave; and a revival of Golden Boy (1964), with Sammy Davis Jr. His final Broadway part was as the murdered Congolese leader Patrice Lamumba, in Conor Cruise O’Brien’s Murderous Angels (1971). Gossett had played roles in New York-set TV series such as The Naked City, but he began to make a mark in Hollywood, despite LAPD officers having handcuffed him to a tree, on “suspicion”, in 1966.

On TV he starred in The Young Rebels (1970-71) set in the American revolution. In film, he was good as a desperate tenant in Hal Ashby’s Landlord (1970) and brilliant with James Garner in Skin Game (1971), taking part in a con trick in which Garner sells him repeatedly into slavery then helps him to escape.

In 1977, alongside Roots, he attracted attention as a memorable villain in Peter Yates’s hit The Deep, and got artistic revenge on the LAPD in Robert Aldrich’s The Choirboys. The TV movie of The Lazarus Syndrome (1979) became a series in which Gossett played a realistic hospital chief of staff set against an idealistic younger doctor. He played the black baseball star Satchel Paige in the TV movie Don’t Look Back (1981); years later he had a small part as another Negro League star, Cool Papa Bell, in The Perfect Game (2009).

After his Oscar, he played another assassinated African leader, in the TV mini-series Sadat, reportedly approved for the role by Anwar Sadat’s widow Jihan. Though he remained a busy working actor, good starring roles in major productions eluded him, as producers fell back on his drill sergeant image. He was Colonel “Chappy” Sinclair in Iron Eagle (1986) and its three dismal sequels.

But in 1989 he starred in Dick Wolf’s TV series Gideon Oliver, as an anthropology professor solving crimes in New York. And he won a best supporting actor Golden Globe for his role in the TV movie The Josephine Baker Story (1991). He revisited the stage in the film adaptation of Sam Shepard’s Curse of the Starving Class (1994).

Gossett twice received the NAACP’s Image Award, and another Emmy for producing a children’s special, In His Father’s Shoes (1997). In 2006 he founded the Eracism Foundation, providing programmes to foster “cultural diversity, historical enrichment and anti-violence initiatives”. Despite an illness eventually linked to toxic mould in his Santa Monica home, he kept working with a recurring part in Stargate SG-1 (2005-06). A diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2010 hardly slowed him down.

Most recently, he played Will “Hooded Justice” Reeves in the TV series Watchmen (2019), in the series Kingdom Business, about the gospel music industry, and in the 2023 musical remake of The Color Purple.

His first marriage, to Hattie Glascoe, in 1967, was annulled after five months; his second, to Christina Mangosing, lasted for two years from 1973; and his third, to Cyndi (Cynthia) James, from 1987 to 1992. He is survived by two sons, Satie, from his second marriage, and Sharron, from his third.

🔔 Louis Cameron Gossett Jr, actor, born 27 May 1936; died 28 March 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

#just for books #louis gossett jr. #in memoriam

[telekinetictrait]

"Right now, I hold on to myself, sometimes literally. I hold on to my sides, my arms, my stubborn ankles, because in this house of nostalgia and fear, of time warps and trivia, I'm the only one I know about for sure." (Memory Mambo – Achy Obejas, 1996)

i'm running out of things to say, in all honesty. there's only so many times i can say that a decade is focusing on comfort before i get super repetitive. but, anyway, the nineties! baggy sweaters and pants, spaghetti straps, tank tops – etc, etc. oh. preppy sweater vests also. umm. plaid pants. sneakers. docs. grunge, specifically seattle grunge. riot grrl. pop country. r&b. hip-hop. the fresh prince of bel air. clueless. ten things i hate about you (one of my favorite movies ever). dave grohl <3. super baggy clothes. chokers! friends! rent! i'm just listing things from the 90s! i have no idea what to talk about!

also, this decade is modeled by a draft of my current simself <3 previous looks that were based on myself were just, like, brunette and slightly not skinny. but here's a draft of my simself in all my acne-scarred, hairy, stretch-marked, eye-bagged, physically disabled glory!

1800’s / 1900-1909 / 1910-1919 / 1920-1929 / 1930-1939 / 1940-1949 / 1950-1959 / 1960-1969 / 1970-1979 / 1980-1989

cc links under the cut!

see my resources page for genetics AND ALSO seaslugsims' acne redux / ohwiepowie's just a little bruised bruised knees / teabaker's joint tape / bellassims' crutches

uallach : syaovu's exia hair v3 (left pony + bangs) / base game necklace / jellymoo's nami shirt / r0ach3z’s emo kid gloves / definitely not grunge revival shorts / base game shoes

udelia : cazmari-mods' nora hair / zeussim's renaissance choker v2 / pixelette-cc's rosemary outfit / sondescent's babydoll shoes with socks

ufrasie : pigeonhome's scruffy hair / jellymoo's vintage headphones / definitely not grunge revival shirt + jeans + shoes

uliana : imvikai's dina hair with bangs / base game earrings / kamiiri's victoria sweater / greenllamas' scizzorhand skirt / aveirasims' slyd charlene heels recolor

uma : okruee's rin hair / uxji's wolf lipsticks / definitely not grunge revival necklaces / sforzcc's thistle dress / trillyke's blake socks / sondescent's leaf crusher shoes

undine : jellymoo's rowan hair + bandana / base game necklace / jellymoo's yasmin dress / sondescent's babydoll shoes with socks

ursella : oakiyo's coraline hair / ice-creamforbreakfast's mcmoo earrings / dyoreos' jelly choker / base game tank / kimoanasims' wave jeans / definitely not grunge revival shoes

ustyna : softpine's rubber ducky hair / get together top + cherryacets4's tie recolor / dyoreos' drifted shorts / jellymoo's sikk high tops

utilia : subtles4stubble's revamped bombshell hair / base game aviators / zeussim's judy sweater / clumsyalienn's sally trousers / greenllama's off duty platform docs

uvie : simmister's maxified franzi hair / base game necklace / sondescent's plaid top / sondescent's peekaboo cargo / sondescent's sim stomper shoes

thank you to @seaslugsims @teabaker @bellassims @syaovu @jellymoo @mossylane (mossylane uploading the grunge revival kit... you have saved my life.) @cazmari-mods @zeussim @pixelette-cc @sondescent @pigeonhome @imvikai @kamiiri @greenllamas @aveirasims @okruee @uxji @trillyke @oakiyo @ice-creamforbreakfast @dyoreos @kimoanasims @softpine @cherryacets4 @subtles4stubble @clumsyalienn and @simmister !!!

#my sims #sims 4 lookbook #ts4 lookbook #ts4lookbook #223 years #historical #1990s

[pluckyredhead]

I definitely do not want this to be a bait question, so please feel free to ignore it! I was curious about your take on Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow. Generally in the broad DC fandom, the opinion on Tom King's work is not great imo. But most ppl seem to love Supergirl. Based on the summary itself I feel like I wouldn't like it because it seems like hurt without comfort, but I haven't actually read it, so /shrugs. Anyway wanted to hear your thoughts on it bc I do appreciate your comics posts!

I LOATHED IT. You're 100% right, it's all hurt no comfort. It's yet another example of Tom King getting an insanely talented artist (the brilliant Bilquis Evely) who makes his unimaginative, repetitive writing look profound. I could rant for ages but I'll try to boil it down to key points:

It is literally a ripoff of True Grit. Like he just wholesale stole the plot.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY ABOUT SUPERGIRL. The main character is an alien teenage girl named Ruthye whose father is murdered, so she hires Supergirl to help her track down her father's killer. It's Ruthye's story, told entirely via Ruthye's narrative, and Ruthye is the character who grows and changes. Supergirl could be replaced by Lobo, or Krypto, or a big stick.

As usual, Tom King doesn't even make the faintest attempt to stay in character. His Supergirl is a surly, miserable drunk who has to be begged to help people.

He also very clearly read exactly one Supergirl comic - her origin story from 1959 - and nothing else. It's the only previous Supergirl canon referenced. There's a whole issue where he retells it in painstaking detail, except he takes a silly Silver Age story and puts it through the Unnecessarily Bleak filter. He explains his miserable take on Kara by wallowing in the trauma of Argo City's destruction. At one point, 15-year-old Kara finds a dead baby. I want to be clear that this backstory is at least FOUR RETCONS OUT OF DATE, but he decided to go back to it because he apparently refused to read more than 8 pages about Supergirl as research, and then he put a dead baby in it.

Supergirl was created to appeal to little girls. This is not my opinion, this is absolute fact: she was designed to get little girls to read more Superman comics. To this day, she remains one of the very very very few characters who is well known enough that little girls can relate to and identify with her, thanks to the CW show (which had its faults but got her character very right) and DC Super Hero Girls. Woman of Tomorrow treats Supergirl, her history, and her intended audience with complete contempt, and making a movie of it that little girls can't see because this shit is going to be rated PG-13 if not R is peak "I am feel uncomfortable when we are not about me?" behavior from a grown-ass man. SUPERGIRL DOESN'T HAVE TO APPEAL TO EDGELORDS. SHE WASN'T MADE FOR THEM.

Anyway yes I hate it very very much, and it doesn't surprise me that people who have never liked or read Supergirl think it's great, because it isn't Supergirl.

For a better take on Supergirl who yes, has experience trauma but is still in character, I recommend the current World's Finest series by Mark Waid and Dan Mora. For an AU with an angsty Kara who is still true to the core of herself, Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones. The upcoming Legion of Super-Heroes movie also looks excellent in this regard.

#supergirl #kara zor el

[ptseti]

Lord Creator was a Trinidadian calypso, R&B, ska and rocksteady artist hailed as one of ska’s pioneers. He was known for hits such as Don’t Stay Out Late, Big Bamboo, Little Princess, and Jamaica Farewell. Born Kendrick Patrick, in San Fernando, on August 21, 1935, (some reports say 1940), he started as a calypso singer in his teens. His first hits were The Cockhead (1958) and Evening News (1959). By this time he had already moved to Jamaica, where his musical career took off. He achieved great acclaim with Independent Jamaica as British rule ended on August 6, 1962. It became the official song marking Jamaica’s independence. In the same year he joined with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires to record Jamaica Jump Up, which was included on the soundtrack of the 1963 James Bond film Dr. No. In 1963, his song Don’t Stay Out Late became a hit in Jamaica. In 1964, he had another hit, Big Bamboo. In 1964, Lord Creator recorded a calypso album, Jamaica Time. It included calypso classics like Jamaica Farewell and Yellowbird, as well as a cover of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind. It was in 1970 that his fame peaked, with the release of what one critic called “perhaps the finest sentimental reggae record ever released”, Kingston Town But, apart from a single, Life, in 1977, Lord Creator vanished from the music scene for two decades. He returned to Trinidad after suffering two strokes. In 1989, the British band UB40 recorded a cover version of “Kingston Town,” providing him with a windfall of publishing royalties at a relatively late and impoverished stage in his life. In 2022 he received Jamaica’s Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for his “contribution to the development of Jamaican music and community service”. After suffering various illnesses associated with ageing, Lord Creator died June 23, 2023, aged 87.

[epicmiscellaneousponderings]

Top Thirteen Thursday

It's spooky season and while it has been some time since my last post. So let's make a change about that! Have some of my Top Thirteen movies, more or less ;) to watch for Halloween in no particular order. As always feel free to buy me a coffee and to leave your favorite Halloween movies in the comments!

The Canterville Ghost (1996) staring Sir Patrick Stewart. This is an easy and mild movie for Halloween but a classic non the less.

2. Winchester (2018). This another fairly mild movie with a rating of PG-13 that has some well placed jump scares and tense moments, overall a more story driven movie with supernatural/ghost elements.

3. Tower of Terror (1997). This is a Disney movie and honestly just a lot of good fun, it is not rated oddly enough though I can't really see it being rated more than PG-13 at most.

4. What Lies Beneath (2000). Rated PG-13 and staring Harrison Ford. This is more of a psychological supernatural story. Fun fact is that it's screenplay was written by Clark Gregg so that's cool!

5. When A Stranger Call (1979 rated R & 2006 rated PG-13). So speaking of Clark Gregg, he shows up momentarily in the 2006 version of this movie. Both of these versions are a good suspense thriller as the protagonist tries to stay alive with killer playing cat and mouse with them. Also When a Stranger Calls Back (1993 rated R) is worth a look if you like the 1979 movie.

6. Dream House (2011). Rated PG-13 staring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Naomi Watts. A simple plot with a mystery. The actors do a good job of carrying the story, which yes isn't very deed but it is well executed.

7. Sleepy Hollow (1999). Rated R and staring Johnny Depp. It's a ride wild on Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow and slightly odd at times but a good watch and an interesting take on the characters involved.

8. House on Haunted Hill (1959). Not Rated and staring Vincent Price. Five guests in a maybe haunted mansion and murder afoot. Honestly just about anything staring Vincent Price will more than likely fit right on in with the spooky season!

9. A Quiet Place (2018). Rated PG-13 and more of a science fiction suspense than a horror, but let me tell you that had to be the quietest theater full of people ever when I went and saw it with family.

10. The Sixth Sense (1999). Rated PG-13 this movie is a classic with it's famous line of "I see dead people" and if you don't know the twist I most certainly am not going to spoil it.

11. Shutter Island (2010). Rated R and staring Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ben Kingsley. This is categorized as a Thriller/Mystery and the story that is told has re-watch value to notice all the details that the makers made sure to put in there. I'm not saying a lot here cause I don't want to spoil it but my family when we first watched went right back and watched it immediately again, not because we were confused but because you can get a new experience with knowing eyes the second time around.

12. Stonehearst Asylum (2014). Rated PG-13 and staring Ben Kingsley, Micheal Caine, and David Thewlis. This is a Thriller/Mystery/Horror mix that keeps you on your toes trying to guess what is really going on and who the main character can actually trust.

13. It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966). A classic and only 25 minutes long, I got a rock.

And there you have my Top Thirteen Halloween movies! There is certainly a list I could make of Honorable Mentions, but maybe I'll do that next year... Stay Spooky!

#Top Thirteen Thursday #October 2023 #Top 13 Thursday #spooky season #halloween

[logi1974]

Südafrika 2022/23 - Tag 19/2

Happy New Year!

Herrschaften und Oukies!

Nachdem wir den Metzger verlassen und unsere Einkäufe in der Kühltasche verstaut hatten, ging es weiter für uns und unserem nächsten Ziel entgegen.

Dazu bogen wir in Hoedspruit links auf die R 527 ab und fuhren in östlicher Richtung. Dabei passieren wir ein sehr kurioses Hotel: das Aerotel. Alte Flugzeuge wurden zu luxuriösen Suiten umgebaut.

Das Projekt ist das Brainchild von Martin den Dunnen und seiner Frau Tracy. Der Hobbypilot wollte alte, ausgemusterte Flugzeugrentner vor der Verschrottung retten und ihnen ein neues Leben geben. So wurde die ausgefallene Idee im Jahr 2019 in die Tat umgesetzt.

Wir lassen die Flugzeugveteranen hinter uns. In der Ferne sehen wir schon die Bergekette der Panorama Route. Langsam rücken die Berge immer näher. Doch bevor wir auf die R 36 abbiegen, nehmen wir noch die Gelegenheit wahr und tanken schnell auf. Man weiß nie, wann das elende Loadshedding wieder zuschlägt und ohne Strom laufen auch die Zapfsäulen nicht.

Gegenüber der Tankstelle werden Obst, Gemüse, Souvenirs und allerlei andere Dinge angeboten.

Wir biegen bald auf die R 36 ab und nähern uns dem Abel Erasmus Pass. Der Pass mäandert durch den Manoutsa-Abschnitt der Limpopo-Drakensberge. Der Pass ist 11 km lang und folgt im Allgemeinen einer Kutschwagenroute aus dem späten 19. Jahrhundert.

Der spektakuläre Abel-Erasmus-Pass wurde am 8. Mai 1959 offiziell eröffnet und gilt als technischer Triumph. Der Pass hat 62 Kehren, Ecken und Kurven, von denen 12 einen Bogen von 90 Grad überschreiten. Die Abfolge von Kurven und Wendungen auf dieser Route, die die Pioniere des Goldrausches des späten 19. Jahrhunderts mit ihren Ochsenkarren durch die Berge zogen, ringt uns nur Bewunderung ab.

Dieser spektakuläre Pass ist über 24 km lang und bewältigt dabei einen Höhenunterschied von 737 Metern. 200 Höhenmeter überwindet die Straße auf den ersten 3 km durch mehrere Kurven. 

Entlang der Strecke finden sich etliche lokale Souvenirhändler, die ihre Waren an Ständen am Straßenrand feilbieten. Im Grunde verkaufen sie alle den gleichen Krempel.   

Benannt wurde der Pass nach Jacobus Abel Erasmus, der eine prominente Persönlichkeit in der frühen Geschichte des Lowveld war. Als Bindeglied zwischen der Burenregierung, den Briten und den afrikanischen Menschen vor Ort, genießt er bis heute hohes Ansehen.

Der Pass führt auch durch einen 133 Meter langen Tunnel, benannt nach J.G. (Hans) Strydom, der von 1954 bis 1958 Premierminister von Südafrika war. Der Tunnel erscheint an der 3-km-Marke. 

Beim Blick über die Täler kurz nach dem Verlassen des Tunnels ist ein kleiner Wasserfall zu sehen. Dies ist der Wasserfall Kadishi Tufa. Im Laufe der Jahre wachsen die Tufa-Fälle, anstatt sich zurückzuziehen, sehr ähnlich wie Stalagmiten und Stalaktiten, nach außen. 

Nachdem der Tunnel durchfahren wurde steigt die Straße stetig an. Zuerst in Richtung Osten in eine Seitenschlucht und dann zurück nach Westen. Bei Kilometer 5,3 hat man eine Höhe von 792 erreicht. Die Steigungen lassen hier plötzlich nach, da die Straße beim Durchqueren der Siedlung Thswenyane durch eine weite Linkskurve führt.

Der Pass besteht im Grunde genommen eigentlich aus zwei Pässen, die durch ein großes Plateau miteinander verbunden sind, wobei sich die überwiegende Mehrheit der Kurven und steilen Anstiege und Abfahrten an den beiden Enden befinden.

Beginnend im Norden, in der Nähe des östlichen Ufers des Olifants River, ist die Aussicht einfach spektakulär, da die hoch aufragenden und schroffen Klippen der Berge die Sicht versperren.

Sobald man das Dorf durchquert hat, macht die Straße eine weitere 90-Grad-Linkskurve und beginnt den zweiten Teil des Anstiegs. Dieser nächste Anstieg ist voller Kurven und führt hauptsächlich nach Osten. Ein zweiter “falscher” Gipfel von 1007 m wird bei Kilometer 9,8 erreicht, dort wo die Straße nach Südosten abbiegt. Das Dorf Ga-Moraba ist auf der linken Seite zu sehen.

Die nächsten 8 km sind größtenteils ein sanft ansteigendes Plateau mit nur drei Kurven über 8 km, dabei werden die Dörfer Leboeng, Banareng und Makgelane passiert. 

Dieser ziemlich lange Abschnitt fühlt sich eigentlich gar nicht wie ein echter Bergpass an, aber dieses Plateau verbindet effektiv den nördlichen und südlichen Teil des Passes.

Der Gipfel von 1251 m ist bei km 17,9 erreicht. Die Aussicht über das fruchtbare Tal auf der linken Seite ist großartig. Die meisten Kurven auf diesem Abschnitt des Passes sind gut konstruiert und schön zu fahren. Der Pass endet bei Kilometer 24,3 auf einer Höhe von 917 m.

An dieser Stelle hat man die Wahl, auf der R36 in Richtung Ohrigstad zu bleiben, oder man biegt links ab und fährt die malerische R532 hinunter nach Graskop. Da Graskop unser Tagesziel ist, biegen wir an dieser Stelle ab.

Die Landschaft ist phantastisch. Leider wird das Wetter wieder schlechter. Eine dicke Regenfront kriecht von Osten die Berge hoch. Ursprünglich hatten wir geplant im Forever Resort am Blyde River Canyon, mit Blick auf die Three Rondavels, unsere Mittagspause zu verbringen. 

Das war ebenfalls ein Tipp unser lieben Freunde Claus & Conny, die sehr von dieser Aussicht schwärmten. Doch bei diesem Wetter verwerfen wir diese Idee erst einmal und fahren weiter. Das sieht heute noch schlimmer aus, als im letzten Jahr - und da konnten wir schon die Hand vor den Augen nicht erkennen.

Wir passieren den Treur River und entdecken plötzlich ein Schild das zu einem gewissen “Chubby Pig” hinweist. 

Natürlich fahren wir an dem Feldweg wieder erst einmal vorbei, da wir uns im Leben nicht vorstellen können, dass da in der Pampa irgend etwas sein könnte.

Und was wir dann da vorfinden, ist wieder einmal eine dieser Perlen, die man nur durch Zufall findet.

Auf dieser Seite des Berges bzw. des Tales regnet es auch nicht und so können wir durchaus draußen Platz nehmen.

Als wir vorne den Laden betreten, stellen wir fest, dass sich dahinter ein toller Biergarten verbirgt.

Der Treur River fließt direkt dahinter...

... und an dessen Ufer haben die Besitzer einen tollen Braaiplatz gebaut.

Es gibt schöne Stege zum Laufen und für die Kinder wird gerade ein Spielplatz dazu gebaut.

Natürlich gibt es auch für die Hungrigen leckere hausgemachte Speisen.

Und wer für sein müdes Haupt noch eine preisgünstige Unterkunft benötigen sollte, wird auch fündig.

Der eine oder andere Tourist verirrt sich dennoch in das Tal und am Ende sitzt ein lustiges, europäisches Potpourri zusammen im Biergarten: 2 Briten, 2 Italiener, eine 5-köpfige holländische Familie aus Alkmaar und 2 Deutsche aus dem Ruhrgebiet (wir).

Wir verabschieden uns und fahren weiter in Richtung Graskop. Das Wetter wird immer schlimmer.

Teilweise ist die Straße noch kaum zu erkennen. Grauenhaft!

In Graskop sind die Läden und Restaurants rappelvoll. Wir sind froh, alles schon erledigt zu haben und fahren auf direktem Wege zu unserer Unterkunft.

Unser Chalet liegt direkt an der Schlucht, nur sieht man das im Moment nicht. Wir beschließen bei diesem Sauwetter das geplante braaien ausfallen zu lassen - sehr zum Bedauern unserer Gäste, die sich schon selbst eingeladen hatten.

Wir bleiben drinnen und schauen uns das Mistwetter durch das Fenster an. Zu den Salaten gibt es schlicht und ergreifend Spiegeleier. Fertig! 

Das Fleisch liegt jetzt erst einmal bis auf Weiteres im Gefrierschrank.

Lekker Slaap!

Angie, Micha und der Hasenbär

#Hoedspruit #Abel-Erasmus-Pass #Graskop #panorama route #Südafrika #South Africa #Afrika #Africa

[byneddiedingo]

Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, and Lew Morphy in Laura (Otto Preminger, 1944)

Cast: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson, Dorothy Adams. Screenplay: Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, Elizabeth Reinhardt, based on a novel by Vera Caspary. Cinematography: Joseph LaShelle. Art direction: Leland Fuller, Lyle R. Wheeler. Film editing: Louis R. Loeffler. Music: David Raksin. 

Laura is a film noir spin on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, with a Henry Higgins called Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb) whose protégée is an Eliza Doolittle called Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). It's also a spin on the classical myth of Pygmalion, who fell in love with the statue of Galatea he had sculpted, bringing her to life. This Pygmalion is a detective, Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews), who falls in love with the portrait of Laura, who he thinks has been murdered, and is startled when she walks through the door, very much alive. Classical underpinning aside, Laura has become such an enduring movie because of its well-scripted story and sardonic dialogue (some of it contributed by an uncredited Ring Lardner Jr.) and the performances of Webb, Tierney, and Andrews, along with Vincent Price as the decadent Shelby Carpenter and Judith Anderson as the predatory Ann Treadwell. But most important of all, it was directed with the right attention to its slyly nasty tone by Otto Preminger, one of the most underrated Hollywood directors of the 1940s and '50s. Like such acerbic films as The Maltese Falcon (John Huston, 1941) and All About Eve (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950), Laura is full of characters one would be well advised to steer clear of in real life, but who make for tremendous entertainment when viewed on a screen from a safe distance. It makes a feint at a conventional happily romantic ending, with Laura supposedly going off with McPherson, but do we really believe it? Laura Hunt has shown dubious taste in men -- whom McPherson characterizes as "a remarkable collection of dopes"-- including the desiccated fop Waldo and the smarmy kept man Shelby. So it's hard to believe the social butterfly Lydecker has created is going to settle down happily with a man who, as Waldo says once, fell in love with her when she was a corpse and apparently has never had a relationship with a woman other than the "doll in Washington Heights who once got a fox fur outta" him. Laura is notable, too, for its deft evasions of the Production Code, including Laura's hinted-at out-of-wedlock liaisons, which are at the same time undercut by the suggestions that Waldo and Shelby are gay -- another Code taboo. (Shelby, for example, has an exceptional interest in women's hats, including one of Laura's and the one of Ann's that he calls "completely wonderful.") This shouldn't surprise us, as Preminger went on to be one of the most aggressive Code-breakers, challenging its sexual taboos in The Moon Is Blue (1953) and its strictures on the depiction of drug use in The Man With the Golden Arm (1955), and giving the enforcers fits with Anatomy of a Murder (1959). In addition to the contributions to Laura's classic status already mentioned, there is also the familiar score by David Raksin. (Johnny Mercer added lyrics to its main theme after the film was released, creating the song  "Laura.") And Joseph LaShelle won an Oscar for the film's cinematography. 

#Laura #Otto Preminger #Dana Andrews #Gene Tierney

[sandybrett]

The Slings & Arrows timeline

[Reposted from my previous blog, which I'm going to deactivate soon.]

I’ve attempted to compile as much information as possible about the timeline of Slings & Arrows as a resource for myself and other fic writers. By “resource” I do not mean “definitive guide,” because, as I suspected going in, it does not hold together very well. There’s one obvious inconsistency—Richard has supposedly been at the festival for eight years, but doesn’t know Geoffrey. There’s a sense I get, which I’ve seen at least one other person agree with but I don’t know if anyone else does, that based on the way everyone talks about the famous Hamlet and how much Oliver and Ellen have aged since then, it must have been more than seven years ago.

Under a cut for length and spoilers.

S1E1 • The Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, so the 2003 season at New Burbage has to have opened in mid-April. (Apparently the guy sitting behind the Minister of Culture during the show is a Philadelphia Fliers fan.) • Kate saw Geoffrey’s Hamlet when she was 12, which would put her at 19 now. • Oliver has directed the Dream 10 times. Ellen has played Titania 6 times. Stratford does the Dream roughly every five years. • Basil says “Here’s to another 25 years with the festival.” He doesn’t explicitly say Ellen’s already been with the festival for 25 years, but that seems to be the implication. If we assume she has a college degree, she must be at least 48, meaning she would have played Ophelia at 41. If we assume she arrived as a teenager, like Kate, she’s more like 44 and played Ophelia at 37. Either way, it would mean she had already been with the festival 18 years by the time of Geoffrey’s breakdown. • This is the festival’s 44th season, meaning the festival was founded in 1959. • Oliver saw Burton’s Hamlet in ’64, and it sounds like he was an adult. That would put him at least in his early 60s. • Oliver seems to claim that his sleeping with Ellen was responsible for Geoffrey’s great performance. Obviously this is a stretch, and Oliver later admits it wasn’t true. But I doubt he would be even making that claim if he had slept with Ellen between the second and third shows, as many fans have assumed. It sounds like they slept together before the show opened. • Ellen angrily whispers “Tell him!” to Oliver, confirming that they’ve already slept together by opening night. But Geoffrey doesn’t know. So Oliver is claiming that by sleeping with Ellen and not telling Geoffrey about it, he somehow made a major difference in Geoffrey’s performance. • Past!Ellen still seems to be of typical childbearing age—probably closer to 37 than 41. Although given that Geoffrey is extremely drunk and probably already not in the best mental health, he might be overestimating how easy it would be for Ellen to get pregnant.

S1E2 • Anna knows Geoffrey, but Richard doesn’t, even though Richard has supposedly been with the festival for eight years. • One of the speakers at the funeral met Oliver at the Manitoba Theatre Center in 1978. • Geoffrey says “There was a kind of electricity in this place I have not experienced anywhere else,” which I’m guessing means his professional theatre experience is not limited to New Burbage and Theatre Sans Argent.

S1E3 • Geoffrey’s other roles at New Burbage included Romeo, Mark Antony, and Prince Hal. It’s not specified whether he played Antony in Julius Caesar or Antony and Cleopatra. • Darren directed Titus Andronicus in ’97, one year after Geoffrey’s breakdown. Geoffrey seems to have seen it, implying he was out of the hospital by then. • Geoffrey stormed the stage in the middle of a college performance. Admittedly, it’s implied to have been an insensitive one, but still, this suggests to me that he already had some mental health issues. • Geoffrey and Ellen played “all the great love scenes” together—probably an exaggeration, but there was definitely more than just R+J and Hamlet.

S1E6

    •    The actor playing Laertes was named Brian, and seems to have been someone both Ellen and Geoffrey knew well. Is it the same Brian we meet in Season 2? He looks way too young. There could easily be two different Brians—after all, there are two different Barbaras. You’d think if there were multiple Brians Geoffrey might distinguish among them, but then again, Ellen probably remembers which Brian played her brother.

    •    This is kind of a tangent, but does anyone else get the sense our heroes have more of a history with Basil than we’re being told about?

    •    At this point Claudius is not being played by Brian Cabot, but by a guy named Alan.

    •    The end credits distinguish the past and present actors by listing Jack’s castmates as “Horatio” and Geoffrey’s as “Horatio (1996)”, confirming that the show does take place in 2003.

S2E1 • Kate receives and accepts a marriage proposal from a well-established actor, which makes me doubt that she’s really supposed to be 19 or 20. • When Ellen asks whether Geoffrey really hasn’t slept with anyone in 8 years, Geoffrey says “You have to remember I was in an asylum.” I think this implies he was hospitalized for a fairly long time.

S2E2 • Veronica Tennant is a real person; I don’t think she’s supposed to be related to Geoffrey. • Geoffrey says he’s known Ellen for ten years. Does that include the seven-year gap? If so, they only knew each other for two years pre-Hamlet; if not, it’s more like nine years. Two is highly unlikely given the number of times they’re implied to have acted together, but possible given the structure of the New Burbage season (see S2E6). Nine seems a little too long but is plausible, although presumably they weren’t dating for that entire time. • Henry refers to New Burbage as “home”, implying he spent a substantial chunk of his early career there. It’s not clear how much he overlapped with Geoffrey and Ellen.

S2E3 • Henry and Brian played Hal and Falstaff opposite each other. It was probably since the disastrous Hamlet if Brian is indeed the same Brian who played Laertes. Henry has also played Hamlet, and Macbeth three times.

S2E5 • Oliver directed Geoffrey in R+J twice, and the first one was 20 years ago—12 years before Hamlet. He was upstaging Mercutio during the Queen Mab speech, so he was either Romeo or Benvolio. • Ellen played Paulina in The Winter’s Tale at some point.

S2E6 • Darren and Geoffrey were in college together in 1980. If they were freshmen, that would mean Geoffrey was about 34 at the time of his breakdown and 41 when he returned to the festival. • Sarah says that Romeo and Juliet is going to run for twelve weeks. This implies that New Burbage productions don’t run for the entire season the way Stratford productions do, which would also explain why, in Season 1, Hamlet starts later in the season than the Dream despite being the flagship production. If we assume that this season, like the previous season, opens in mid-April, Romeo and Juliet would only run until mid-July. Then, if the next set of plays opens immediately afterward and runs for twelve weeks, the season ends in mid-October.

S3E2 • Ellen says “We’re not in the Young Company anymore” implying that she and Geoffrey were both in the New Burbage Young Company. • Ellen was in Three Sisters with Charles at the National Arts Center—she played Masha, Barbara played Olga, and I’m guessing from their relative ages that Charles played Chebutykin. This seems to be the only time they’ve worked together, so presumably he hasn’t worked at New Burbage much during Ellen and Geoffrey’s adult lives, unless Ellen and Charles just happened to never be cast in the same play. • Geoffrey and Charles, however, have obviously worked together quite a bit, but we never learn where or when. • Barbara has been cast as Ellen’s older sister twice, so I’m guessing either they’re very close in age or Barbara’s a bit older. Barbara is getting hot flashes earlier than expected, which would imply that Ellen is not yet getting hot flashes.

S3E3 • Oliver directed Geoffrey in seven plays at New Burbage. This does not eliminate the possibility that he could have directed Geoffrey in more plays elsewhere, or that Geoffrey was in other plays at New Burbage with other directors.

S3E5 • Ellen says that she and Barbara were “roommates on tour,” implying that’s how they met. I don’t know whether this was for Three Sisters or something else. Judging from the fact that Geoffrey already knows Barbara, this seems to have been before Ellen and Geoffrey got together. Ellen was apparently “crazy about” a guy named Mike Greenfield, whom she found having sex with a girl named Mary in the green room. • When Barbara says she and Ellen are “bitter and menopausal,” Ellen starts to say “I’m not—” and then breaks off. She’s admitted to being “bitter” in the past, and “I’m not menopausal!” would be the funnier response, so this is further evidence that Ellen is not yet menopausal. • Barbara says that Ellen’s been at New Burbage “her whole life,” although clearly there’s been at least one short break.

S3E6 • Frank says he’s been with New Burbage “ever since it was a tent,” even though, according to S1E3, he wasn’t there for Geoffrey’s breakdown.

Other notes • In 2003, Paul Gross and Mark McKinney both turned 44, Martha Burns turned 46, Stephen Ouimette turned 49,  Don McKellar turned 40, Susan Coyne turned 45, and Rachel McAdams and Luke Kirby both turned 25. (Of course, Rachel McAdams played a high school student in Mean Girls that same year.) Paul Gross would have been 41 when he played Hamlet at Stratford. Martha Burns played Ophelia at some point before that, but I wasn’t able to find any indication of when. • It’s never explained what differentiates the apprentices from the Young Company, except that the Young Company get large roles instead of playing “maids and fairies.” If we accept that Kate really is supposed to be 19 when we meet her, perhaps apprenticeships are for college students on vacations or actors starting their careers directly out of high school, whereas the Young Company is for people who’ve just finished their acting degrees. However, that seems not to have been how it was for the Stratford Young Company, on which the New Burbage one is presumably modeled: Susan Coyne was in several Young Company productions when she was nearly thirty and had already performed in a regular production at Stratford.

Additions, theories, input from people who know more about theatre than I do all welcome!

#from the archives #dec 2021 #slings and arrows #the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune #canon character: geoffrey tennant #canon character: oliver welles #canon character: ellen fanshaw #canon character: anna conroy #canon character: richard smith jones #recycled character: kate mcnab #canon character: jack crew #canon character: henry briedlove #canon character: brian cabot #canon character: barbara (slings & arrows) #canon character: basil cruikshank #canon characters: frank and cyril

[usafphantom2]

81st FBW Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 52-6834 by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: F-84F-50-RE. 91st Fighter Bomber Squadron based at RAF Bentwaters. January 1959: transferred/sold to West German Air Force as D+251. Re-marked as DD+251, then DD+351. Eventually transferred to Hellenic Air Force. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (reprint). 1957 photo.

#F-84F #52-6834 #Republic_Aviation #Thunderstreak #91st_FBS #81st_FBW #USAFE #1957 #RAF_Bentwaters #flickr

[thedemostop]

Discover the Voices: Famous Gospel Singers Male You Need to Hear

Enter the wonderful symphony of Gospel music, which combines the strength of religion with captivating melody. Join us as we look at the extraordinary journeys of the famous gospel singers male, who have captivated audiences with their skill and left an unforgettable mark on hearts throughout the world.

Famous Gospel Singers

Male gospel singers have had a significant impact on spiritual and musical culture by utilizing their voices to communicate messages of faith, hope, and inspiration. Modern gospel performers have transformed the business by combining traditional gospel with contemporary approaches, therefore breaking down genre barriers.

Their unique combination of R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and other genres has increased gospel's accessibility to a wider audience. They have helped to break down cultural boundaries by providing a venue for individuals from all walks of life to connect with and enjoy music's universal themes.

When we consider the contributions of these amazing vocalists, we perceive not just a celebration of music, but also a profound link to the spiritual path that binds us all.

Best gospel male singers

Kirk Franklin

Date of birth: January 26, 1970

Sun sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.

Skills: Kirk Franklin is a singer, talented songwriter, choir director, and author.

Most famous record: “Stomp” from the album “God’s Property” (1997)

Awards: Kirk Franklin has won numerous awards, including 16 Grammy Awards, multiple Stellar Awards, and Dove Awards.

 Despite a rough background and exposure to violence, Kirk Franklin found consolation in music. He began his musical career as a child, leading the choir at Mt. Rose Baptist Church. His promise was seen, so he founded the band "Kirk Franklin & The Family" in the early 1990s. Their debut album, "Kirk Franklin & The Family," released in 1993, was a huge hit, earning him international renown. Franklin is noted for combining traditional gospel with modern R&B and hip-hop influences.

Randy Travis

Date of birth: May 4, 1959

Sun sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Marshville, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Skills: Randy Travis is a versatile musician skilled in singing, songwriting, and playing guitar.

Most famous record: “Three Wooden Crosses” from the album “Rise and Shine” (2002)

Awards: Randy Travis has won several Grammy and Dove Awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Randy Travis, a music superstar, was up in a musical household. He started playing guitar and singing in church when he was quite young. His debut album, "Storms of Life," was a huge success, with hits like "On the Other Hand" and "Diggin' Up Bones." In the 2000s, he dealt with legal and medical challenges, including a stroke in 2013 that impaired his ability to talk and sing. Randy Travis' powerful, soulful vocals have cemented his place in gospel history.

Jeremy Camp

Date of birth: January 12, 1978

Sun sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A.

Skills: Jeremy Camp is a skilled guitarist and songwriter. His passionate vocals and ability to connect with his audience through personal and spiritual themes make him a standout artist.

Most famous record: “I Still Believe” from the album “Stay” (2002)

Awards: Jeremy Camp has won several Dove Awards and has been nominated for Grammy Awards.

Jeremy Camp grew up in a Christian household. His passion for music began at an early age, when he started playing guitar and conducting worship at his church. Jeremy Camp's first wife died of ovarian cancer in 2000, only months after their wedding. He created "I Still Believe" as a memorial to his late wife, and it has become one of his most well-known and moving songs. Camp's career took off in the early 2000s. His music typically incorporates themes of hope, redemption, and faith, which guided him through terrible times.

Michael W. Smith

Date of birth: October 7, 1957

Sun sign: Libra

Birthplace: Kenova, West Virginia, U.S.A.

Skills: Michael W. Smith is a multi-instrumentalist, proficient in piano, guitar, and singing, a singer and a songwriter.

Most famous record: “Place in This World” from the album “Go West Young Man” (1990)

Awards: Michael W. Smith has accepted multiple Grammy, Dove, and American Music Awards.

Michael W. Smith has been active in Christian music for many years. Smith's musical career began in the late 1970s with the band Higher Ground, but his solo work quickly took off. His breakthrough came with the album "The Big Picture" in 1986, which included the hit song "Friends." One of his most significant contributions to Christian music was the establishment of the "Contemporary Christian Music" (CCM) genre. Smith's pop-infused Christian songs and rousing worship choruses made an indelible mark on gospel music history.

Israel Houghton

Date of birth: May 19, 1971

Sun sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

Skills: Israel Houghton is a singer, songwriter, producer, and worship leader.

Most famous record: “You Are Good” from the album “Live from Another Level” (2004)

Awards: Israel Houghton has received multiple Grammy and Dove Awards for his contributions to gospel music.

 Israel Houghton, renowned for his contributions to modern praise music, has a vibrant approach. In the early 1990s, Houghton formed the band Israel & New Breed, which combined gospel, jazz, and rock to create a unique Christian music style. The group's debut album, "Whisper It Loud," came out in 1996. However, their breakthrough album, "New Season" (2001), earned international acclaim and laid the groundwork for Houghton's successful career.

Nathaniel Rateliff

Date of birth: October 7, 1978

Sun sign: Libra

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.

Skills: Nathaniel Rateliff is a singer and songwriter.

Most famous record: “S.O.B.” from the album “Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats” (2015)

Awards: While he is not traditionally a gospel artist, Nathaniel Rateliff has received acclaim for his work in the indie and folk music scenes.

 Nathaniel Rateliff's deep bluesy tone adds a distinctive flavor to gospel music. Rateliff rose to attention as a solo indie artist, with folk-inspired songs like "Desire and Dissolving Men" and "In Memory of Loss." His breakthrough came with the establishment of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, a soulful R&B group. Rateliff's biggest hit, "S.O.B.", debuted in 2015 and catapulted them to fame. The song's catchy combination of soul, folk, and rock captured listeners and became a chart-topping success. They've also played on major stages including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Bonnaroo. Rateliff's impassioned voice and clever lyrics provide for a fascinating listening experience.

Josh Turner

Date of birth: November 20, 1977

Sun sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Hannah, South Carolina, U.S.A.

Skills: Josh Turner is a skilled vocalist and guitarist.

Most famous record: “Long Black Train” from the album of the same name (2003)

Awards: Josh Turner has received several award nominations and has won awards such as the Inspirational Country Music Award.

Turner, a country musician with a deep, resonant voice, has developed a unique approach to gospel music, blending his compositions with traditional country sounds. Turner switched to gospel after establishing popularity in country music with his faith-based songs. His gospel performances are filled with soul because to his strong baritone and sincere delivery.

Carlton Pearson

Date of birth: March 19, 1953

Sun sign: Pisces

Birthplace: San Diego, California, U.S.A.

Skills: Carlton Pearson is a pastor, singer, and songwriter.

Most famous record: “Live at Azusa” (1998)

Awards: While not as prolific in mainstream awards, Carlton Pearson has been a significant figure in the gospel community and received recognition for his contributions.

Carlton Pearson, a gospel musician and former pastor with a traditional gospel background, is noted for his unique approach to theology and songwriting. His powerful, expressive voice and sophisticated compositions will make an indelible mark on gospel music. Pearson's underlying theological ideas evolved throughout time, becoming more accepting of all humanity. Despite the controversy, he is still a notable figure in gospel music.

#famous gospel singers #male christian singers #gospel singers male #male gospel singers

[holidayhunteraust]

HMAS Vampire: The Story of Australias Mighty Warship

HMAS Vampire, a Daring-class destroyer, proudly served in the Royal Australian Navy (R A N) as the third of its kind. This Australian-built vessel, a pioneer in all-welded ship construction, was meticulously crafted at Cockatoo Island Dockyard between 1952 and 1959. Its commissioning into the R A N took place promptly, a mere day after its completion.

Throughout its illustrious career, Vampire was frequently deployed to South East Asia. It played a crucial role in the Far East Strategic Reserve on five separate occasions, including during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. Additionally, it provided escort services to the troop transport ship H M A S Sydney on six of the latter's twenty-five voyages to South Vietnam. Notably, in 1977, this formidable destroyer was assigned to accompany the royal yacht H M Y Britannia during the visit of Queen Elizabeth the second and Prince Philip to Australia.

In 1980, Vampire underwent a reclassification, assuming the role of a training ship. It continued to serve dutifully until 1986, when it was decommissioned and subsequently presented to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. This remarkable vessel now stands as a museum ship, proudly preserved as the largest museum-owned object on display throughout Australia.

  The primary armament of the Vampire consisted of six 4.5-inch (114 millimeter) Mark 5 guns, which were mounted in three Mark 6 twin turrets - two positioned forward and one aft. In terms of anti-aircraft capabilities, the ship was equipped with six 40 millimeter Bofors guns. Two single mountings were located on the forward superstructure, while two twin mountings were positioned on the aft superstructure. Additionally, four 50 caliber (.50 inch, 12.7 millimetre) Browning machine guns were carried on board for point defense purposes.

To enhance its offensive capabilities, the Vampire was equipped with five 21-inch (533 millimetre) torpedo tubes, which were fitted to a single Mark 4 pentad mount on the deck, situated between the forward and aft superstructures. Furthermore, for anti-submarine warfare operations, the ship carried a Limbo anti-submarine mortar on the aft deck, offset to port. However, it is worth noting that the twin Bofors guns, torpedo launcher, and Limbo mortar were eventually removed during various refits.

At some point during its operational lifespan, the Vampire underwent an upgrade, resulting in the installation of a Sea Cat missile system. This addition further enhanced the ship's capabilities and versatility.

In conclusion, the Vampire was armed with a formidable array of weaponry, including its main guns, anti-aircraft guns, point defense machine guns, torpedo tubes, and an anti-submarine mortar. These armaments were strategically positioned on the ship to ensure effective offensive and defensive capabilities. Moreover, the installation of the Sea Cat missile system represented a significant upgrade, underscoring the ship's adaptability and modernization efforts.

  On June 25, 1986, the esteemed warship Vampire concluded its active service. After faithfully serving for 27 years and covering an impressive distance of 808,026 nautical miles (1,496,464 kilometers), Vampire was decommissioned on August 13, 1986. Recognizing its historical significance, the Australian National Maritime Museum was honored to receive Vampire as a museum ship. Initially on loan from 1990 to 1997, the ship was eventually transferred outright in 1997. Today, Vampire proudly stands as the largest museum exhibit in Australia.

Vampire's legacy extends beyond its role as a museum piece. In 1991, it made a memorable appearance in the popular children's television program, The Girl From Tomorrow Part 2: Tomorrow's End. Additionally, the ship serves as a training ground for R A N divers in hull clearance, showcasing its ongoing relevance and utility. In 1994, the destroyer underwent a significant upgrade, with two disabled twin Bofors mounts being reinstated, replacing those removed in 1980. This restoration further enhanced Vampire's historical authenticity.

Despite no longer being a commissioned warship, Vampire was granted permission on April 9, 1997, to fly the Australian White Ensign, a testament to its enduring significance. Regular maintenance and cleaning are carried out every five years, with the destroyer being towed to H M A S Kuttabul for these essential tasks. During a docking in October 2006, rumors circulated among R A N personnel that Vampire would be refurbished and reinstated for active duty. However, during the same refit, a fire incident occurred in the ship's boiler room. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained, and the damage was swiftly repaired without any lasting consequences.

In March 2009, the R A N battle honours system underwent a comprehensive overhaul, resulting in Vampire being retroactively recognized for its service in the Strategic Reserve between 1964 and 1966, during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation

 This recognition was long overdue, as Vampire played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the region during that time. The Strategic Reserve deployment showcased the R A N's commitment to upholding international security and protecting the interests of Australia and its allies. Vampire's contribution to this mission should never be forgotten, and its inclusion in the battle honours system is a testament to the bravery and dedication of the sailors who served aboard this historic vessel.

 As of April 2023, Vampire's radio room hosts an active Amateur Radio station, operated by a group of local Amateurs. The station operates under the radio call sign VK2VMP.

#youtube

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 11.19

Beer Birthdays

Frantz Philip “Frank” Brogniez (1898)

Mark Silva (1961)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Tommy Dorsey; jazz trombonist, bandleader (1905)

Adam Driver; actor (1983)

Allison Janney; actor (1959)

Meg Ryan; actor (1961)

Clifton Webb; actor (1891)

Famous Birthdays

Raymond Blanc; French chef (1949)

Roy Campanella; Brooklyn Dodgers C (1921)

Dick Cavett; television host (1936)

George Clark; American revolutionary war general (1752)

Eileen Collins; astronaut (1956)

Jack Dorsey; Twitter founder (1976)

Terry Farrell; actor (1963)

Jodie Foster; actor (1962)

Indira Gandhi; Indian politician (1917)

James A. Garfield; 20th U.S. President (1831)

Dan Haggerty; actor, animal trainer (1941)

Ryan Howard; Philadelphia Phillies 1B (1979)

Charlie Kaufman; screenwriter (1958)

Larry King; television show host (1933)

Jeane Kirkpatrick; diplomat (1926)

Calvin Klein; fashion designer (1942)

Yuan T. Lee; chemist (1936)

Fred Lipsius; saxophonist, pianist (1944)

Glynnis O'Connor; actor (1956)

Kathleen Quinlan; actor (1954)

Tony Rich; R&B singer-songwriter (1971)

James Sumner; chemist (1887)

Billy Sunday; religious evangelist (1862)

Earl Wilbur Sutherland, Jr.; biochemist (1915)

Allen Tate; poet (1899)

Ted Turner; media mogul (1938)

Gene Tierney; actress (1920)

Alan Young; actor (1919)

#Birthdays

[sporadicarbitergardener]

Mark Randall Meadows (born July 28, 1959) is an American politician who served as the 29th White House chief of staff from 2020 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 11th congressional district from 2013 to 2020. During his legislative tenure, Meadows chaired the Freedom Caucus from 2017 to 2019. He was considered one of Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress before his appointment as chief of staff.[1]

A Tea Party Republican, Meadows was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus. During his time in Congress, he was one of the most conservative Republican lawmakers and played an important part of the United States federal government shutdown of 2013. He also sought to remove John Boehner as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Meadows resigned from Congress on March 31, 2020, to become White House chief of staff. As chief of staff, he played an influential role in the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He pressured the Food and Drug Administration to adopt less strict guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine trials,[2] and admonished the White House's own infectious disease experts for not "staying on message" with Trump's rhetoric.[3] In October 2020, Meadows said it was futile to try "to control the pandemic", emphasizing instead a plan to contain it with vaccines and therapeutics. As the virus spread among White House staff in the fall of 2020, he reportedly sought to conceal the cases, including his own.[4][5] After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Meadows participated in Trump's failed effort to overturn the election results and remain in power.[6][7][8]

On December 14, 2021, Meadows was held in criminal contempt of Congress[9] for refusing to cooperate with the January 6 Select Committee. He is the first White House chief of staff since the Watergate scandal and first former member of Congress to have been held in contempt of Congress.[10][11] The contempt charge was referred to the Justice Department, which declined to prosecute him.[12]

On October 26, 2022, a South Carolina circuit judge ordered Meadows to testify before a Georgia grand jury investigating Republican efforts to reverse the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. The grand jury was empaneled by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who said the inquiry is examining "the multistate, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere."[13] On August 14, 2023, he was indicted along with 18 other people in the prosecution related to the 2020 election in Georgia; Meadows is the second White House Chief of Staff to face criminal charges, after H. R. Haldeman.[14]

Early life and education Meadows's mother was from Sevierville, Tennessee, and his father from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was born at a United States Army hospital in Verdun, France, where his father was serving in the Army and his mother worked as a civilian nurse.[citation needed]

Meadows grew up in Brandon, Florida, and described his upbringing as "poor".[15] He has said he was a "fat nerd" who went on a diet after a classmate rejected him for a date.[15] Meadows attended Florida State University for one year in 1977–78.[15] It was reported that Meadows held a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida for many years in his official biography maintained by the Office of the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives. In actuality, he graduated from the University of South Florida with an Associate of Arts.[15]

Early career In 1987, Meadows started "Aunt D's", a small restaurant in Highlands, North Carolina. He later sold it and used the proceeds to start a real estate development company in the Tampa, Florida, area.[16]

While living in Highlands, Meadows served as chairman of the Republican Party in Macon County, and was a delegate to several state and national Republican conventions.[17] Meadows was on North Carolina's Board for Economic Development in Western North Carolina.[18]

In 2011, he moved to Glenville, North Carolina. In 2016, he sold his house and moved into an apartment in Biltmore Park, a mixed-use community in Asheville, North Carolina, while deciding where to buy next in either Henderson or Buncombe counties.[19] He is the owner of Highlands Properties, which specializes in construction and land development.[20] In 2014, Meadows sold 134 acres (54 hectares) of land in Dinosaur, Colorado, to a young earth creationist group. He appeared in the controversial creationist film Raising the Allosaur: The True Story of a Rare Dinosaur and the Home Schoolers Who Found It (2002), which was debunked by experts.[21]

U.S. House of Representatives In Congress, Meadows had an ultraconservative voting record.[6] He signed the Contract from America, a set of ten policies assembled by the Tea Party movement.[22][23] Meadows was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus.[24]

Meadows voted against disaster relief spending for October 2012's Hurricane Sandy, which struck the Northeastern United States and caused severe damage.[25] He was one of several Republicans who claimed the funding bill contained pork-barrel spending that had nothing to do with hurricane relief, a claim the bill's supporters denied.[25][26] Meadows's opposition to Sandy relief was recalled in 2017 news accounts after he and many Republicans who had opposed it voted in favor of disaster aid following Hurricane Harvey, which caused massive damage in Louisiana and Texas that August.[25][26] Critics alleged that Republicans were hypocritically opposing spending in states with Democratic majorities while supporting it in Republican states.[27] Republicans, including Meadows, claimed the situations were different because the Harvey spending bill contained no "pork".[27] A Congressional Research Service review determined that the Sandy spending bill's funds were almost all devoted to recovery from Sandy.[28]

Meadows served as chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations up until June 20, 2015, when fellow Republican congressman Jason Chaffetz removed him from the position. A member of the House Republican leadership, Chaffetz removed Meadows due to Meadows's vote against a procedural motion the Republican leadership presented.[29] Meadows was one of 34 Republicans who voted against the motion, which allowed for consideration of President Barack Obama's request for fast-track authority on trade agreements. Speaker John Boehner supported the measure, but many Republicans felt it gave too much power to Democrats and Obama specifically.[30] Chaffetz's action was seen as controversial, with many prominent Republican politicians, including Texas senator Ted Cruz, speaking out against the punishment.

Meadows served as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee for 18 days, until he assumed the office of White House Chief of Staff.[31]

Meadows was a member of these committees:

[hbhughes]

William R. Zaledonis

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved brother, William R. Zaledonis, 63, of Wilkes-Barre, on Tuesday, August 17, 2023 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Billy was born in Wilkes-Barre on August 25, 1959. He was the son of the late William and Helen Ondis Zaledonis. Billy was a graduate of Coughlin High School. He worked for over 25 years in the Parts Dept., at Saturn/Valley Chevrolet.

Some of Billy’s greatest joys were deer hunting with his brother-in-law, camping and fishing with family and friends. He enjoyed car shows, sports, or just working on his cars in the garage.

He was a kind and gentle soul who would always lend a helping hand if needed.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Richard and brother-in-law, Jeff.

Billy is survived by his sisters, Joan Moran and husband, Lee and Amy Mazonis; nephews, Lee, Greg, Jason, Jeffrey, Ricky and Mark, niece, Alyssa and grandniece’s Aspen and Isabella.

A Blessing service will be held at 6:30 P.M. at the Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc., Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

Family and friends are invited to share any remembrances from 4 to 7 PM on Thursday, August 24rd.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

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2023 Miami Grand Pix: DJ Khaled Tyreek Hill and Jerry Bruckheimer spotted ahead of Saturday's race

DJ Khaled, Tyreek Hill, and Jerry Bruckheimer are all spotted at Miami Grand Prix practice ahead of the circuit's second ever race on Sunday  DJ Khaled got a tour of the paddock by Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll  Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill got in a race suit with the Alpine team   DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news  By Jake Fenner For Dailymail.Com Published: 18:23 EDT, 5 May 2023 | Updated: 18:23 EDT, 5 May 2023 Celebrities flocked to the Miami International Autodrome on Friday and were on hand to watch the first two practice sessions of this weekend's grand prix. The earlier practice session got started around 2:00pm local time while the second practice session got underway at 5:30pm local time. Music producer DJ Khaled was seen walking along the pit wall and throughout the paddock - which this year was moved inside the Miami Dolphins' stadium. The artist was seen inside the Hard Rock Stadium with Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll. Some Dolphins players were seen in the garage areas as well. Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was dressed up in a full race suit inside the Alpine garage and even spoke to driver Pierre Gasly on his radio. Hill's teammate - cornerback Trill Williams - was seen with Alpha Tauri's crew tossing a football in front of Nyck de Vries's hangar. Musician DJ Khaled was given a tour of the paddock before practice at the Miami Grand Prix Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill donned a race suit and a headset in Alpine's garage Meanwhile, Hill's teammate - Dolphins corner Trill Williams - tossed a football with Alpha Tauri Formula One legend Mika Hakkinen was also seen strolling around behind the scenes Jerry Bruckheimer (L) and Joseph Kosinski (R) were doing research for their upcoming F1 film Elsewhere on the grid, Formula One legends Mika Hakkinen was seen strolling around behind the scenes. Movie makers Jerry Bruckheimer and Joseph Kosinski were also around the track as they prepare to make a Formula One project with Brad Pitt.  This weekend will mark the second time that F1 has raced around the Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida - and the racing circuit's third trip to the Sunshine State, having gone to Sebring in 1959. Last season, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen took the checkered flag to win the Grand Prix en route to his second world driver's championship title. Share or comment on this article: 2023 Miami Grand Pix: DJ Khaled, Tyreek Hill, and Jerry Bruckheimer spotted ahead of Saturday's race via Formula One | Mail Online https://www.dailymail.co.uk?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

#F1 #2023 Miami Grand Pix: DJ Khaled #Tyreek Hill #and Jerry Bruckheimer spotted ahead of Saturday's race #Formula 1

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GERMANIA 1 MARK 1959 J RARO

Regno / Paese :GERMANIA Regnante:REPUBBLICA Valore : 1 MARK Anno : 1959 Zecca :J Metallo :COPPERNICKEL Peso : Rarità :R Conservazione :SPL/QSPL Rif: KM#110 Note:

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