tagged w/ Victorian
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Well, it's the Christmas season and many years ago while attending the Dickens Faire in San Francisco we walked out and found a guy selling roasted chestnuts. This of course brought back to my mind the old song line Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... so I had to try some to see what they were about. I think we paid about $2 for a newspaper wrapped cone of them. I was lucky enough to be able to try them again because some friends of mine dropped by last night and handed me a bag of them That they had gotten from Skyline Chestnuts that they wanted to share with us.Well, it's the Christmas season and many years ago while attending the Dickens... more
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Go into a very dark room on a bright day. Make a small hole in a window cover and look at the opposite wall. What do you see? Magic! There in full color and movement will be the world outside the window — upside down! This magic is explained by a simple law of the physical world. Light travels in a straight line and when some of the rays reflected from a bright subject pass through a small hole in thin material they do not scatter but cross and reform as an upside down image on a flat surface held parallel to the hole. This law of optics was known in ancient times.Go into a very dark room on a bright day. Make a small hole in a window cover and look... more
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The Haas-Lilienthal House is San Francisco’s finest Victorian house museum, and is open to the public year-round for docent-led tours. In addition, it houses the offices of San Francisco Architectural Heritage and functions as residence and popular event rental site.The Haas-Lilienthal House is San Francisco’s finest Victorian house museum, and... more
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Opening in 1896, the Sutro Baths named after former Major Adolph Sutro who financed the build as well as the Cliff House next door created a natatorium similar to the old Roman baths, only well, bigger. We’re San Francisco and we have to one up everyone including the Holy Roman Empire. It was the largest indoor swimming pool establishment in the world at the time with one freshwater pool and six saltwater pools. You had hot pools, cool pools, tepid pools BIG pools and small pools, but it was more than just the water.Opening in 1896, the Sutro Baths named after former Major Adolph Sutro who financed... more
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JULIAN Assange, who faces an anxious two week wait on whether he will be extradited to Sweden to be questioned on alleged sex crimes, helped Victoria Police conduct internet child pornography investigations, it has emerged.
A court suppression order lifted in Australia yesterday reveals the WikiLeaks founder helped police after he was arrested for hacking in the 1990s.
"In 1993, when Mr Assange was in his early 20s, he provided assistance to investigators from the Victoria Police Child Exploitation Unit," lawyer Grace Morgan, on behalf of Assange, told a County Court hearing over the suppression order in Melbourne yesterday.
"My client assisted in relation to two investigations. His role was limited to providing technical advice and support, to assist in the prosecution of persons suspected of publishing and distributing child pornography on the internet.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/wikileaks/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-at-final-day-of-extradition-hearing/story-fn79cf6x-1226004729800#ixzz1DknZgpItJULIAN Assange, who faces an anxious two week wait on whether he will be extradited to... more
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A dark side to Victorian society existed, in part as a reaction to the emphasis on restraint of pleasure and social propriety. Victorian society saw a rampant, though covert, use and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Developments in medicine and science made drugs such as heroin, chloral, and laudanum available and widely prescribed. Often the result was addiction http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/recent-news/6055-victorian-england-drugsA dark side to Victorian society existed, in part as a reaction to the emphasis on... more
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worrg
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added this
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1 year ago
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"The members of the Academy of Unnatural Sciences, based in Berkeley, California, welcome you to the Neverwas Project, an on-going Do It Yourself (DIY) group of tinkerers, gearheads, and steam bohemians who fabricate steam-powered art pieces out of repurposed industrial detritus. We are loosely based on the works of Jules Verne, H.G.Wells, and other Victorian-era writers who created an imaginary world where steam technology was considered cutting edge and brave explorers could be propelled by gun powder to the moon!""The members of the Academy of Unnatural Sciences, based in Berkeley, California,... more
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Scene Stealers--
Everyone’s been making a fuss about the new Sherlock Holmes movie from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels English crime filmmaker Guy Ritchie and how it’s suposed to be a different animal from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective stories that are ingrained in pop culture. Many have worried it would be all flash and dazzle, a fear that wouldn’t be totally unjustified considering the quick-cut editing and matter-of-factness dialogue that Ritchie’s filmography has been host to.
But now that it’s out, it turns out we have nothing to worry about.
Well, almost nothing.
The Sherlock Holmes we’ve come to know is the one with that ridiculous deerstalker hat, perpetually staring through a magnifying glass and walking alongside an amusingly obese Watson. While it’s always more entertaining to see a jolly fat man in the movies than the new Holmes‘ version, the slim but adept (and to be fair, pretty strong in his own right) Watson, played by Jude Law, is just one example that proves the changes made in Ritchie’s Holmes work pretty well.
But it’s not all shoot-’em-ups and drug runs like you’d expect from Ritchie. It’s also not a Robert Downey, Jr. romp of charisma and smartassery (I have to admit, I was worried Downey would be reprising his super-likable characters from Iron Man and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in this titular role.) Instead it is, quite genuinely, an old-school mystery movie.
It’s apparent from the get go that Ritchie’s not interested in giving us a straight-up entertainment ride - instead he creates a grimy 19th Century London, with filthy brown rooms shown through dirty cinematography, almost with the vibe of an early 70s New Hollywood film. It’s a great breath of fresh air from every other tent pole released today, from the good (Avatar) to the thoroughly crappy (Transformers 2). It’s not that movies shouldn’t look pristine, but it’s great to change it up and see Holmes in a dirty, utilitarian style that feels real (and, as a guy that got nauseous during The Hurt Locker, it’s great to see Ritchie do it without having to rely on steadicam.)
http://www.scene-stealers.com/print-reviews/movie-review-sherlock-holmes/Scene Stealers--
Everyone’s been making a fuss about the new Sherlock Holmes... more
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http://www.triponadeal.com It’s been around for almost a century and a half, the Mohonk Mountain House is a rustic, grand and completely unique Victorian castle hidden in the cliffs of the Adirondack Mountains of New York, overlooking a stunning glacial lake. Trip on a Deal pays a visit to this historic gem.http://www.triponadeal.com It’s been around for almost a century and a half, the... more
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http://www.triponadeal.com We showcase eight beautiful hotels around the United States that celebrate America … unique and elegant castles, rustic palaces and Victorian wonders … unique historic American destinations.http://www.triponadeal.com We showcase eight beautiful hotels around the United States... more
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In order to be naked in front of others, do you have to have a perfect body? In dressing rooms without private stalls why are some women guarded and other women with terrible figures not at all fazed? And, in the case of the naked dressing room, do the same rules apply as the men’s urinal---do you not look? But, really, this is one of the few chances to compare bodies and see what’s really going on underneath clothing. And why is it that usually the girls closest to perfection are the most modest? Is it because they ones with the worst physiques have given up and are too fare gone and have the attitude of “fuck it.” The truth is there is nothing more beautiful than a naked woman with a stunning figure. Artfully posed in photos, they can take your breath away. Naked women…..sirens, but definitely with a catch. Very will written piece that’s unusual, and humorous but also makes you think about something that never would have crossed your mind otherwise. Beautiful images of nude women at bottom of post.In order to be naked in front of others, do you have to have a perfect body? In... more
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jrn
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added this
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2 years ago
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Although women today use vibrators for sexual pleasure, the Victorians invented them for a very different reason...Although women today use vibrators for sexual pleasure, the Victorians invented them... more
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British cinema was born in a hall on Regent Street in central London in 1896 - when the Lumiere brothers put on the first public show of moving pictures in the UK.
The space - now part of the University of Westminster - could be about to be restored to its original glory, thanks to a million pound donation from a Saudi billionaire.
Makes a change from them knocking down our oldest houses to make way for cardboard boxes.British cinema was born in a hall on Regent Street in central London in 1896 - when... more
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Dead All Along
Performed by Ceri Frost, www.cerifrostmusic.com
Film by Giles Timms, www.gilestimms.com
Enchanted by a pixie, a child called Yorick briefly journeys in the pixie kingdom, but when Yorick returns to his world he discovers that everything has changed.
Made at the Animation Workshop at UCLA's Department of Theater, Film and TelevisionDead All Along
Performed by Ceri Frost, www.cerifrostmusic.com
Film by Giles Timms,... more
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"What is this inescapable desire we have to mess around with Jane Austen? The poor woman has been through the mill of late, with the literary world seeing Elizabeth Bennet contending with the undead in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and the Dashwoods about to take on tentacled sea creatures in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Meanwhile, onscreen, Elton John's Rocket Pictures is working on Pride and Predator.
So far be it for theatre to miss out. Fresh from a run on the Edinburgh fringe, Jane Austen's Guide to Pornography arrived at Battersea's Theatre 503 last week with an all-male cast and not a little innuendo. Steve Dawson's piece pitches a gay pornographic playwright, tired of only churning out one-liners and sex, up against Austen herself, who is near death, bored with her stories and "awaking screaming at the thought of another Mr Darcy". The pair look for inspiration from each other: Jane wants a bit of raunch in her new novel, Brett the playwright wants to inject true love into his writing.
There are some predictably nudge-nudge elements – ooh, let's make Jane Austen say "enormous cock", that'll be hilarious – but it actually works pretty well, particularly when Jane and Brett are squabbling over storyline ideas. It's silly, but it's also funny: "No one has ever fainted in my novels except for Emma, and that was the only one and not because she met this 'Dick' person," Jane tells Brett firmly. The burgeoning romance between the two actors/characters dreamt up by Jane and Brett is sweetly believable, ending with a clever twist on the "Marianne sprains her ankle" scene from Sense and Sensibility. Perhaps the mention of felching – "it sounds frightfully Mediterranean," says Jane – will get the Jane Austen Society up in arms, but the play is actually a very affectionate portrait of the author, so I hope not.
It does make me wonder, though, about this trend to sex up Austen. Someone has even written a book of "deleted sex scenes". Perhaps it's the buttoned-up nature of her characters – the closest we get to a bit of frolicking in Austen is probably Mr Knightley drawing Emma's hand through his arm. Maybe it's just immature and deliberately provocative, but I think our appetite for postmodern character cutting and pasting comes down to the genius of good writers. In Austen's case, we love her characters, we believe in their romances: we want to know – and see – more.""What is this inescapable desire we have to mess around with Jane Austen? The... more
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It’s all about "Gossip Girl" glam hair this season with headbands a la Blair, embellishments, glittering clips, Swarovski encrusted hair combs and halo's embellishes with pearls. From the catwalks of Dolce & Gabbana to the new collection of Mischa Barton’s head pieces, we take a look at this season’s trend of “Tress-Chic.”It’s all about "Gossip Girl" glam hair this season with headbands a la... more
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jrn
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added this
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2 years ago
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A love letter written by William Weightman to his "dearest Fanny" has been decoded over 100 years after it was written.A love letter written by William Weightman to his "dearest Fanny" has been... more
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ClareW
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added this
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2 years ago
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There are all kinds of punks out there but among the most creative have got to be the steampunks. These people would love to be rolling around in a steam-powered motor car, but that car would have a catapult and grappling hooks.
Steampunk is originally a subgenre of fiction from the '80s and '90s, something akin to the idea of a cyberpunk, but set about 150 years ago. In the last couple decades, steampunk has grown into a movement of crafters and designers, called “makers,” that are bringing modern technology to a whole old level.
Boston-based Sean Slattery, aka Jake von Slatt, is one of the world's pre-eminent steampunks. A linux system administrator by day, he crafts brilliantly detailed steampunk creations by night and in his spare time.
“I like to call it the intersection of technology and romance, it's a way of injecting some humanity back into modern life,” he wrote in an email interview describing steampunk.
A talented “maker,” Slattery has been building stuff his whole life, but it was about three years ago he was drawn to the world of steampunk. Among his creations is an old bus he converted into a Victorian home on wheels complete with wood paneling and a chandelier. He writes on his website that he wanted it to have the feel of a “sea coast summer house that had been in the family for generations.”
A fellow steampunk photographed on his website has a motorcycle that looks made of brass and wood, complete with a tail pipe spewing a steady stream of steam. It is not actually steam driven, but the captures exactly what a steampunk biker would ride.
Stattery thinks steampunk could continue to grow as the impacts of modern over consumption make “buying new” an outdated idea.
“There are a lot of discarded and forgotten gadgets and technologies that we may see a comeback in a world starved for energy,” he wrote.
One of the coolest steampunk projects on the Slattery's website is his desktop computer.
After extracting a flat screen monitor and re-casing it in the frame of an antique knick-knack stand, he added some bronze rods and gold-etching. The keyboard is similarly constructed but with the help of a hand-built casing and vintage typewriter keys that maintain the yesteryear authenticity.
Steampunks appear to be much less intimidating than the mohawked bunch we might be familiar with these days. They regularly post workshops of various projects online and lend advice to eachother on how to craft new, or old, creations. That community is one of Slattery's favourite things about the movement.
“What other sub-culture boast members that range from 17 year-old high school kids that dress in Victorian garb everyday to 60-year-old live-steam enthusiasts,” he notes.
For Slattery, steampunk is about understanding how technology works and being able to work with it. It is also about making something beautiful out of what could otherwise be trash. But there is something deeper to it: it is also about the way people connect with the technology they use everyday. Slattery suspects that it is this that keeps the fires burning for steampunk.
“We've stripped away so much of the ritual of daily live in service of efficiency and convenience that it's no wonder that people gravitate to something that brings a bit of that back.”
For more about steampunk visit Slattery's website steampunkworkshop.com. You might also check out the Maker Fair in Austin.There are all kinds of punks out there but among the most creative have got to be the... more
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Dozens of previously unseen doctors' reports, diaries and prescriptions show that people visited hospitals with symptoms including depression, inflamed bodies, excessive erotic desire, irrational thoughts and a loss of self control. These symptoms were recognized as lovesickness, and doctors of the Victorian times recommended several methods to sufferers. These included potions, diets, and even bloodletting. The most successful remedy? Sex.
Dr Lesel Dawson of the University of Bristol said: "Love sickness was often quite a 'class crossed' love when a rich person was in love with a servant or a poor girl but they weren't allowed to express that."
Think it worked?Dozens of previously unseen doctors' reports, diaries and prescriptions show that... more
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womanlicious!
a good quick snippet back in time with women and bikes, and horses and the bra.
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I love history.
--small excerpt /from the mentalfloss blog--
Before bicycles came along, the horse was the best means of individual travel. Of course, women’s access to horses was limited. Horses were dangerous and difficult to control; conventional medical wisdom suggested that riding them could damage a woman’s genitals. Women were supposed to ride sidesaddle, with both legs hanging off one side. In that unnatural position, women were unable to ride for long distances, reinforcing the idea that they shouldn’t be riding at all.
Bicycles, by comparison, were easy to manipulate. There was no reason a woman couldn’t get on a bike and sedately pedal farther from her home than she’d ever been before. No reason, that is, other than her cumbersome attire and the convention that if she did so, she’d either have her virtue corrupted or die of exhaustion.
As the bicycle continues to lend itself to causes of all kinds, it is important to remember its first battle. Liberating is a word easily associated with cycling. Flying down a tree-lined road with the wind in your face is certainly a liberating experience, but for early female cyclists, a simple bike ride was liberating in a much more significant way.womanlicious!
a good quick snippet back in time with women and bikes, and horses and... more
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