AndrewTMcCarthy

Focusing on theater, writing, and select film projects.

[Freddy🇩🇪 @FreddyLA7]

On our way into the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina!!!

[Archaeo - Histories @archeohistories]

Mount Everest has been called the "cloud cemetery" because of the hundreds of bodies of climbers that remain on its slopes, often exposed to view over popular routes. Bodies are typically preserved by cold and dry conditions, and some have become landmarks, such as the well-known "Green Boots." While most bodies are hidden in crevices or under snow, their increasing numbers have become a difficult and tragic part of mountain climbing culture.

On May 10, 1996, Indian mountaineer Tsewang Paljor drew his final breath on the unforgiving slopes of Mount Everest. More than 300 climbers have perished in their quest to conquer the world’s highest peak, but Paljor became one of Everest’s most haunting landmarks.

His bright neon gear stood out sharply against the ice, earning him the name “Green Boots.” Caught in a brutal storm that also claimed the lives of seven fellow climbers, he never returned from the mountain.

Today, “Green Boots” still rests at 27,887 feet, in the notorious Death Zone, a chilling reminder of Everest’s deadly cost.

© Reddit

#archaeohistories

[bkr @bkrewind]

has to be said, no matter the reason joan crawford stayed home, she is the only actor from the 1940s with an iconic oscars photo. the photo ops at the actual ceremony were not great at all. her mind...

[Suiting Up Varsity🟧 @SuitUpVarsity]

🚁 🚗 ROAD TRIP 🚍️ 🚘️
One of my favorite all-time stops was the Geneva Downtown Gym. They don't make them better!

[𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚘𝚕 @2ndaryProtocol]

What’s this? Freddy is up on the big screen at my local multiplex? Yesthankyouplease! 🖤

Now Rewatching: ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge’ (1985) 🚌🚿🦜🔥

[𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚘𝚕 @2ndaryProtocol]

Director Abel Ferrara’s ‘Ms. 45’ (aka ‘Angel Of Vengeance’ • ‘The Woman With The .45 Magnum’) starring Zoë Tamerlis took aim at moviegoers in Germany on this day 45 years ago (June 26, 1981) 🌆 🔫 ☠️

TRIVIA: Director Abel Ferrara specifically told composer Joe Delia to do a score that was both modern and atonal. (IMDB) 🖤

[𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚘𝚕 @2ndaryProtocol]

The cult fantasy action-adventure ‘Highlander’ starring Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, Roxanne Hart, and Sean Connery fought its way into theaters in the Netherlands on this day 40 years ago (June 26, 1986) ⏰ ⚔️ ⚡️

"𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚎!"

TRIVIA: Kurt Russell was originally cast as Connor Macleod, but dropped out of the film at the insistence of Goldie Hawn. Catherine Mary Stewart had been cast as Brenda Wyatt, but dropped out of the film around the same time as Kurt Russell. (Wikipedia) 🖤

[Forms Archive @formsarchive]

Francesca Breuer gave her nickname to one of the most iconic chairs ever made.

Cesca Chair
Marcel Breuer, 1928.

[WeRateDogs @dog_rates]

Our CEO Javier is obsessed with @thefarmersdog and always makes sure to save some in his beard for later. He knows fresh food is the highest quality diet out there. Get 60% off your dog's first box through the link below! 🧡 #ad

https://t.co/0PTaB4llLh

[WeRateDogs @dog_rates]

This is Jasper. He arrived at the rescue with a torn CCL and meniscus, as well as a mass on his thigh. He needs surgery to fix his injured leg and remove the mass, followed by testing to determine whether the tissue is cancerous. You can help him below ❤️‍🩹

https://t.co/DlJJDT1P6b

[WeRateDogs @dog_rates]

Our CEO, Javier, would like to apologize for his undeniably awkward behavior at his doggy daycare. Camera footage revealed that he refused to stand within 10 feet of any other dog. Javier recognizes that his actions made it a little bit weird for everybody, and is sorry ❤️

[WeRateDogs @dog_rates]

Introducing the @15outof10 Foundation ❤️‍🩹

[AndrewTMcCarthy @AndrewTMcCarthy]

@CarolynWRockey You all repost and support her!!

[Bear Of The Day! @BearOTD_]

Today’s Bear of the Day is Eso from Five Sisters Zoo in Scotland!

Eso is a female European Brown Bear who was rescued in 2018 from a roadside restaurant in Albania! When she isn’t resting, she loves wrestling with her companion, another rescue bear named Byara! #beartwt

[Bear Of The Day! @BearOTD_]

Today’s Bear of the Day is 602 Floatato from Katmai National Park!

First identified in 2014, Floatato is an impressively large male brown bear who frequently fishes in the Brooks River! His name comes from his tendency to float around the river when not fishing! #beartwt

[Traces of Texas @TracesofTexas]

For the Texas Quote of the Day, I found British ornithologist Henry E. Dresser's 1865 description of the roadrunner to be interesting:

"Abundant throughout the whole mesquite region, and more particularly so near the Rio Grande. I found eggs of this bird near San Antonio in April and May, and even as late as the 23rd September I had them brought to me by the vaqueros. It builds a clumsy nest of mesquite-twigs, generally placed at some height on a bough or in the hollow of a mesquite or oak tree, and lays two to four pure white eggs. The food of the Paisano seems to consist entirely of small snakes, lizards, ticks, and large insects, and probably also of field-mice ; for when domesticated, it catches mice, and eats them. I examined the stomachs of many, and invariably found them to contain small snakes, lizards, and ticks.

The Mexicans often keep this bird in a semidomesticated state, in order to kill them in case of sickness; for they firmly believe that their flesh is a certain cure for many disorders. I had one at Matamoras which became very tame, and at last so mischievous that I could not let it remain in the house.

It would steal and hide anything it could carry off, and was particularly fond of tearing up letters, spilling the ink, and the like. I never had it caged or tied up, and it would frequently pay the neighbours a visit, always, however, returning before evening. I fed it on raw meat, or lizards when I could procure them. I have never seen a wild Paisano on the wing, though I have chased them on horseback, and can bear testimony to their great speed on foot. "Jack," my tame bird, flew with ease, and was very fond of perching on the housetop. He had a strange antipathy to a tame Parrot I had for a short time; and whenever I let the Parrot out of the cage, Jack would ruffle his feathers, get into a regular rage, and finally decamp to some of the neighbors, or go on to the housetop."

---- Henry E. Dresser, "Notes on the Birds of South Texas," 1865.

Shown here: a roadrunner that had caught a mouse as seen by TOT reader Crystal Morgan in the Texas Hill Country back in 2015.

[The Husky @Mr_Husky1]

For naturalist Casey Anderson, friendship didn’t come with a wagging tail — it came with an 800-pound grizzly named Brutus.

Rescued as an abandoned cub facing euthanasia, Brutus found not a cage but a companion. Anderson raised him, not as a pet, but as family — eating together, hiking, even swimming side by side. When Anderson married actress Missi Pyle, Brutus stood proudly as best man.

Their bond, captured in National Geographic’s Expedition Grizzly, revealed a truth that defied fear: bears are not monsters but intelligent, emotional beings capable of love and loyalty. Anderson once said, “He’s my best friend. He gives me unconditional love.”

Through their story, Anderson founded the Montana Grizzly Encounter, giving rescued bears safe lives and humans a reason to see the wild differently.

Brutus became more than a bear — he became a symbol of coexistence, proof that respect can bridge even the wildest divide.

Sometimes, the greatest friendships aren’t found in taming nature — but in understanding it.

[Archaeo - Histories @archeohistories]

Portrait of the German artist and calligrapher Thomas Schweicker (1540-1602 CE), made by Jakob Hoffmann (1563-1642 CE). Despite being born without arms or hands, he became known for his skills as a painter and calligrapher, using his feet to create his art.

Thomas Schweicker's life is one of the most remarkable stories of the Renaissance. Schweicker was born on 21 December 1540 in Schwäbisch Hall, to Hans and Dorothea Schweicker. His father was a baker and a councilor, and later a judge. Schweicker was the sixth of eight children, and had four brothers and three sisters. He was born without arms, presumably due to amniotic band syndrome. Nevertheless, he learned not only to master everyday tasks like washing and dressing himself, but also to write, by using his feet.

At the age of 7, Schweicker started his schooling, and later attended Schwäbisch Hall Latin school at the age of 12. Schweicker had a talent for calligraphy, and soon became adept at creating elaborate documents. This, combined with his 'unusual' technique soon made him a celebrity. Over time, Schweicker became famous throughout the Holy Roman Empire for his extraordinary penmanship and artwork. He wrote intricate calligraphy, drew detailed illustrations, and even performed public demonstrations of his abilities. His reputation became so great that he was invited to the court of Emperor Maximilian II in Vienna, where he received patronage and recognition. Many visitors came to Schwäbisch Hall to see him, watch him work, and buy a piece of his art. In 1570, he met both Kaiser Maximilian II and prince-elector Augustus of Saxony, and impressed them with his work.

In 1584, Schweicker was invited to perform at court in Heidelberg, where he stayed until 1598, primarily working as a painter. The inscription in many of his surviving works proudly notes that they were created "without hands." Far from being viewed as a curiosity alone, Schweicker was respected as a genuine master of calligraphy during an era when beautiful handwriting was considered a highly valued art form.

Schweicker could reportedly perform many everyday tasks with his feet, including eating, dressing, and writing lengthy documents. Several examples of his original calligraphy survive today, and modern experts have noted that the precision of his work rivals that of many able-bodied scribes of the 16th Century.

Schweicker died in the early morning hours of 7 October 1602 following a brief illness. He was buried at St Michael's church in Schwäbisch Hall. He had a self-prepared death certificate, crafted a decade earlier, along with a portrayal of him at work, which continues to be exhibited there.

This artwork was originally housed in the Dresden Kunstkammer, a famous cabinet of curiosities.

#archaeohistories

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

In November 2019, Keanu Reeves walked onto the red carpet at the LACMA Art + Film Gala holding hands with a woman. Within hours, the internet exploded with opinions.

Strangers online began calling her "too old" for him, judging her appearance based on a few photographs.

Alexandra Grant was forty-six at the time. Keanu was fifty-five. They had already spent nearly a decade building a quiet relationship away from cameras and headlines. But none of that seemed to matter to the public.

The couple didn't announce anything dramatic that night. There was no exclusive interview or staged reveal. They simply held hands like any other couple. Yet, people immediately targeted Alexandra's appearance. She had naturally gray hair, which she had stopped dyeing years earlier.

She was tall, artistic, and understated. She looked nothing like the polished, heavily filtered Hollywood stereotype that audiences expected to see beside a global movie star.

Comments flooded social media asking why Keanu wasn’t dating someone younger, prettier, or more glamorous. Some people even mistook her for his mother. The cruelty felt bizarre, especially considering the double standards of Hollywood. In the entertainment industry, aging male celebrities regularly date women decades younger than them without anyone blinking an eye.

But Keanu Reeves had chosen something different. He chose something real.

Their story actually began long before they ever walked a red carpet together. They met at a dinner party back in 2009. Keanu was already world-famous from starring in massive blockbusters like The Matrix, Speed, and Point Break.

Alexandra was busy building a respected career in the Los Angeles art world, creating unique work centered around language and visual storytelling.

They connected quietly. In 2011, they collaborated on a small, artistic book that Keanu had written called Ode to Happiness. Alexandra created the illustrations for it as a private gift. Eventually, friends encouraged them to publish it.

They enjoyed the process so much that they kept creating together.

Another book followed, and then they co-founded a small publishing company together in 2017. These were thoughtful, deeply personal projects built slowly over years, completely independent of Hollywood publicity cycles

Through all of it, they stayed private. By the time they finally held hands on that red carpet in 2019, theirs wasn’t a new romance. It was simply a relationship that they no longer felt the need to hide

The sudden internet backlash surprised Alexandra, but it did not change her. When she was asked later about her gray hair becoming a public obsession, she explained calmly that she stopped dyeing it because she no longer wanted to use the chemicals

For her, beauty should give people freedom and choice, not restrict them.

She reminded everyone that there are billions of people on the planet, and what mattered most to her was her own agency, not the approval of strangers.

That philosophy defines their relationship. Alexandra built her own identity and career long before love entered the picture. Keanu, despite decades of overwhelming fame, chose a companionship that felt grounded instead of performative.

When he was asked about his happiest recent moment in an interview, he didn’t mention movies, money, or success.

He simply talked about lying in bed with Alexandra and laughing together.

The real story here has nothing to do with celebrity, appearances, or public approval. It is about two mature people who found peace in each other and refused to apologize for what their love looks like.

We live in a culture that is utterly obsessed with youth and superficial perfection. We applaud men for aging like fine wine, yet we expect the women beside them to look permanently thirty. If seeing a beautiful, natural forty-six-year-old woman holding hands with a superstar makes you uncomfortable, the problem isn't her face.

The problem is ur definition of love.

[Nathalie Arini @AriniNathalie]

Good morning!🖤

"Emptiness 12"

Acrylic on paper, from "Emptiness" collection

4/10 --- 9 $xtz

Link⤵️