harry!

The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

[harry! @Jorvikren]

"you have pictures of dicks on the wall, don't talk to me about taste!"

[Knowledge & History @xKnowledgeBANK]

Terracotta Anatomical Votive Offerings from the Secret Cabinet (Gabinetto Segreto) of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples These erotic and sexual artifacts were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Roman cities buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Roman society, particularly in Pompeii and Herculaneum, had a remarkably open and enthusiastic appreciation for erotic art and imagery. Phallic symbols, such as the well-endowed god Priapus (often used as a good-luck charm to ward off thieves), appeared everywhere from frescoes and oil lamps to wind chimes. Mythological scenes frequently depicted sexual encounters, satyrs, and explicit acts in ways that would have shocked 19th-century Victorian sensibilities. When systematic excavations began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries under Bourbon and later French rule, many explicit objects and frescoes were removed and taken to the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. In 1819, King Francis I was so disturbed by the collection that he ordered all sexually explicit items locked away in a "Secret Cabinet," accessible only to male scholars and privileged visitors. Erotic paintings in Pompeii were covered with metal shutters, open only to paying male tourists. The collection gained notoriety across Europe. One of its most infamous pieces is a detailed sculpture known as "The Goat," depicting a satyr in the act of intercourse with a female goat. The Gabinetto Segreto remained largely closed to the public especially women and children for nearly 150 years. It was briefly opened during more liberal periods, but only became fully accessible to the general public in 2000, with its own dedicated gallery since 2005. This collection offers a striking glimpse into the frank and unapologetic attitude toward sexuality in ancient Roman life, which clashed sharply with the moral standards of 19th-century Europe. (Adapted from Atlas Obscura)

[harry! @Jorvikren]

I had a deeply refreshing sleep and was planning on a deeply refreshing morning, but now, alas, my head is full of Proteftant Liberties and now I can't think about anything more fun 😭😭😭

[harry! @Jorvikren]

I love sleeping, I'm about to have such a big sleep and I can't wait

[harry! @Jorvikren]

Totally logging out summer of sex mp ngl

[Sandy Petersen 🪔 @SandyofCthulhu]

In 1935, Robert Bloch wrote to H. P. Lovecraft and politely asked permission to murder him. Lovecraft said "Yes."

One of Lovecraft's traits was that he wrote to, visited, and mentored many other authors. In some cases, established writers such as Robert E. Howard (Conan); even with Howard you can see tales in which he used Lovecraft's advice to good effect.

In other cases, Lovecraft helped novice writers polish and improve theirs skills. He encouraged them to use his own creations in his tales, so Lovecraft basically invented the "shared universe" idea. One of the young authors he helped on his way was Robert Bloch who at age 16 started corresponding with Lovecraft. Later, Bloch wrote a number of terrific horror books and stories, famously including Psycho. (My favorite story by Bloch is The Screaming People. Check it out.)

Bloch also wrote Lovecraft-style horror stories (he returned to Lovecraft in 1978 with Strange Eons). When Bloch was 18, he asked Lovecraft in a letter if he could kill him off in a story he'd thought up. Lovecraft responded with a certificate giving Bloch the authority to maim, disintegrate, transmogrify, annihilate, etc. Lovecraft however he saw fit. Lovecraft then added the signatures of Yog-Sothoth, Cthulhu, and other Great Old Ones and Outer Gods formally granting Bloch permission. Bloch, naturally, kept this certificate as a treasure. (As a side note can I just say that Lovecraft's anti-semitism was non-existent - he married a Jewish woman. He liked and mentored Robert Bloch, who was Jewish. And so forth.)

So Bloch wrote the tale "The Shambler From the Stars" which is a parody of Lovecraft's own style. The parody is pretty subtle and never overtly stilly, but it does include things such as "I yearned to know the kiss of the worm upon my tongue" which even Lovecraft wouldn't have written. Anyway, the hero goes to visit an unnamed "Providence Dreamer" who is REALLY OBVIOUSLY Lovecraft, and shows him this weird book "De Vermiis Mysteriis" (which is where the book came from if you recognize it from my game stuff). Lovecraft then immediately reads a spell out of the book and a monster comes and eats him. The End. This story is also the source of the monster I named the Star Vampire in my books. Now you know.

It wasn't over though. Because Lovecraft responded with a story "The Haunter of the Dark" in which a character named "Robert Blake" - obviously Robert Bloch - finds out Too Much about the abandoned Starry Wisdom church and gets in trouble with the Haunter of the Dark. And is of course horribly killed.

So Lovecraft & Bloch destroyed one another and we got THREE cool stories out of it. "Three?" you ask. Yes, three, because about a decade after Lovecraft died, Robert Bloch wrote The Shadow From the Steeple, which is a direct sequel to Lovecraft's The Haunter of the Dark.

Fun fact: we learn in Shadow from the Steeple that Nyarlathotep is behind the Manhattan Project. Makes sense, no?

Anyway it's a fun interaction between two great authors that I think is educational and superior to the idiotic and enervating feuds that we see all too frequently in writer's circles.

Are you familiar with Bloch's work? If not, at least have you read Lovecraft? Both authors wrote great short stories so you don't have to commit to a tedious 1200 page slog (unlike some authors). Check these guys out. In fact, make recommendations on other stories, or other authors that would be fun reads.

[Ironmouse's #1 IDF Soldier @IrisErased]

BLACKED historian here to correct the record,

[harry! @Jorvikren]

Genuinely you find me at a very late 16th century time of my life right now. I'm feeling very invested in our Goodly Protestant liberties

[Cranky Federalist @CrankyFed]

"martyrless faith"

yeah ok buddy

[Cranky Federalist @CrankyFed]

"martyrless faith"

yeah ok buddy

[New York Post @nypost]

If groceries keep eating your paycheck, a year of BJ's is just $15 https://t.co/8nVALF7SFa

[harry! @Jorvikren]

@pandaxtreme009 Was it even a test match? It was more like a test walk out to admire the grass then come straight back inside!

[harry! @Jorvikren]

Oof it's a baaaaad day to be a Pakistani

[harry! @Jorvikren]

@SimpGanassi Tbh the truth is a lot of our grandfathers, especially in rural backgrounds, did a whole lot of different things as and when, I think

[harry! @Jorvikren]

@SimpGanassi @tijger_streep Our noble cheese tradition Vs their brutish rotting meat habit etc etc

[harry! @Jorvikren]

@SimpGanassi Honestly I think they survived in Sardinia, and they just take them with cheese these days

[harry! @Jorvikren]

@njr_private I see these a lot in my line of work, and I always think, you'd been retired for 15 years when I was born! I'm a full grown adult and you were already elderly when I was a baby!

[Benjamin Butterworth @benjaminbutter]

Ethel Caterham, from Surrey, the oldest person in the world, marks her *117th birthday* today.

Ethel is the only Briton in history to turn 117-years-old. She is the last Edwardian alive.

Happy birthday, Ethel!

[harry! @Jorvikren]

Man nobody fucking talks like this

[@shartgroblin @shartgroblin]

british porn is so trash bro fuck you mean you take out my willy and wank it till i spunk

[Dan Jackson @northumbriana]

One of the greatest thrills of my life - seeing the Union Flag that flew from HMS Royal Sovereign at the Battle of Trafalgar at the @Discovery_Mus in Newcastle, and meeting Susan Collingwood-Cameron great x3 niece of Admiral Lord Collingwood himself!!

[harry! @Jorvikren]

@ikisnick Something something gild the lily something something