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LA ISLA DE LA MUNECAS

8/27/2021

La Isla de la Munecas ‒ Island of the Dolls ‒ is located in the borough of Xochimilco, Mexico, a two hour boat ride from Mexico City, on Teshuilo Lake.

The city of Xochimilco, nearby, is best known for its canals and floating gardens, remnants of a large lake and canal system that connected most of the settlements in the Valley of Mexico more than a hundred years ago.

Boat and gondola tours take visitors through the canals and the location is quite beautiful.

The Floating Gardens
Image Source: lorriegrahamblog.com

A typical tour gondola - Image Souce:
tripadvisor.com/Reviews-The_Island_of_the_Dolls

Location Map / Mexico - Image Source: britannica.com/place/Xochimilco

Image Source: .adventures-abroad.com/blog

The gardens are not just for sightseeing. It is a place where real people go about their business of daily living like this bargeman taking flowers to the markets

DON JULIAN SANTANA BARRERA
In the 1950s a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera, from La Asunción, Mexico, was ridiculed for spreading the word of the Lord Jesus Christ at a time when only anointed priests had the right to do so. The locals disapproved of Don Julian’s approach to his beliefs to the extent that ultimately he was beaten for his sin.

Although he was married and had a family, he withdrew to a small island in Lake Teshuilo, as either the owner of the island or the caretaker. He was the only inhabitant and chose to live there alone for the last fifty years of his life.

THE LEGEND
There are two versions of the legend of the Island of the Dolls, the name given to the island where Don Julian lived. One version of the story is that Don Julian, after he moved to the island alone, found a little girl drowned under mysterious circumstances and was sad he hadn’t been able to save her life. [There is no mention anywhere of what those mysterious circumstances were.]
Don Julian Santana Barrera
Image Source: isladelasmunecas.com/

The other story is that there were three little girls playing on a small island on Teshuilo Lake when one of them drowned. As a result, the area became known as a haunted spot and no one came there, except Don Julian, who lived there.

Whichever beginning is true ‒ if either ‒ the stories converge when, not long after the girl's death, Don Julian found a doll floating in the water close to the same place where the girl drowned. He assumed it had belonged to her, and hung it on a tree as a sign of respect, a sort of memorial. There was no sinister or weird intent.

Image Source:
amusingplanet.com/island-of-dolls

As he found more dolls, he began hanging them on trees as protection from the evil spirit and to calm the spirit of the dead girl. He began searching for discarded dolls everywhere and brought them to his island as an offering. Don Julian had a garden and sold fresh produce to the locals. As the legend of his obsession with dolls grew, the villagers began to bring broken and discarded dolls to trade for vegetables.
Image Source: picden.blogspot.com

Barrera didn't clean or mend the dolls, just hung them up. Over fifty years, he collected hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dolls in varying degree of decay and dismemberment. Even dolls in good shape when they were hung, suffered from exposure to sun, wind, and rains over many years. He made the entire island into a shrine.

Locals today think of the island as an "enchanted" place, not a "haunted" place. Others believed Don Julian had gone mad and thought the dolls to be real children who he pulled from the canal and tried to revive.

The Island of the Dolls was not generally known until the 1990s when the civil authorities began a project to clean up the canals. In the process, the outside world discovered Barrera’s doll cemetery. Word spread and people began to come to see the island. Don Julian, seeing the potential for charging a fee to see his shrine, welcomed them and showed people around. Image Source: flickr.com/photos/4479387285

ONE OF THE MOST CREEPY PLACES ON EARTH
When Don Julian died in 2001, he was found, by his nephew, drowned in the same location as the little girl. Many people said that the dolls had taken over his role as the island’s caretaker. Others believed the tortured spirits conspired to murder the old man.

The family members, who now run the island as a tourist attraction, state that Don Julian died of natural causes [heart attack], and his nephew is now the caretaker of the island [not the dolls].

The truth is that Don Julian simply believed the island was haunted by the spirit of the little girl. For reasons only known to Don Julian himself, he believed that he could make the dead girl happy and keep evil at bay by hanging discarded dolls in all of the island’s trees.
Since his death the island has been open to the public, but you can only get there by taking a ferry or gondola from Mexico City.

Some visitors find the island terrifying, and over the past two decades the island has gained the reputation as one of the creepiest placers on earth. Others find it incredibly sad.

No one recommends going there at night.

ISLAND OF THE DOLLS

Image Source: Image Source:
tripadvisor.com/Reviews-The_Island_of_the_Dolls wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Island_of_the_Dolls

Image Source: ualplaces.org/island-of-the-dolls/

Image Source:
travel.spotcoolstuff.com/ceepy-places

Image Source:metro.co.uk/2014/welcome-to-the-island-of-the-dolls

Said to be the Oldest Doll on the island

The creepiest place on earth? I don't know personally, but this is good enough for me.

JUST SAY'IN

Sources:
ttp://http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/mexicos-island-of-the-dolls-is-beyond-creepy.html
http://isladelasmunecas.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/islas-de-las-munecas_n_5663181.html
http://www.mexicovacationtravels.com/ruins/isla-de-las-munecas-mexicos-island-of-the-dolls.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xochimilco
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xochimilco
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/04/island-of-dolls-mexicos-creepiest.html

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Qualities Of The Romance-Novel Hero

8/20/2021

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HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
According to Bonnie Tyler, a hero is defined as a good man who is strong, fast, sure, fresh from the fight and rising with heat; a god, a street-wise Hercules, a Superman who will sweep her off her feet; a white knight on a fiery steed racing on the thunder and larger than life. “Holding Out For A Hero”, by songwriters Dean Pitchford and Jim Steinman

And Bonnie is not going to settle for anything less! What about the heroines in our romance novels? Should they have to settle for the average Joe with a Ford pickup rather than a fiery steed? Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen

THE HERO OF ROMANCE ERA LITERATURE
The "Romance Hero" first began appearing in literature during the Romantic period, in works by such authors as Byron, Keats, Pushkin, Goethe and is seen, in part, as a response to the French Revolution. The novels from the Romantic era literature featured a different sort of hero than romance novel favor today; referred to a Byronic hero who:

● Rejects All Kinds of Authority in favor of his own rules for morality and personal behavior. In other words, he refuses to be cast in someone else’s mold. He creates his own moral code which, as it must, turns out to be for the better.

● Is Highly Introspective and Seeks Self-Knowledge which, combined with rejection of the social norms, leads to a feeling of disconnection with others. This could lead to cynicism and bitterness, but doesn’t have to result in distain for others.

● Has Feelings Of Wanderlust driven by the need for self-discovery, and often leaves home to find himself.

● Is Haunted by the Past, some secret, tragedy, disappointment, betrayal, forbidden love which haunts the hero and deepens his feelings of rejection and isolation.
Golden Fire
By Kathy Jones

THE INFAMOUS BODICE RIPPER
Forbidden love featuring a brooding and arrogant alpha male vs. feisty and rebellious virgin. He is drop dead handsome and bossy, she is gorgeous, and there is plenty of rolling in the hay. Bodice Rippers always involve a plot with seduction of the heroine.

Bodice Ripper is a derogatory reference to a type of romance novel, usually historical, which starred a testosterone-fueled hunk whose intent was to have his way with the innocent heroine and often included violent sexual content.

Alpha male characteristics, many of which are not necessarily undesirable by themselves include:
● Dominant                                       ● Fast decision maker
● Goal Driven                                   ● Rarely admit their mistakes
● Intelligent                                       ● Doesn’t allow others to interfere in his life
● Usually unemotional ● Not affected by criticism
● Controlling                                     ● Has great intuitive sense
● Fearless                                         ● A leader
● Successful ● Can be charming

In the Bodice Ripper, however, many of the characteristics above are combined with the less attractive ones below:
● Lustful / sexual prowess ● selfish and self centered
● Arrogance                                      ● Ruthless
● Ill-mannered                                  ● Rippling muscles
● Prideful                                          ● Disrespectful of women and others
● Disrespectful of authority ● Overbearing
● Merciless ● Nasty temper
● Tall, dark, and roguishly handsome and doesn’t hesitate to use that to get what he wants

These heroes must have had some redeeming qualities also ‒ there has to be something that brings the heroine around to liking him ‒ but his stereotype traits rarely change throughout the story. Maybe the heroine just learns to love him despite his being a piece of work.

Bodice Rippers contributed to all romance novels being looked down by other mainstream authors as not-real-writing and gave a bad rap to both romance novels and historical. Published widely in the 1970s and 1980s, these works of fiction preceded the era of modern romance literature and women’s fiction

Even in 2021 there are those who pooh-pooh the romance genres as being “lowbrow literature for middle-aged women," despite the fact that romance literature captures nearly 30% of the fiction market and generates the highest revenue of all fiction, approximately $1.44 billion per year. Ruby-Fruit Jungle
By Rita Mae Brown

MODERN ROMANCE: This Ain’t Your Great- Grandma’s Romantic Hero!
Wherever this phrase came from, it’s appropriate to modify the language to set it back a generation. Today, it’s your Grandma who is authoring many of those up to date and more explicit romances including erotica, erotic romance, fantasy, science fiction, time travel, shape shifter, contemporary and historical.

The romance novel has come a long way and now features very different heroes and heroines, including those with the challenges of physical handicaps, unusual professions, mixed-race and same-gender relationships.

Most modern romance authors would probably say their aim is to create a strong heroine that the readers can identify and a hero, whom the readers can lust after, who is worthy of the heroine and having his happily-ever-after. Not an easy task, and not all readers will respond in the same way to the characters. That is why there is such a variety of character types, relationships, and subgenres to choose from.

WHAT ROMANCE AUTHORS SAY ABOUT THE ROMANTIC HERO
1. almostanauthor.com/
The heroine and the reader must both fall in love with the hero. He should be strong, but not overbearing, not abusive, vulnerable enough to need the heroine as well as being intelligent, capable, fascinating, and good looking.

2. Maggie Boyd ‒ allaboutromance.com/the-ideal-romantic-hero
● Laughing eyes, sunny nature, sense of humor
● Sense of chivalry
● Cheerful personality (you just can’t be miserable around him)
● A good listener, particularly with the heroine
● Willing to risk himself for the heroine
● Honorable
● Loyal
● Sense of duty
● Complex
● Grows and changes in the story
● A decent human being
● A good lover, physically and emotionally
● Accepts the heroine for who she is
● Treats the heroine well, like a partner
● Kind to children, th4e elderly, and animals
● A self-made man (not in to money, but character)
● Has faults and flaws but he ultimately redeems himself
● Has a softer side
● Deserves his happy ending

3. Zara West - zarawestsuspense.com/characteristics-romance-hero/

● Deserving: Every hero needs to deserve our empathy and to have the readers root for him.
● Believable: The hero’s thoughts, actions, and reactions must make sense; what he says must make sense in terms of why he says it.

● Mysterious: He has something hidden in his background which drives his actions goals, and explains them when revealed.

● Unique: He has something different from every other hero ‒ a skill, occupation, quirk, talent, physical feature ‒ that makes him stand out.

● Ability to love: He may start out rejecting the notion of love, but has the capacity to commit heart and soul to another person.

● Brave: A true hero takes action to protect what he loves and believes in even if he is terrified or it risks his life, property, or future happiness.

● A Dream or Goal: Like all characters, he has to have a goal; he hs to want something. The original goal may unworthy, byt goals change as the character grows.

● An Obstacle or Enemy: As in any novel, there has to be something that comes between him and his goal, and it can’t be an easy resolution. Conflict!

● Flaws: No human is perfect, especially romance heroes. They may be handsome and likable and brave, but they also have to be real people.

● Ability to Grow and Change: It is not just enough for the hero to know his goal is a mistake or that he has flaws or he’s defected the enemy. He must use that knowledge to change into a better man, a man more worthy of love, than he was at the beginning of the story.

4. Sara Humphreys ‒ freshfiction.com/romance-heroes

● Protective instincts: A true hero who will do anything and everything to protect the people he cares about.

● Loyalty: He must be loyal in general and sees no other woman but the one he loves.

● Generous lover: A romance hero who isn’t generous in the bedroom is not going to gain the reader’s sympathy. He has tgo be attentive.

● A sense of humor: If a man can’t make his woman laugh, he’s going to find it hard to get out of a lover’s spat gracefully. Laughter is a potent aphrodisiac.

5. Anne Marble ‒ writing-world.com/romance/heroes.shtml
Most women read romance novels because they want to read about the hero.

●There are many types of heroes: Some are leaders, others are poets, many are rakes or bad boys. The important thing is your reader be able to relate to him.

● Heroes have flaws: The author can start with the most despicable hero ever, but he must redeem himself and the transformation has to be believable. It’s best not to make too flawed, and make the flaws fit the storyline.

● Don’t let his flaws overwhelm the story: The flaws should not overwhelm what is heroic about the hero. Romance heroes are good men even with the flaws.

● The hero’s background should dictate his flaws: A great trick of characterization is to have the positive traits complement the flaws

● The hero must be devoted to the heroine: How and where the heros shows his devotion depends on the type o hero and the needs of the story. A rough-around-the-edges hero most likely will not show his devotion be dedicating a book of poetry to her, although it would be a wonderful twist if he did.

● The heroine must not be TSTL: Too stupid to live.

● Always consider the hero and the heroine together: Although they are separate people and must be individuals, the hero and the heroine are two part of one relationship.It is almost always necessary for the relationship to become threatened, sometimes by external forces they have no control over that drives the lovers apart. More often than not, it is the hero or heroine or both, who threaten the relationship ‒ and they are the only ones who can put it back together.

● The hero and heroine must have goals: It can be the same goal but different approaches or opposite goals that have driven them apart. There must be conflict in trying to achieve the goals.

● Don’t treat your characters like puppets: Sometimes, your characters may refuse to act as they “should.” When your characters act willfully, it may mean you’ve put them in the wrong story or they have reason to be acting differently. They can, and will, take over your story if they have been created to replicate real people.

WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY ABOUT HEROIC CHARACTERISTICS
Since there is no “hero” gene that science knows of, what makes a real life hero? No one invented by an author.

In 2010, a scientific paper was published about the characteristics of real life heroes. The findings concluded that a one-time hero, who rushes (once) into a burning building and carries someone to safety, doesn’t have traits that are different from the non-hero control group.

“By contract, people who engage in lifelong heroism, such as professional nurses who regularly comfort the sick and dying, do share a number of important personality traits such as empathy, nurturance, and a needs to live by a moral code.” They perform such actions without any expectation of reward or external gain and with the recognition and acceptance of service to others who are in need. Kendra Cherry, verywellmind.com/kendra-cherry-2794702

Another study published in 2015 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that real life heroes have twelve basic traits:

● Bravery                   ● Conviction                         ● Courage
● Determination ● Helpfulness                       ● Honesty
● Inspiration ● Moral integrity                   ● Protectiveness
● Self-sacrifice ● Selflessness ● Strength

Romance authors can’t go wrong using these traits as a guide for their heroes, along with some of those elements necessary to write good fiction.

TAKE AWAYS
The hero has to be a decent human being at his core, no matter what his background and experience have made him. Ultimately he must grow and change and redeem himself and become worthy of a modern heroine who is usually strong and independent.

Of course, the writer should know the market and write the hero ‒ and all the characters ‒ to resonate with those likely to read the book. The reader doesn’t have to like the hero at first, but he must be intriguing and unique enough for the reader to want to find out what happens.

No single hero will have all the good ‒ or bad ‒ qualities listed. The author needs to put some advance thought into what and who the hero is and utilize those traits that will result in the hero’s attitudes and behaviors.

Looks shouldn’t make a difference to the novel unless it is integral to the storyline. Even then, handle with care.

The hero should have a strong personality but has fixable flaws and is vulnerable in some way, He should have a sense of humor, be intelligent and self-aware. He has internal conflict.

But tell me, why do none of these lists include “integrity” as an important characteristics? The scientists got it but not the romance authors.

JUST SAY’IN
■
SOURCES:
https://www.almostanauthor.com/crafting-hero-part/
https://classroom.synonym.com/qualities-romantic-hero-8738561.html
https://www.zarawestsuspense.com/10-characteristics-great-romance-hero/
https://www.mvorganizing.org/what-are-the-qualities-of-a-romantic-hero/
https://libertabooks.com/craft/romantic-hero-qualities/
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-characteristics-romantic-hero-389399
https://www.cram.com/essay/Romantic-Hero-Characteristics/FJCC4GN946T
https://liveboldandbloom.com/11/personality-types/characteristics-of-hero
https://allaboutromance.com/the-ideal-romantic-hero/
https://seducedbyhistory.blogspot.com/2010/06/bad-boys-bad-boys.html
https://www.zarawestsuspense.com/10-characteristics-great-romance-hero/
https://www.writing-world.com/romance/heroes.shtml
https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=4975
https://www.verywellmind.com/kendra-cherry-2794702
https://themindfool.com/alpha-vs-beta-vs-gamma-vs-omega-vs-delta-vs-sigma-personality/
https://writeromancenovelsthatsell.com/
https://romancetheguyspov.blogspot.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/genres/bodice-ripper
https://www.bustle.com/articles/115631-13-romance-novels-that-should-be-on-every-womans-bucket-list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_hero#:~:text=The%20Romantic%20hero%20is%20a%20literary%20archetype%20referring,on%20the%20character%27s%20thoughts%20rather%20than%20their%20actions.

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August Is Romance Awareness Month

8/13/2021

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HAPPY ROMANCE AWARENESS MONTH!
With the lazy days of summer in full swing and long, fun-filled days, August is the perfect month to celebrate romance.

Created by Eileen Buchheim, founder of “Celebrate Romance”, this event is meant to encourage couples to improve their relationships through romance all year long. Sometimes the smallest gestures mean the most, because it’s all about showing how much you care.

KEEP THE ROMANCE GOING ALL YEAR
To help inspire you, “Createdwithlove.com” lists a number of ways for couples to honor and celebrate Romance Awareness Month.

Giving romance a little nudge in the right direction doesn’t take much. Simple gestures, some fun things, and a bit of quality time can make a huge difference. Here are some ideas from “Createdwithlove.com”:

Create an “I Love You to Pieces” Jar
Fill up a mason jar with your partner’s favorite candy or cookies and leave it as a surprise for them in the morning! Along with the jar, write a quick note that includes 10 reasons you “love them to pieces”. If a jar is too much, try slipping just a few in your partner’s pocket. Knowing you took the time to please them will brighten their day. If you significant other prefers wine or beer to candy, this might not be a good idea.

Send A Super Sweet Text
This may sound a little juvenile, but sending your partner a text that says something like, “I just wanted to tell you I love you lots!” or “I hope you have a good day at work and can’t wait to see you later!” will surely bring a smile to their face! In such a fast paced, busy world, we forget the small things. Yes, those texts may seem simple, but they can have a strong impact in your partner’s day. Add some fun by sending the message while you are both in the same room.

Go for a Morning or Evening Walk
A walk through the park is not only a good way to get out of the house, it's also a great way to bond and spend quality time together, bonus points if you bring your dog! Exercise and physical activities can help your body release dopamine and boost your mood. After a long day at work, it’s easy to feel too drained to do much, but sometimes the best thing you can do to reset and get reconnected with your partner is a quick walk around the block.

Send Love Notes
If you prefer doing things the old fashioned way and would rather leave little notes than send a text, here’s a fun way to do so! Gather up all those spare post-it notes around the house, write down things you love about your partner, and place them in the shape of a heart on their mirror! You can also get sneaky and hide them around the house for you partner to find. Tell them you’ve hidden ten notes around the house, and if they find all ten, you’ll give them a big kiss!

Create an Environment To Decompress
If you’re the first one to get home from work, now is the time to put together a simple, yet thoughtful, relaxation station for your partner. Find their comfiest slippers, pour a glass of wine, and have their favorite TV or movie ready to be played! They will absolutely appreciate this, especially after a long day of work! Whatever is appropriate for the individual to decompress, even if it is not speaking or interacting with them for twenty minutes.

Have a Water Balloon Fight
It may be Romance Awareness Month, but that doesn’t stop it from being a hundred degrees outside! Run to the store and get some water balloons ready for your partner when they get home. Great for playful or spontaneous couples or for those that just need to cool down! Sometimes we don’t take enough time to be playful. Laughter and spontaneity are some of the most important ingredients to building more romance in your relationship and this activity is perfect for that!

Give A Lottery Ticket
Buy a lottery ticket for you partner and attach a sweet note like, “I hit the jackpot when I met you!” Love is all about taking risks, building and sustaining connections, and getting outside of your comfort zone.

Send Flowers
This is another super simple gesture, but sometimes it’s the small things that can mean the most! Send your partner flowers at work (or pick some up on the way home) to make their day a little brighter! Completely surprising your partner is a great way to make them feel appreciated and loved.

Give The Gift OF Gum
Let your partner know how special they are to you by picking up some of their favorite type of chewing gum.

Clean Something
Even if it’s cleaning the bathroom counter (because when he trims his beard it gets everywhere) or putting away some boxes, these small acts of kindness will go a long way!

Deliver Breakfast in Bed
Surprise your partner with breakfast in bed. All it takes is for you to get up just 30 minutes early. Just be sure it’s a day your partner can take time and enjoy it… not a day when they have to be at work in ten minutes.

Ask Them on a Date
When was the last time you [or your partner] were asked on a date? Remember all those butterflies when you asked, or were asked? Step back into the shoes of a younger you, build up the courage, and ask them out! And don’t forget, you have to take them out if he/she says “yes”.

Pack A Lunch
Get up early one morning and make them a special lunch for their day. Bonus points if you cut off the crust! And don’t forget to add a cute little love note to go with it! It illustrates to your partner that you are willing to go out of your way, just make their life a little easier. True love!

Take a Drive Together
Take an hour or two and get away for a leisurely drive somewhere with lovely scenery. Or if you’re farther away from nature’s wonders, even a drive across town to your favorite ice cream shop will do! The Key is spending time together.

Offer A Foot Massage
Everyone gets stressed, and where does that stress build up? Maybe it’s in their shoulders, feet, back, wherever. Offering to give them a massage [without asking for one back]l helps release the tension from the day, putting them in a better mood! That physical touch can help them produce oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) and can decrease their levels of stress putting them in a happier and
more relaxed mood.

Learn a Dance Together
With so many new dances out there, you don’t want to be the couple that falls behind! Clear some space in the living room, pull up a how-to video, and dance. Even if it’s the learning a new dance move with your partner can help create laughter, spontaneity, and
discovery.

Go On A Backyard Picnic
Have a picnic set up in the backyard or on the patio your partner gets home from work. Prepare their favorite picnic dishes and spend some time in the fresh air! Like a lot of our other ideas, this one has more to do with creating some quality time and separating
you both from distractions so you can reconnect.

Hold Hands in Public
This might be the easiest activity on our list, but it’s often one thing we forget about. Holding hands is such a sweet way to show the bond you two share. Everyone who sees you two will know you belong together and there’s no better feeling than that!

At-Home Movie Night
Let your partner pick their movie of choice for the night and give them options for different flavored popcorn! Afterwards you can make some ice cream sundaes and fill it up with your favorite toppings!

Definitely a classic, but it’s a classic for a reason, right? Snuggle up on the couch or in bed and watch a movie together. Simple and easy date night!

Hot Towel
When your partner is in the shower, throw one of the softest towels you own into the dryer for a few minutes to warm it up and give it to them after they get out of the shower! Who doesn’t love a warm towel? Small acts like this show that you are always actively thinking about them. How romantic is that?!

Make The Coffee
Set your alarm just 5 minutes earlier to get out of bed and start the fresh pot of coffee. The smell of coffee is enough to elicit good feelings, and who doesn’t want to start their day in a good mood?

Say “I Love You”
Last but not least, start and end each day by saying "I love you.!"
Yes, chances are your partner knows you love them, but there’s nothing quite like hearing it. This can go a long way and make them feel great knowing they’re loved..

Many Thanks to “Createdwithlove.com” who shared these suggestions. Send your own ideas and we can add them. Thank you.

JUST SAY'IN
■
Sources:
https://shannahatfield.com/romance-awareness-month/#:~:text=Did%20you%20know%20August%20is%20National%20Romance%20Awareness,improve%20their%20relationships%20through%20romance%20all%20year%20long.

https://cratedwithlove.com/blogs/general/31-ways-to-celebrate-romance-awareness-month#:~:text=Happy%20Romance%20Awareness%20Month%21%20With%20summer%20coming%20to,it%E2%80%99s%20all%20about%20showing%20how%20much%20you%20care.

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Olympic "Funny Business" and Funny Photos

8/6/2021

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The first Modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece, 1896. Members of the Greek royal family played an important role in the organization and management of the Games. The second modern Olympic competition was like a sideshow at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris.

The French government took over the control of the Games from the recently formed ICO (International
Olympic Committee) responsible for organizing and administering the new Olympic Games, and the results were, at best, chaotic. The Committee still hadn’t settled on the major events that would define the games, and the rules and procedures were less than rigid. This resulted in some bizarre situations. Paris, 1900
- Image Source: wtop.com/wp-content/Paris_Games_Olympics

CHARIOTS OF CHEATING – OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT ?
1896, Athens
Human nature never changes. During the inaugural Olympic marathon, Spyridon Belokas cheated by taking a carriage ride for a good chunk of the race. Yet somehow, even with that extra boost, he only managed to cross the finish line in third place...?

Spyridon Belokas
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/Spyridon_Belokas

Belokas was therefore disqualified, and Gyula Kellner was awarded third place. Nonetheless, following his “victory”, Belokas was celebrated as a national hero

WOMEN? WHAT A SCANDLE!
1900, Paris

Twenty years before American women could vote, they were allowed to compete in the Olympics, causing quite the stir. That first year they could only compete in five events: tennis, equestrian, sailing, croquet, and golf, but it was still a pretty huge deal.

Image Source: redbookmag.com/scandalous-moments-in-olympics

BLOOD AND FEATHERS FLY
1900, Paris
Live pigeon shooting appeared for the first and only time as an Olympic event in the second modern Olympic games. Over 300 live pigeons were killed.

American spots historian Andrew Strunk wrote dryly in a 1988 article on the 1900 Paris Olympics, “Maimed birds were writhing on the ground, blood and feathers were swirling in the air and women with parasols were weeping in the chairs set up nearby.”

CHEATING AND STRYCHNINE
1904, St. Louis Olympics
The 1904 long distance Marathon takes the prize for Olympic mishaps. Staged in St. Louis, the modern Olympic Games were in their infancy and, for the most part, the people in charge knew squat about what was required for such an event.

The foot race was set under the worst circumstances. The 25 mile race ‒ which was actually 24.85 miles ‒ started in the afternoon in hot 103°F weather. The roads were dusty and automobiles were allowed to use the roads during the race, making the dust worse. The only water stop for the runners was at the 12 mark. These unfortunate conditions resulted in several unusual situations.

Frederick "Fred" Lorz was a competitor in the marathon and headed the pack of 32 runners and reached the 12 mile mark first. He had to stop there due to exhaustion. As a joke ‒ or maybe not ‒ his manager gave him an 11 mile lift until the car broke down. Lorz ran the rest of the way to the Olympic stadium where he broke the ribbon and was declared the winner.

Lorz went along with the mistake until some spectators questioned the win. Then he admitted what happened and insisted the finish was just a joke. However, one source said he only confessed it was a prank just before being awarded his medal by Alice Roosevelt.

Thomas Hicks was then declared winner, and Lorz was banned for life by the Amateur Athletic Union. He apologized for the prank and was ultimately reinstated because the AAU determined he had not intended to defraud. He continued in the sport until he died of pneumonia in 1914.

Fred Lorz - Image Source:
en.wikipedia.org/Frederick_Lorz

Image source: unbelievable-facts.com/2017/09/

Image source:
birdinflight.com/marathon-1904
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/Frederick_Lorz

The real winner, Thomas Hicks, had his own secrets. Near the 19 mile mark, he started to hallucinate. He asked for food and then decided to lie down. His handlers bathed him head to toe in warm water and administered a concoction of eggs, brandy, and strychnine.

He had to walk the rest of the way and by the time he could barely shuffle. As the result of exhaustion and the strychnine ‒ basically rat poison which has been banned since then ‒ he was one of several of the 32 contenders who became ill. In fact, Hicks came close to dying that night. He gave up running the next day.

TUG OF WAR
1904, St. Louis Olympics
Tug-of-war was introduced in Paris 1900 and remained an event through the Olympics at Antwerp in 1920, although the 1916 games were cancelled because of WWI.

Traditionally, the best teams came from Scandinavia and Great Britain, but in 1904 one American squads ‒ the Milwaukee Athletic Club ‒ managed to capture gold in the in spite of the fact that none of the team members were from Milwaukee nor were they members of the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Losing teams filed a grievance to no avail.

Needless to say, the rules still tended to be a bit haphazard even by the third modern games, and the precedent for manipulating the teams had been set in 1900 when competitors from Sweden and Denmark teamed up to beat the French. The fate of the American team in the event's debut is even more bizarre: Some sources say they never competed, while others say they were disqualified.

DECIDE ON THE RULES BEFORE THE RACE
1908, London
In 1908, in the finals of the men’s 400-meter race, American John Carpenter maneuvered to block Britain's Wyndham Halswelle ‒ legal under American track rules, but illegal in Great Britain. Of course, Carpenter was disqualified. Well, after all, the games were in London. Obviously, their rules took precedence.

The two other athletes who qualified with Halswelle were American. They were angry enough at the ruling that they boycotted the final. Halswelle ran the redo of the final all by himself. Guess who won?

GENDER TESTING with a TWIST
1936, Berlin
When Polish Stella Walsh ‒ defending gold-medalist of the 100-meter dash and favored to win again ‒ lost to an 18-year-old bullet from Missouri, Helen Stephens, Walsh supporters insisted that Stephens’ time was simply impossible for a woman and demanded a gender examination.

Stephens agreed to the humiliation of examination by the Olympic Committee and they, indeed, found her to be a woman. She carried home the gold medal.
Stella Walsh ▼ Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Source: timetoast.com/timelines/olympic-controversy

Image Source: Helen Stephens ▲- Image Credit:
redbookmag.com/scandalous-moments-in-olympics De Desconocido - [1], Dominio público
Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index

The Twist: Forty-four years later in 1980, Stella Walsh was shot to death outside a Cleveland shopping mall. When the autopsy was performed, it was discovered that Stella Walsh had male genitalia, not Helen Stephens

GENDER TESTING UNRELIABLE
1964, Tokyo
Again Gender Testing proves unreliable. Ewa Kłobukowska, a Polish sprinter, competed in the 4×100 meter relay and the 100-meter sprint and took home a gold and a bronze medal, respectively, which were stripped from her in 1967 for failing a gender test.

Surprise, surprise! In 1968 Klobukowska became pregnant and gave birth to a son. It took years for people to realize that she must have had a genetic abnormality that made her have one chromosome too many.

Ewa Kłobukowska c. 1967
Image Credits: Smithsonian Institution from United States
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.

LOW POINT IN OLYMPIC BOXING
1988, Seoul
It doesn’t appear that good sportsmanship is something one can learn from the Olympics.
In 1988,New Zealand Referee Keith Walker took two point off the score of Korean bantamweight boxer Byun Jong-Li for headbutting his Bulgarian opponent.

The Korean crowd at the event went berserk. The Korean head coach Lee Houng-Soo punched Walker and a South Korean official attacked him. After that, at least one other Korean coach and members of the audience poured into the ring and started to riot.

Image Credits: Getty Images - Image Source: Image credits: Getty Images - Image Source:
insidethegames.biz/boxings-battle-of-seoul theage.com.au/referee-flees-seoul-olympics

The crowds directed their violence not just at Walker, but the Bulgarian president of the refereeing committee. Walker was eventually rescued by a somewhat slow-to-respond police force and immediately left Seoul. Walker may have been mistaken by the fans and coaches for a Greek referee who'd told the Korean delegation to “shut up” earlier when they questioned a controversial decision.

CHANGE OF MOOD - FUNNY PHOTOS
Fast Forward to some more recent Olympic Games. Athletic games offer abundant opportunities for funny photos. Nobody is posing, and many of the sports require close body contact. If a photographer happens to be in the right place at the right time, some of the results are hilarious. Some of them make you feel mean for laughing but you can’t help it.

You do get to see a lot of open mouths, teeth, and tongues in Olympic candid shots.

WRESTLING
Source of Images: worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-summer-olympics-photos

BOXING

Image Source: acidcow.com/funny-olympic-photos

SYNCORONIZED SWIMMING
This event offers both professional and amateur photographers to take some very interesting pictures. Looking through the lens, there are lots of body parts superimposed over each other, sometimes in an embarrassing way.
Source of Image: acidcow.com/funny-olympic-photos

TRACK AND FIELD

Image Source: qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails Image Source:
worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos

SAILING

WATER POLO

◄Croatian water polo player Andro Buslje
Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces

Image Source:
worldwideinterweb.com/funniest- olympics-photos ►

PING PONG
The is another sport that results in many amusing photos, thanks to the many angles at which one can photograph the ball. These players are magicians.
▼ Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces ▼

Image Source: qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails

Image Source: pinterest.com/pin/158189005632300669/

ICE DANCING HAND BALL

Source of images: worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos Argentina's Rocio Campigli ▲
Image Credit: Eric Feferberg/AFP
Image Source: qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails

SYNCRONIZED RUGBY BEACH
DIVING VOLLEY BALL

Image Source: heart. o.ukc/hilarious-olympic-pictures/

Image source:
qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails

Laura Giombini (Italy)
Image Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images; Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces

SWIMMING

Image Source: worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos

Image Source:
worldwideinterweb.com/funniest-olympics-photos

Michael Phelps
Image Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images
Image Source: ibtimes.co.uk/olympic-faces

This could go on and on. There are no end to funny faces when athlete concentrate and strain their bodies. Here are just two more photos I couldn't resist.

OH! SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT!
JUST SAY'IN
■
Sources for “Funny Business”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Lorz
https://unbelievable-facts.com/2017/09/craziest-historical-incidents.html
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/31386/11-craziest-events-olympic-history#:~:text=The%201904%20marathon%20was%20one%20of%20the%20most,that%20were%20permitted%20to%20drive%20alongside%20the%20athletes.
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041711/anniversary-of-boxings-battle-of-seoul-highlights-the-continuing-struggle-to-rid-the-olympics-of-controversy-in-the-ring
Anniversary of boxing’s Battle of Seoul highlights the continuing struggle to rid the Olympics of controversy in the ring (insidethegames.biz)
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-1988-referee-flees-seoul-olympics-after-ring-assaults-20200918-p55wxa.html
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-1988-referee-flees-seoul-olympics-after-ring-assaults-20200918-p55wxa.htmlhttps:/www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-1988-referee-flees-seoul-olympics-after-ring-assaults-20200918-p55wxa.html
https://www.redbookmag.com/life/news/g3566/scandalous-moments-in-olympics-history/
https://birdinflight.com/world/20160824-marathon-during-1904-olympics.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30478212
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyridon_Belokas
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/olympic-controversy
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41546035
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89624871
https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1900_Paris_Games_Olympics_79847.jpg
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041711/anniversary-of-boxings-battle-of-seoul-highlights-the-continuing-struggle-to-rid-the-olympics-of-controversy-in-the-ring
Sources for “Funny Photos”:
https://worldwideinterweb.com/the-100-funniest-summer-olympics-photos-of-all-time/
https://www.heart.co.uk/news/sport/hilarious-olympic-pictures/
https://acidcow.com/pics/35912-crazy-and-funny-olympic-photos-105-pics.html
https://www.qunki.com/93428/funny-olympic-fails-that-might-make-you-feel-bad-for-laughing/
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/talking-olympics-hilarious
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/talking-olympics-hilarious
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005632300669/
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/best-rio-2016-olympic-faces-agony-ecstasy-wtf-1575365
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005632300669/
http://thumbpress.com/can-norway-get-any-more-awesome/#sthash.RSDfwyRp.dpbs
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/10/27-pictures-of-funny-faces-from-the-sochi-2014-winter-olympics-photos_n_4758755.html#gallery/5d023352e4b09d75a615c871/2
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041711/anniversary-of-boxings-battle-of-seoul-highlights-the-continuing-struggle-to-rid-the-olympics-of-controversy-in-the-ring

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