Yugoslav destroyer Zagreb

Yugoslav destroyer Zagreb.
Zagreb was the second of three Beograd-class destroyers built for the Royal Yugoslav Navy. She was designed to be deployed as part of a division led by the flotilla leader Dubrovnik. The first warship built in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Zagreb entered service in August 1939, was armed with a main battery of four 120 mm (4.7 in) guns in single mounts, and had a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). Yugoslavia entered World War II due to the German-led Axis invasion in April 1941. During the invasion, two of her officers scuttled her at the Bay of Kotor on 17 April 1941 to prevent her capture by Italian forces and were both killed by the explosion of the scuttling charges. A French film was made in 1967 about her demise and the deaths of the two officers. In 1973, on the thirtieth anniversary of the formation of the Yugoslav Navy, both men were posthumously awarded the Order of the People's Hero by President Josip Tito. (This article is part of a featured topic: Ships of the Royal Yugoslav Navy.)

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Persuasion (1995 film)

Persuasion (1995 film).
Persuasion is a 1995 period-drama film directed by Roger Michell and based on Jane Austen's 1817 eponymous novel. Amanda Root stars as protagonist Anne Elliot, while Ciarán Hinds plays her romantic interest, Frederick Wentworth. The film, adapted by the writer Nick Dear, is set in 19th-century England, eight years after Anne was persuaded to reject Wentworth's marriage proposal. Persuasion follows the two as they become reacquainted, while other characters try to interfere. Persuasion was shot chronologically, allowing Root to portray Anne's emotional development. The BBC, the original producer, later partnered with the US WGBH Boston and the French Millesime. This released a larger budget and allowed filming in locations including Lyme Regis and Bath (location pictured). Costume designer Alexandra Byrne produced clothing that appeared "lived-in", winning a BAFTA for her work. The film aired on 16 April 1995 on BBC Two and Sony released the film in US cinemas on 27 September 1995. Persuasion received generally positive reviews, with many praising Root's performance.

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Aftermath (Rolling Stones album)

Aftermath (Rolling Stones album).
Aftermath is a 1966 album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. Following a newfound success that rivalled their contemporaries in the Beatles, the album is the Stones' first to consist entirely of original songs, all credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (both pictured), who wrote dark, sarcastic, provocative lyrics about love, desire, power and dominance, modern society and rock stardom. Brian Jones experimented with instruments not usually associated with popular music, including the sitar, Appalachian dulcimer and marimbas, which expanded the band's music beyond their blues and R&B influences. An immediate success rivalling the Beatles' Rubber Soul (1965), Aftermath reflected youth culture in the Swinging London scene and countercultural values while pioneering the album era and subversive content in punk and glam rock. It is considered the most formative of the Stones' early music and their first classic album, frequently appearing on professional rankings of the greatest albums.

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Dreamsnake

Dreamsnake.
Dreamsnake is a 1978 science fiction novel by American writer Vonda N. McIntyre. It is an expansion of her Nebula Award–winning 1973 novelette "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand". The main character, Snake, is a healer who uses genetically modified serpents to cure sickness in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust on Earth. The titular "dreamsnake" is an alien serpent whose venom gives dying people pleasant dreams. The novel follows Snake as she seeks to replace her dead dreamsnake. The book is an example of second-wave feminism in science fiction. McIntyre subverted gendered narratives, including by placing a woman at the center of a heroic quest. Dreamsnake also explored social structures and sexuality from a feminist perspective, and examined themes of healing and cross-cultural interaction. The novel won the 1978 Nebula Award, the 1979 Hugo Award, and the 1979 Locus Poll Award. Snake's strength and self-sufficiency were noted by commentators, while McIntyre's writing and the book's themes also received praise.