#nomad: othello

[gulindede]

2023-2024 sezonu tiyatro bakiyesi;

1. Altın Elma, Olası İşler, Bergama Tiyatro Festivali, 11 Ağustos 2. Deli Bayramı, DasDas, 

Bergama Tiyatro Festivali, 11 Ağustos 

3. Afet & Diana, BGST , 

Bergama Tiyatro Festivali, 12 Ağustos

4. Kral Übü, Sarı Sandalye,  Bergama Tiyatro Festivali, 13 Ağustos 

5. La Reprise, NtGent, İO Festivali , 9 Eylül

6. Gılgamış, Platform 0090, 15 Eylül, Io Festivali 

7. A night with thick&tight, Fringe Festivali, 16 Eylül

8. My favorite person, Fringe Festivali, 18 Eylül

9. On Wednesday We Wear Pink, Fringe Festivali, 20 Eylül

10. Kaçak Çay Performansı, Fringe Festivali,, 23 Eylül 

11. Bunker+Vault&Reprise, Fringe Festivali, 23 Eylül

12. Disko Topu, Lemur Company, 30 Eylül

13. Ölümün Tersi Arzudur, Kadıköy Emek Tiyatrosu, 7 Ekim

14. Cırcır Böcekleri, İtler ve Biz, Art12, 8 Ekim

15. Selmin Zeki Hanım, Moda Sahnesi, 13 Ekim 

16. Aşık Shakespeare, 19 Ekim

17. Cafe Müller,  İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 25 Ekim

18. Geçen Yaz Birdenbire, İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 30 Ekim

19. Büyük Zarifi Apartmanı, İstos Sahne, 1 Kasım

20. İO, Terzopoulos, İo Festivali, 3 Kasım 

21. Annemden Kalan Gül Ağacı Masa..., Ba Tiyatro, 4 Kasım

22. Ayazmanın Yılanı, Tiyatro Poyraz, 5 Kasım

23. Düğün, İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 7 Kasım

24. Kel Diva, Oyun Atölyesi, 8 Kasım

25. Çifte Cinayet, İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 14 Kasım

26. Baklava Cumhuriyeti,  İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 17 Kasım

27. Kabuk, İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 19 Kasım

28. Kız Kardeşler, İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 21 Kasım

29. Mon Amour, İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali, 26 Kasım

30. Çirkin, Dolkun Production, 2 Aralık

31. Dans Adrenalin, Mdt, 

33. Othello, Moda Sahnesi, 4 Ocak

34. Parrhesia 2, Echoes&Kast, 7 Ocak

35. Heybesini Çiğneyen Katır, KadroPa, 8 Ocak

36. Uykusuz Bir Rüya Salim, D22, 15 Ocak

37. Takım Yıldızları, Kaos Sanat,  22 Ocak

38. Geçen Gün, Kundura Sahne 28 Ocak

39. Tarihte Yaşanmamış Olaylar, Kadıköy Boa Sahne, 29 Ocak

40. 39,5 Basamak, Tiyatroadam 8 Şubat

41. Kırmızı Küre, Devlet Tiyatrosu, 18 Şubat

42. On Adımda Unutmak, Studio Oyuncuları, 18 Şubat

43. Treplev, Decolage Art Space, 20 Şubat

44. Sivrisinekler, İBŞT,2 Mart

45. Slava’s Snowshow, 3 Mart

46. Sonbahara Son Güller, Devlet Tiyatrosu, 6 Mart

47. Ben çoktan gidersiniz sanmıştım, 6 Nisan

48. Öbür, Proje Difüzyon, 16 Nisan

49. Gong, gong Sahne, 19 Nisan

50. Kaza, Köpek, Kahvaltı ve Yumurta, NKT, 20 Nisan

51. O Taraf Bu Taraf Şu Taraf, NKT 21 Nisan 

52. Dıkşın, Moda Sahnesi, 24 Nisan

53. Tanrıdan Öğrendiğim Şeyler, Moda Sahnesi, 29 Nisan

54. Sortiee, 5 Mayıs, İO Festvali

55. Sendrom, Fact Tiyatro, 8 Mayıs

56. Öteki Venedik Taciri, Kumbaracı50, 12 Mayıs

57. Hatırlarsanız Mahremiyet Demiştik, Artalan Kolektif, 18 Mayıs

58. Cimri, BeReZe, 20 Mayıs

59. Titus Kompleks, DasDas, 31 Mayıs

60. Çarpışma, Devlet Tiyatroları, 4 Haziran

61. Soğuklar, Nomad&Echoes, 10 Haziran

62. Bu Bir Aşk Hikayesi, Mono Vino, 7 Temmuz

[a-modernmajorgeneral]

Weekly Recap (27th May – 2nd June 2024)

Study

Read wh.org articles – Sumer || Sumerians

Read 4 articles

54 shorter readings

Read 1 poem

Reading (non-fiction)

Read Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy – ch 2-3

Read The Third Reich in Power – ch 2

Read The Story of the Jews – ch 1

Read Fashion on the Ration: Style in the Second World War – ch 1

Read Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages – ch 2

Read Alpha Beta: How 26 Letters Shaped the Western World – ch 2

Read Jangar: The Heroic Epic of the World’s Nomads – cycle 10 & glossary (finished)

Read Rough Magic: Riding the World's Wildest Horse Race – ch 7-13

Reading (fiction)

Read Othello – Act V (finished)

Read Much Ado About Nothing

Read Hamlet – Act I-III

Music

Listened to Vivaldi Opus 2: 12 sonatas for violin and basso continuo (Federico Guglielmo & L'Arte dell'Arco)

Exercise

Exercycle (Monday) – 3.7km

Brief walk (Saturday)

Flat (etc)

Dishes (Monday & Thursday)

Gathered up kitchen rubbish (Monday & Thursday)

Cooking (Monday)

Cleared most of desk & table (Wednesday)

Sorted out mattress (Friday)

Put books in library box (Friday)

Put washing on (Friday)

Tidied bathroom rubbish (Friday)

Tidied floor & books (Saturday)

Other

Knitted 4 scarf rows

Library & supermarket

Shopping list (Friday)

Puzzles

7 Killer Sudoku

6 Code Crackers (Clueless)

[airship-full-of-dragons]

new dragon (imp on the right!) acquired!

They definitely have something to do with doubrava because theyre matchy... not sure what exactly, and not sure how to dress them up yet bcs I Love These Shimmer Gradients So Much, and don't want to cover them up much, but-

[richo1915]

You literary types may remember Shakespeare's character the Moor of Venice in his 17th century play, Othello. But do you know the dark history of the medieval Moors, a nomadic people from North Africa, who crossed into Spain in the 8th century and overtook the Visigoths with their Islamic religion, music, art, and culture? They were a gloriously colorful, powerful, and sophisticated medieval band who ruled supreme for 700 years before falling spectacularly out of power. Although they peacefully co-existed with their religious neighbors for 300-some years after the invasion, the Christians always viewed their expansion to be an act of aggression, which in some ways it was. But the Moorish invasion was based on a bit more than just greed. The Visigoth King Roderic had raped the daughter of one of his Counts, who become so enraged, he approached the Moors and pledged his support, along with some Jewish advisers, for the establishment of their caliphate in the Iberian space between Spain and Portugal —which they did. As the Jews were experiencing their standard periods of ejection, the bitter Christians were relegated to a lower status than the dominant Muslims. But around 1031, the Moors shifted into an even greater degree of orthodoxy, which left past religious tolerance in the dust. Under Moorish rule, the cities grew in sophistication. Mosques, public baths, shops, and endless homes enjoyed running water that ran down the mountain and through leaden pipes into basins made of gold, silver, brass, and Grecian marble. Lamp posts lit the streets at night, often leading to grand palaces, creating a magical medieval city with tremendous urban appeal. Although they were driven south in 1212 by the Christian kings, the Moors managed to thrive for another 300 years in the Iberian peninsula, that is until the Catholic power-couple Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand conquered the last Muslim stronghold of Spain in 1492, ending 700 years of Moorish culture. For the Moors and Jews who wanted to stay in Spain, they had to convert to Christianity, get out, or face execution. Tens of thousands of priceless Arabic manuscripts on science, technology, astrology, and agriculture were burned, and Isabel funneled resources into the Spanish Inquisition to keep any lingering rebels in line. But one of the most interesting aspects of the Moors is the way they have been perceived through history—swarthy, mysterious, exotic, a bit African, a bit Arabic, a bit Spanish—Muslims, but otherwise a mixed bag of cultural and regional influences. Truly, a lost people who—for the most part—are still basically unknown to the modern world.

[historic-old-guard-lover]

What would be some hobbies of the old guards ?

People have been having fun for centuries, only limited by their surroundings. Of course, a life of travelling to fight in wars is not very conducive to collecting belongings, so I like to think that the oldest members had less material-dependent hobbies. In the way that the younger members all seem to like reading to some extent, I think the older members loved singing and reciting epics, especially if they were involved in them. Besides these, I’ve gone and given them a “personality” and matched up three relatively correctly-aged activities that they might have picked up when they were younger.

Lykon aka the Practical Hobbyist: wrestling (which we know goes back 15,000 years) especially with Quynh who taught him northern Vietnamese styles called vật cổ truyền, clay sculpting (an old and respectable art, can be for useful things), and blade-smithing (making and repairing their own weapons was important because pre-Iron and early Iron was prone to damage)

Bonus: board games simply because of how novel they must have been ~3,000 years into life (the earliest we’ve found was from ~3100 BCE) and why not pick up the games of Senet and Mehen from Ancient Egypt?

Andy aka the Adrenaline Junky: horseback racing and eventually chariot racing (which is famous for being bloody) because horse domestication was incredibly important to the steppe nomads, free-hand mountain climbing because she loves the views, and eventually got into fishermen’s jousting aka water jousting (which is what it sounds like: knock your opponent into the water) in Ancient Egypt (where people usually drowned or were maimed by crocodiles/hippos)

Bonus: Knattleikr, an all-day full-contact ball game invented by the Icelandic Vikings which involved hitting a heavy ball with a stick (or your hands), which she’s really sad that no one knows how to play anymore

Quynh aka the Eclectic: sailing (she can make a mean thung-chai or coracale ten different ways) which was crucial in southern modern-day Vietnam, falconry that she picked up in ancient Mesopotamia (~2000 BCE) because it was cool, and what we now would call gymnastics when the Guard traveled in Ancient Greece (and then later the Roman Empire) at first as a battle skill but then later for fun

Bonus: woomera/atlatl or spear-throwing, which she could have picked up from the First-Nations Australians (aside: “aborigines” is disfavored by the indegenous groups because of the colonial implications) or various Central American indigenous groups because bows and arrows are cool but atlatl/hul'che/woomera were both faster and traveled farther

Nicky aka the Monastic Lifestyle Lover: gardening and animal-husbandry because “his heart overflows with kindness” = takes care of baby animals, debating philosophy especially with the Love of His Life and especially if he can read (boy is he in for a surprise with the libraries of the Islamic Golden Age), and leather-crafting that starts as a chore and grows into an artistic passion (he made Andy’s arm braces)

Bonus: he’s been working on his poetry after a few centuries of Joe wooing him with his skills (he’s not great at it, but Joe loves it)

Joe aka the Artist: traditional Islamic arts of poetry, calligraphy, and painting/sketching, picked up goldsmithing (which is actually any precious metal) at some point to make wedding bands but found out he really loved it, fell in love with performing arts (mostly theater) at some point and may or may not have been cast as Othello in one of the first performances

Bonus: wrestling (did you see that bear hug at the beginning of the film?) which reminds Andy and Quynh of Lykon who loved it just as much so they encourage it all the time

Booker aka the Insecure Eclectic: reading and collecting antique books especially if they’re older than him (age inadequacy issues amiright?), playing around with explosives especially once dynamite gets invented (1867) and he doesn’t have to worry about setting his clothes on fire with gunpowder, using and collecting “modern technology” like owning one of the first light-bulbs or telephones which everyone else kinda laughs at but Nile thinks is very cool

Bonus: he made the other three teach him the basics of archery and sword-fighting for the novelty but found out that he LOVES Andy’s labrys when he gets the opportunity (though axe-throwing is a good second choice)

Nile aka the Millenial: making playlists for every mood and occasion (she has one for each the others that she puts on when she misses one of them when they split up), video games which she starts collecting once she realizes that it’s going to be difficult to find an x-box or wii in 200 years, and one-on-one pick-up basketball which reminds her of growing up with her brother

Bonus: once she’s come to terms with what it means to be immortal, she decides to pick up fire performing because it both awed and terrified her when she was mortal (and Booker is a bad influence with explosives)...Nicky is still mad about what she did to the garden at the Malta safehouse when she was still learning

[skonnaris]

Famous historical figures

A list of famous people throughout history. These famous historical figures are chosen from a range of different cultures and countries. They include famous spiritual figures, politicians and writers who have helped to shape human history.

BCE

Sri Ramachandra (c. 5114 BCE) Rama was a model king of Ayodhya who lived according to the dharma. He went to Sri Lanka to fight Ravana who had captured his wife, Sita. Rama is considered an incarnation of Vishnu in Hindu mythology.

Sri Krishna (c. BCE) – Spiritual Teacher of Hinduism. Sri Krishna gave many discourses to his disciple Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. These discourses were written down in the Bhagavad Gita.

Ramses II (1303 BCE – 1213 BCE) – Ramses or Ramesses was the third Egyptian Pharaoh, ruling between 1279 BC – 1213 BC. Ramses the Great consolidated Egyptian power, through military conquest and extensive building.

Homer (8th Century BC) Homer is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Two classics of Greek literature. His writings form a significant influence on Western literature.

Cyrus the Great (600 – 530 BC) was the founder of the Persian (Achaemenid) Empire. Cyrus conquered the empires of Media, Lydia and Babylonia, creating the first multi-ethnic state which at its peak accounted for around 40% of the global population.

Lord Buddha (c 563 – 483 BC) Spiritual Teacher and founder of Buddhism. Siddhartha was born a prince in northern India. He gave up the comforts of the palace to seek enlightenment. After attaining Nirvana, he spent the remainder of his years teaching.

Confucius (551 – 479 BC) – Chinese politician, statesman, teacher and philosopher. His writings on justice, life and society became the prevailing teachings of the Chinese state and developed into Confucianism.

Socrates (469 BC–399 BC) – Greek philosopher. Socrates developed the ‘Socratic’ method of self-enquiry. He had a significant influence on his disciples, such as Plato and contributed to the development of Western philosophy and political thought.

Plato (424 – 348 BC) – Greek philosopher. A student of Socrates, Plato founded the Academy in Athens – one of the earliest seats of learning. His writings, such as ‘The Republic’ form a basis of early Western philosophy. He also wrote on religion, politics and mathematics.

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) – Greek philosopher and teacher of Alexander the Great. Aristotle was a student of Plato, but he branched out into empirical research into the physical sciences. His philosophy of metaphysics had an important influence on Western thought.

Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BC) – King of Macedonia. He established an Empire stretching from Greece to the Himalayas. He was a supreme military commander and helped diffuse Greek culture throughout Asia and northern Africa.

Archimedes (287 B.C – 212) Mathematician, scientist and inventor. Archimedes made many contributions to mathematics. He explained many scientific principles, such as levers and invented several contraptions, such as the Archimedes screw.

Ashoka (c 269 BCE to 232 BCE) – One of the greatest Indian rulers. Ashoka the Great ruled from 269 BC to 232 BC he embraced Buddhism after a bloody battle and became known for his philanthropism, and adherence to the principles of non-violence, love, truth and tolerance.

Julius Caesar (100 – 44 BC) As military commander, Caesar conquered Gaul and England extending the Roman Empire to its furthest limits. Used his military strength to become Emperor (dictator) of Rome from 49 BC, until his assassination in 44BC.

Augustus Caesar  (63 BC-AD 14) – First Emperor of Rome. Caesar (born Octavian) was one the most influential leaders in world history, setting the tone for the Roman Empire and left a profound legacy on Western civilisation.

Cleopatra (69 -30 BC) The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra sought to defend Egypt from the expanding Roman Empire. In doing so, she formed relationships with two of Rome’s most powerful leaders Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar.

AD

Jesus of Nazareth (c.5BC – 30AD), Jesus of Nazareth, was a spiritual teacher, and the central figure of Christianity. By Christians, he is considered to be the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament.

St Paul (5 – AD 67) – Christian missionary. St Paul was Jewish and a Roman citizen who converted to Christianity. His writings and teachings did much to define and help the spread of Christianity.

Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180) – Roman Emperor and philosopher. He is considered the last of the five good Emperors. His Meditations are a classic account of Stoic philosophy.

Emperor Constantine (272 – 337) First Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity. He called the First Council of Nicaea in 325 which clarified the Nicene Creed of Christianity.

Muhammad (570 – 632) Prophet of Islam. Muhammad received revelations which form the verses of the Qur’an. His new religion unified Arabia under the new Muslim religion.

Attila the Hun (5th Century) Ruler of the Huns who swept across Europe in the Fifth Century. He attacked provinces within the Roman Empire and was Rome’s most feared opponent.

Charlemagne (742 – 814) – King of Franks and Emperor of the Romans. Charlemagne unified Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. He provided protection for the Pope in Rome.

Genghis Kahn (1162 – 1227) – Leader of the Mongol Empire stretching from China to Europe. Genghis Khan was a fierce nomadic warrior who united the Mongol tribes before conquering Asia and Europe.

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) – The first Queen of France. Eleanor influenced the politics of western Europe through her alliances and her sons Richard and John – who became Kings of England.

Saladin (1138 – 1193) – Leader of the Arabs during the Crusades. He unified Muslim provinces and provided effective military opposition to the Christian crusades.

Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) Influential Roman Catholic priest, philosopher and theologian.

Marco Polo (1254 – 1324) Venetian traveller and explorer who made ground-breaking journeys to Asia and China, helping to open up the Far East to Europe.

Johann Gutenberg (1395 – 1468) – German inventor of the printing press. Gutenberg’s invention of movable type started a printing revolution which was influential in the Reformation.

Joan of Arc – (1412-1431) – French saint. Jean d’Arc was a young peasant girl who inspired the Dauphin of France to renew the fight against the English. She led French forces into battle.

Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) – Italian explorer who landed in America. He wasn’t the first to land in America, but his voyages were influential in opening up the new continent to Europe.

Leonardo da Vinci ( 1452 – 1519) – Italian scientist, artist, and polymath. Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. His scientific investigations covered all branches of human knowledge.

Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) Indian spiritual teacher who founded the Sikh religion. Guru Nanak was the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus. He travelled widely disseminating a spiritual teaching of God in everyone.

Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) – A key figure in the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther opposed papal indulgences and the power of the Pope, sparking off the Protestant Reformation.

Babur (1483 – 1531) – Founder of the Moghul Empire on the Indian subcontinent. A descendant of Genghis Khan, he brought a Persian influence to India.

William Tyndale (1494 – 1536) – A key figure in the Protestant Reformation. Tyndale translated the Bible into English. It’s wide dissemination changed English society. He was executed for heresy.

Akbar (1542 – 1605) – Moghul Emperor who consolidated and expanded the Moghul Empire. Akbar also was a supporter of the arts, culture and noted for his religious tolerance.

Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618) – English explorer who made several journeys to the Americas, including a search for the lost ‘Eldorado.’

Galileo Galilei (1564 -1642) – Astronomer and physicist. Galileo developed the modern telescope and, challenging the teachings of the church, helped to prove the earth revolved around the sun.

William Shakespeare (1564- 1616) English poet and playwright. Shakespeare’s plays, such as Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello have strongly influenced English literature and Western civilisation.

Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) Dubbed the father of modern philosophy, Descartes was influential in a new rationalist movement, which sought to question basic presumptions with reason.

Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658) – British Parliamentarian. Cromwell led his new model army in defeating King Charles I and creating a new model of government.

Voltaire (1694 – 1778) – French philosopher. Voltaire’s biting satire helped to create dissent in the lead up to the French revolution.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) – English mathematician and scientist. Newton laid the foundations of modern physics, with his laws of motion and gravity. He made extensive scientific investigations.

Eighteenth Century

Catherine the Great (1729 – 1796) – Russian Queen during the Eighteenth Century. During her reign, Russia was revitalised becoming a major European power. She also began reforms to help the poor.

George Washington (1732 – 1799) – 1st President of US. George Washington led the American forces of independence and became the first elected President.

Tom Paine (1737- 1809) English-American author and philosopher. Paine wrote‘Common Sense‘ (1776) and the Rights of Man (1791), which supported principles of the American and French revolutions.

Thomas Jefferson (1743- 1826) 3rd President of US. Author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson passed laws on religious tolerance in his state of Virginia and founded the University of Virginia.

Mozart (1756 – 1791) – Austrian Music composer. Mozart’s compositions ranged from waltzes to Requiem. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time.

Nineteenth Century

William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833) – British MP and campaigner against slavery. Wilberforce was a key figure in influencing British public opinion and helping to abolish slavery in 1833.

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821) – French military and political leader. Napoleon made France a major European power and meant his Napoleonic code was widely disseminated across Europe.

Simon Bolivar (1783 – 1830) – Liberator of Latin American countries. Bolivar was responsible for the liberation of Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) 16th President of US. Lincoln led the northern Union forces during the civil war to protect the Union of the US. During the civil war, Lincoln also promised to end slavery.

Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) – Developed theory of evolution. His book ‘The Origin of Species’ (1859) laid the framework for evolutionary biology and changed many people’s view of life on the planet.

Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) Principle Marxist philosopher. Author of Das Kapitaland The Communist Manifesto. (with F.Engels) Marx believed that Capitalist society would be overthrown by Communist revolution.

Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) – Queen of Great Britain during the Nineteenth Century. She oversaw the industrial revolution and the growth of the British Empire.

Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895) – French chemist and Biologist. Pasteur developed many vaccines, such as for rabies and anthrax. He also developed the process of pasteurisation, making milk safer.

Leo Tolstoy (1828 – 1910) – Russian writer and philosopher. Tolstoy wrote the epic ‘War and Peace’ Tolstoy was also a social activist – advocating non-violence and greater equality in society.

Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931) – Inventor and businessman. Edison developed the electric light bulb and formed a company to make electricity available to ordinary homes.

Twentieth Century

Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) – Irish writer. Wilde’s plays included biting social satire. He was noted for his wit and charm. However, after a sensational trial, he was sent to jail for homosexuality.

Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924) – President of US during WWI. Towards the end of the war, Wilson developed his 14 points for a fair peace, which included forming a League of Nations.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) – Indian nationalist and politician. Gandhi believed in non-violent resistance to British rule. He sought to help the ‘untouchable’ caste and also reconcile Hindu and Muslims.

V. Lenin (1870-1924) – Born in Ulyanovsk, Russia. Lenin was the leader of Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution in 1917. Lenin became the first leader of the Soviet Union influencing the direction of the new Communist state.

The Wright Brothers (Orville, 1871 – 1948) – developed the first powered aircraft. In 1901, they made the first successful powered air flight, ushering in a new era of air flight.

Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) Prime Minister of Great Britain during the Second World War. Churchill played a key role in strengthening British resolve in the dark days of 1940.

Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) – West German Chancellor post world war II. Adenauer had been an anti-nazi before the war. He played a key role in reintegrating West Germany into world affairs.

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) – German / American physicist. Einstein made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of relativity. Einstein was also a noted humanitarian and peace activist.

Ataturk (1881-1938) – founder of the Turkish Republic. From the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, Ataturk forged a modern secular Turkish republic.

A Little History of the World

A Little History of the World: Illustrated Edition at Amazon – by E. H. Gombrich

John M Keynes (1883 – 1946) Influential economist. Keynes developed a new field of macroeconomics in response to the great depression of the 1930s.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 – 1945) US President (1932-1945) Roosevelt led the US through its most turbulent time of the great depression and World War II.

Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945) Dictator of Nazi Germany. Hitler sought to conquer Europe and Russia, starting World War Two. Also responsible for the Holocaust, in which Jews and other ‘non-Aryans’ were killed.

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) – First Indian Prime Minister. Nehru came to power in 1947 and ruled until his death in 1964. He forged a modern democratic India, not aligned to either US or the Soviet Union.

Dwight Eisenhower (1890 – 1969) – Supreme Allied Commander during the Normandy landings of World War II. Eisenhower also became President from 1953-1961.

Charles de Gaulle (1890- 1970) French politician. De Gaulle became leader of the ‘Free French’ after the fall of France in 1940. Became President after the war, writing the constitution of the 5th Republic.

Chairman Mao (1893 – 1976) Mao led the Chinese Communist party to power during the long march and fight against the nationalists. Mao ruled through the ‘cultural revolution’ until his death in 1976.

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) – Catholic nun from Albania who went to India to serve the poor. Became a symbol of charity and humanitarian sacrifice. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963) – US President 1961-1963. J. F.Kennedy helped to avert nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis. He also began to support the civil rights movement before his assassination in Dallas, November 1963.

Nelson Mandela (1918 – ) The first President of democratic South Africa in 1994. Mandela was imprisoned by the apartheid regime for 27 years, but on his release helped to heal the wounds of apartheid through forgiveness and reconciliation.

Pope John Paul II (1920 – 2005) – Polish Pope from 1978-2005. Pope John Paul is credited with bringing together different religions and playing a role at the end of Communism in Eastern Europe.

Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – ) British Queen from 1952. The second longest serving monarch in history, Elizabeth saw six decades of social and political change.

Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) Martin Luther King was a powerful leader of the non-violent civil rights movement. His 1963 speech ‘I have a dream’ being a pinnacle moment.

14th Dalai Lama (1938 – ) Spiritual and political leader of Tibetans. The Dalai Lama was forced into exile by the invading Chinese. He is a leading figure for non-violence and spirituality.

Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 – ) Leader of the Soviet Union. Oversaw transition from Communism in Eastern Europe to democracy. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

Muhammad Ali (1942- ) American boxer. Muhammad Ali had his boxing license removed for refusal to fight in Vietnam. He became a leading figure in the civil rights movement.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Famous historical people”, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net, 18/12/2013. Published  1 March 2018. Last updated 7 July 2019

[bluestmoons]

1. alias/name: Serena!

2. birthday: February 3rd!

3. zodiac sign: Aquarius! 

4. height: 5′8"? I literally don’t know I have no idea, but I’m tall-ish 

5. hobbies: RP!!! Umm,,, I don’t know what counts as hobbies, but! Playing Sims! Making up stories/characters! Learning German! Transcribing! Making friends!  

6. favorite colors: PINK, orange/gold, green, and purple! 

7. favorite books: I always say “my own” and Inkheart by Cornelia Funke so let’s go with that!! I haven’t read a real book in a bit though. 😭

8. last song listened to: “why do you feel so down?” by Declan McKenna ( JKLFDJAKLFDA ONE IN THE SAME... )

9. last film or show watched: Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai! 

10. inspiration for muse: I think most people would just pick one muse but let me just go down the list and pick things that remind me of/inspire me about my muses and/or why I picked them up!  ELSA: Purples and blues, cold weather and forests, dizzying castles, tinkling bells, snow and ice ( duh?? ), icicles, Norwegian patterns, deep purple velvets, isolation, the scratch of a quill, and the taste of tears. She reminded me a lot of my childhood. ERK: Purple silk and burlap, old books, exhaustion, disgust, burning hands. He reminds me a lot of one of my husband’s characters.  ERIC: Bright white sand and green-blue seas, cream castles, the taste of salt and the feel of rope, wet dog smell, the deck of a ship at sea, sunlight, parenthood. I love his goofy light-heartedness.  FINIS: Feathers, sheer clothing, long hair, tears caught in eyelashes, sad arias, inky quills against parchment, repetitive motions, purple flowers, a broken body that never shatters, fire, bloody throats, overwhelming sorrow, the concept of immortality, the feel of grass between toes, small boxes, cages, deep breaths, immeasurably empty/lonely, the depths of the ocean, moons!!, comets, blue-white, gray. I’m literally in love with her, so.  ICHIGO: Serious focus, the scrape of metal, uncontainable emotion, logic, hair clips and short hair, dark blue and green, obsessive thought, quick footsteps, position and pain of leadership, strawberries and the number 15, sweet tastes, ache of desperation, regrettable words yelled in the heat of the moment, small stature. I mostly picked her up in step with Kristopher picking up Goro but I love my little kiddo so much... so short, so powerful...  ITSUKI: Nice cologne, athleticism, nice big watches, subterfuge, smells, loss of personal space, pretty boys, lightning/static, unrequited longing, eyes closed, green and hazel, basil, silent admiration, Othello. I genuinely picked him up the moment I realized he was an empath because I have a type. :,)   IZETTA: Nomadic existence, bare and dirty feet, the smell of sweat and hard work, loud compassion, hope, unevenly cut hair, red and gold, cheap clothing, white costumes, early rising, warm metal, inferiority complex, total devotion and dedication. I knew I needed to write her so I could steal some of her positivity...  IZUMI: High fashion, business casual, stockings and high heels, earrings and nose rings, frost, dual-bladed naginata, the shine of metal in the dark, sold souls, sibling love, obsession with perfection, fish tanks, a home without any distinct smell, self-imposed isolation, fluorescent lighting, purples and blues. I don’t know, Izumi is one of my favorite characters from Kyoukai no Kanata, I always knew I had to pick her up.  LEONIE: Sun shining on dry ground, the feel and breath of the earth, refined chaos, green tea, large vocabularies, strange speech patterns, dry wit, sons, secrets, old books with a flower bookmark, the muddy bottom of a lake, frogs, red fingers and cheeks, old swords, dirty gold embellishments, empty and untouched rooms, freckles!!!!, spinning sword moves, honor, old armor, repeating words said just earlier, unflattering and unfashionable garments, blonde braids, running away running away running away. She’s an OC, so!! I fell in love with her on my own!! I decided to pick her up after Kristopher and I were discussing the Reed mom and I realized oh God, I have a whole idea... MIRAI: Pinks and golds, blues and blacks, vintage chic ( “grandma style”, as I lovingly call it ), red frames, serious expressions, overt politeness, depression, bandaged wrists and palms, gold rings, bloody hands, the taste of iron, burning hot blood, monster/demons, unpleasantness, distaste and disgust, starvation, empty shitty apartments, bonsai, gardening, social media and anon hate, sacrifice, orphan, self-loathing. God I just... I’d die for her okay... I... wow... I gathered the courage to pick her up after I loved her for years.  SAKURA: Toddler clothing style on a high schooler, cooking, food, sleep, oversized flannels, tired eyes and cheeks, aromantic, succinct speech, big scarves, wide stripes, lime green and red, crumbs, bandaids, bag like a mom’s purse ( full of napkins and tissues and food and keys and totally unorganized ), memories, forgiveness, sarcasm, bells, kicking, sisterhood. MMMMM I LOVE MY QUIET SLEEPY DAUGHTER!!! I picked her up because I just... vibe with her energy, I love her.  SERRA: PINKS and whites, cleanly pressed clothing, loud echoing voice, devoted and steadfast religion, bright white magic, attention-seeking, loneliness, nunneries, rosaries, The Sound of Music tbh, glitter, make-up, pigtails, tears over a chipped nail, devotion to valuing oneself, dedication to becoming the best, volatile emotions, absolute joy or unbridled anger, cherry blossom perfume, rosy red joints, stringy hair, memorization of etiquette, adventure-lust, friend-seeking. I love her so much -- she reminds me of Willow, and when I saw her on my replay of the game, I burst into tears.  URSULA: Blacks and deep purples and blues, fine wine, tight fabric, velvet skin, sharp and entrancing gaze, crows, black feathers, leather gloves, mocking simper, blood red lipstick, neutral colored fashion, lies, sharp perfume, manipulation, gold chains, the click of high heels, short dark hair, shadowy silence. I made this blog for Ursula! I knew I could play her and Kristopher wanted to write opposite of her so I threw her out here! 

11. story behind url: The original thought was that I’d be here way less frequently than my other blogs. Once every blue moon I’d check in on here. Hence, bluestmoons! 

tagged by: @myloyalty​ ( thank you my love!!! ) 

tagging: okay I know this is a copout but I spent so long doing 10,,, please,,, just steal it, I can’t look at this anymore, JKFLAJK 

[jandjmoor]

Othello day 8 - Zagora to Merzouga

Today was a short ride day of about 45km and 300m elevation. My butt is in a bad way, in 5 days of cycling in Morocco I’ve done as much damage as I did in 5 weeks on Lionheart. That’s the problem with having been away for 2 years, we had forgotten we were going to bring me back a different saddle. Anyway a day off the bike playing photographer, some ointment and a different saddle tomorrow and hopefully all will be good again.

Meanwhile Jose time trialled his way from the back of the group to the front. It as fairly desolate landscape, though we did pass some irrigated fields and a camel train, plus a couple of touristy camel groups. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ride, in fact 3 continued on. Of course today they had a tail wind 🙄

Finally we had everyone in the vans and headed off for our next adventure. As we were driving I noticed the square two storey houses that reminded me of Jose’s tia’s house in Galicia.

We stopped at a town along the way for a picnic lunch provided by the hotel we stayed in last night. On the post lunch drive we saw lots of sheep and goats and some camels and a few donkey trains. We also passed a tent city that our driver Akmed, said was were a movie was being made.

The landscape was definitely changing and finally we could see the reddish coloured sand dunes. At Merzouga we transferred to 4WDs for a 25 minute transfer to our desert camp in the Sahara.

This is definitely glamping, though the wind had picked right up so it was pretty noisy and a bit disconcerting being in our tent as everything moved with the wind.

After chilling in our tent we had one drink before our sunset camel ride. Sounds so romantic but I found it freaking terrifying! I was all for it but as soon as my camel stood up I knew I had made a big mistake 😖 They are the sweetest animals but they are so high and there was nothing keeping me on except my inner thighs and hands (or so it felt to me) so both got a major work out. Thankfully we did stop and get off so I could look at the sunset otherwise I was just holding on for grim death, staring straight ahead. There was a mixed response from the rest of the group. Jose seemed relaxed but it’s not an experience he wants to repeat either.

Back at camp we quickly descended on the meal tent for a much needed drink. Tonight we had another delicious and entertaining meal, we do really get along well as a group.

Later in the evening we had some Berber entertainment. I like that sort of thing in small doses, so we retired to our room after a couple of songs.

Where we are tonight we are about 45km (30km as the crow flies) from the Algerian border. It’s a closed border and relations aren’t good. The hard borders between the various countries bordering the Sahara have pretty much put an end to the nomadic lifestyle, which is such a shame. It’s been a big day but certainly an interesting one.

[unofferable-fic]

The Flower & The Serpent (Arthur Morgan x OFC)

Chapter 3 - Full of Sound and Fury

Summary: In the early 1890s, the Van der Linde Gang were truly at their finest. Experts at stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, they’ve made a name for themselves across the West. Two of their newest recruits, a pair of rebellious Irish siblings with an unknown past, slowly find their footing and settle into their new lives as outlaws. And yet, as they grow older, threats from all sides begin to appear. A strained relationship with Colm O'Driscoll spells disaster for the gang, and no matter how far they roam across America, the world continues to change around them. If they want to survive, difficult choices must be made. No one is as they seem and the impending arrival of law and order threatens to tear the siblings, and everything they hold dear, apart. Is it too late for anyone to find a happy ending?

Originally found here

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Pairing: Arthur Morgan x OFC

Warnings: Language, violence, civilisation, jokes at John’s expense.

Word Count: 5,747

Previous Chapter    Next Chapter

Playlist: “Too Old to Die Young” — Brother Dege, “We” — Bon Iver, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” — Dropkick Murphys, “Inverness” — Jed Kurzel

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A/N: Also available on AO3. Chapter three comin’ at y’all. And yes I like to imagine that William somewhat resembles Luke Mitchell because he’s a beautiful boah.

23rd August, 1893, outside Winterset, Iowa

Another city, another bank to hit. Dutch is happy with our plan to take the bank in Winterset and chose a good team to work with. As well as the boss himself, he wants all experienced hands on deck, so John, Maebh, William, Hosea, and I will be attending. He asked that Karen come too so she can act as a distraction before we make our entrance. She proved she can handle herself in the last town, so we’re happy to have her along. Considering the Callander brothers are newer to how things work around here, he wants them to guard the camp.

With the plan to plant some of us in the bank beforehand, things seem good to go. As long as we get in and out with the money and keep casualties to a minimum — or preferably none at all — then we can call it a job well done.

* * *

“Marston, I’ve a question for ye.”

“What is it, Hennigan?”

Maebh looked up from reading her book beside the campfire. She raised a brow at William and John who sat beside her, the latter whittling away at a piece of wood while the former stared at him curiously.

“What happened to your voice to make it permanently raspy?” William enquired, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “Did Arthur punch you mad hard in the throat or somethin’ and you’ve sounded like this ever since?”

John frowned, his hands halting their movements. “I’ll have you know it’s hereditary.”

“Yeah? Who was your da? A furnace?”

Maebh casually added. “A Scottish furnace, actually.”

“My voice ain’t that raspy.”

William let out a snort. “Ah, c’mon now! You’re only twenty and you sound like you’re pushin’ on fifty.”

“No, I don’t.” Maebh tried to keep her mouth shut, but the look of amusement on her face caught the older man’s attention. “What the hell you smirkin’ at?”

She scoffed “Nothin’! Don’t bring me into your little tiff.”

John threw his hands up in the air and let out a huff. “Then maybe get your brother to stop botherin’ me.”

With a shake of her head, she shut her book and got to her feet. “He’s his own man and I’m not gonna tell him what to do.”

She left them to it, just about managing to hide her laughter as William continued to do Marston’s head in.

It had been three years since she and her brother found themselves in a spot while robbing a stagecoach, and thankfully being saved by Dutch van der Linde and his gang. Though they had both been skeptical of the group at first, seeing Dutch and Hosea focusing on helping those forgotten and in need across the country had helped to ease their worries. Now, they were well settled into their rolls and formed bonds with their fellow outlaws. Dutch had been the supportive leader they pegged him for — encouraging them to keep reading and ‘broadening their minds’, thus ensuring that they were made aware of what was happening in the country as governments, cities, and civilisation took over. While it was a nomadic life, it was better than what they had before. Together, they robbed multiple banks across the country, and gave vast amounts of wealth to the forgotten people who needed it.

The gang itself had acquired new tag-alongs and members since they first joined. Another pair of siblings, Mac and Davey Callander, had recently been recruited by Dutch after he encountered them partaking in a massive street brawl. They were a proper vicious pair of bastards by the sounds of the stories they told, but they bothered Maebh very little. Though they were particularly violent, they seemed to be able to control these tendencies towards their fellow gang members. Another newer member was a woman named Karen Jones. Bursting with confidence and personality, Arthur and Maebh were the ones to encounter the proficient scam artist in a local saloon. She did an impressive job of drinking the pair of them under the table that day and stealing their money when they blacked out. When they later tracked her down, they came with an offer rather than a loaded firearm. Last but not least, the ever flamboyant and mischievous Josiah Trewlany appeared randomly at camp a few weeks after Maebh and William originally joined. Apparently, he had been a member of the gang for a while, but rarely stayed at camp. He was constantly going to and fro, but always seemed to have a lead; the very reason Dutch still welcomed him upon each return.

Returning to her tent, Maebh set herself down on her bedding and continued reading. It was one of William’s plays — Othello — he finished it himself a few days ago and asked if she would read it so that he could hear what she thought. He was always one for long discussions about stories whenever they were travelling long distances for work, or while sitting in their tent at night. Having been familiar with Shakespeare’s work already because of his mild obsession with the bard, she was happy enough to read another of his tales. Frankly, she read any book that William hopefully plopped into her lap.

“Whatcha readin’?”

Engrossed in the story, she hadn’t noticed someone approaching. Tearing her eyes away from Iago’s monologue, she was met with Arthur standing in front of her. “More Shakespeare.”

“You really like his work, huh?” he asked, taking the book as she offered it to him.

“He’s more William’s favourite than mine, but I gotta give him credit where it’s due, it’s a good read.”

He flicked through the pages carefully. “Sure. Hope I ain’t disturbin’ your good readin’?”

She waved him off. “Nah. I’ve been at it for most of the mornin’ anyway so I should probably call it a day.”

He nodded and handed her back the play, resting his hands on his belt buckle. “If you ain’t up to much, I was gonna go do some huntin’ if you wanna join? You can ask your brother too if he ain’t busy.”

“Yeah.” She offered him a small smile. “That sounds fun actually. I could do with gettin’ outta camp for a bit.”

“Good, good. Grab your bow and I’ll fetch William before he makes Marston’s head explode.”

“Might want’a move quick, then.”

With a smile, Arthur left to do just that and Maebh gathered her hunting supplies in a bag. She hurried over to the hitching post where William’s mount, Dantès, was currently stationed and waited for the others. She offered him a sugar cube from her pocket and stroked his mane, admiring the animal with genuine fondness. She was surprised to see not only Arthur and William approaching, but also John following closely behind them.

“Marston wanted to join us,” Arthur explained as he readied Boadicea. “So don’t be surprised if him and your brother decide to turn a huntin’ trip into a competition.”

“No thanks,” William countered, patting his horse’s neck. “I’m just here to help get supplies. I’d rather beat him at a good aul fist fight anyway.”

“We can make that happen!” John assured him as he got on top of his own horse.

William shook his head and hoisted himself atop Dantès before he offered his sister a hand on to the back of the Dutch Warmblood. “You ever goin’ t’get yourself a new horse?”

“I will eventually,” she replied and hung on to his slim waist. “It’s not an easy thing to do, y’know, gettin’ over a horse.”

“You’ll know when the time is right,” Arthur added, taking his hat from his saddlebag and putting it on his head. “We ready to go, fellers?”

Soon, the four of them were heading out. They galloped through the rolling hills of Madison County, basking in the heat of the early afternoon sun. They reached a spot not far from camp that was known for having a decent amount of activity amongst the local wildlife. One of the many smaller ponds in the area, deer and other herbivores were common enough around those parts, especially on a hot day like this. They left their horses hitched to some trees and went about planning how to take down a few deer if they could. Splitting into two teams, the Hennigans went to one end while Morgan and Marston went to the other. Not far from where Dantès was hitched, Maebh spotted a rabbit slowly scurrying amongst the brush. Crouched low behind a tree, she notched an arrow and steadied herself when William encouraged her to kill it. It was released with a thwack, and flew through the air before successfully piercing the animal, killing it instantly. Its carcass was swiftly clipped to his saddle before the pair slowly crept to a spot near the lake. From here, hidden within some bushes and the shade of an overhanging tree, they could get a good view of the surrounding area and the deer that currently stood drinking water on its bank. Arthur and John could be seen on the other side, thankfully far enough away that their hunting wouldn’t disturb the Hennigans’ targets.

“Right,” William began in a whisper. “We’ve got three horses, which means three deer max. D’you want to get this one?”

She shook her head. “Nah. I got the rabbit — you can hardly go through a huntin’ trip without catchin’ somethin’.”

“If you insist, sis. You’ll grab its attention?”

Maebh watched as her brother carefully notched an arrow and steadied his aim with an unbreakable focus. They had hunted together on too many occasions to count throughout their lives together, so the process was familiar at this stage. When he gave her the signal, she whistled and caused a nearby buck to raise his head in response. Lacking any hesitation, he let the arrow fly and struck it in its neck. With a mewl, the buck fell to the ground and died as the other deer scattered in fright.

“Nice shot,” she commented, glad that the animal didn’t suffer needlessly. “Need a hand carryin’ it back?”

William grinned widely and stood up straight once more. “Ah, thanks, but I’m grand. I don’t want to give Marston an excuse to claim I wasn’t the one who caught it.”

“Don’t mind him,” she insisted, though her tone was moderately amused with the jesting. “He’ll probably pass comment regardless of who carries it back to the horses.”

“Probably,” he replied, and hoisted the carcass over his shoulder. “But no need to give him a bit of ammo.”

She shook her head as they strolled back to the horses, taking in the sight of the peaceful  little lake, now practically devoid of animals thanks to their intrusion. On the other side, she could just about see Arthur and John carrying their own kills in the same direction. “I swear, you’s two would make a competition out of breathin’ if you could.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea… We’ll see who can hold their breath underwater the longest!”

“You know he can’t swim…”

“… Who can hold their breath the longest in general then! First to pass out loses.”

“Jaysus Christ.”

Dantés waited patiently as the pair of them return to his side. While Maeve petted his mane, William loaded the buck on to his rear and secured it with some rope. Not long after that, their companions appeared through the brush, each carrying their own deer.

Maebh offered them a friendly ‘Howdy, gentlemen’, though Dantés still held most of her attention.

“Only one buck?” Marston observed, voice slightly out of breath as he carried the hefty animal. “You two are losin’ your edge.”

“Excuse me,” she interjected. “I’ll have you know, Mr Marston, that I caught that succulent lookin’ rabbit too.”

“And a fine rabbit it is,” Arthur chuckled good-naturedly. “He’ll taste good in a stew, although probably not if Pearson’s makin’ it.”

“Marston,” William announced and approached said man as he placed his catch on his horse. “Got a challenge for ya.”

John smirked. “You lookin’ to get beat, boy?”

“I’m only two years younger than ya, pal, calm down.”

“Alright, what you have in mind?”

“We both get thrown into the lake and the first to drown loses.”

Arthur burst out into a hefty laugh while Maebh found herself guffawing at the bitter look of displeasure on Marston’s face. She interjected before a full on fight could break out. “C’mon, let’s get these back to camp before you two have another one of your marital spats.”

Thankfully, everyone agreed to mount up and head back. The success of the trip had the group in good spirits and they took their time heading home, choosing to let the horses roam on an easy trot. As they made their way along the trail, William spotted a small band of wild horses grazing on a rolling hillside. A particularly beautiful chestnut stallion had the young man whipping out his binoculars to get a better look.

William let out a whistle before passing the device to his sister. “That’s some horse.”

“This might be a good opportunity for you to get a new mount,” John suggested. “Considerin’ it’s ’bout time you got one.”

“I’m not the best at breakin’ in horses,” Maebh admitted as she studied the animal from a safe distance atop Dantés. “I’ve much more experience with breakin’ in fellas.”

John spluttered at the retort while Arthur hid an amused grin. “We’ve got your back if’n you wanna try. Gotta try breakin’ in wild horses sometime.”

Knowing that her companions were right, and with a reassuring promise from William to step in if needed, Maebh hopped on to the ground and slowly approached the grazing horse. She planted her feet carefully as she waded through the grass, trying to keep herself  — and the animal — calm. Upon noticing her approach, the stallion raised its head and whinnied. The rest of the herd, alerted to the disturbance, began to scatter in the opposite directing, their hooves thundering into the distance.

“Hey there, big fella,” Maebh called out to the stallion, feeling a little stupid for doing so while her friends were nearby.

The horse stomped a hoof in reply, heavy breaths being snuffed from his nostrils. Despite his visible discomfort, he didn’t run as she continued to slowly make her way to him.

“My brother said you were some horse,” she continued. “And now that I’m up close to ya, I can see he wasn’t full of it.”

The animal began to make small jumps on to his back hooves, neighing as she closed the gap.

“Easy boy, easy… You’re alright. Look at you.”

Eventually she reached the stallion’s side with sure and careful strides. The animal, though somewhat calmer than before, was still visibly uncertain with her presence. She reassured him by carefully patting his neck, though always on edge in case he lashed out — the last thing she wanted was a horse shoe to the face. The thoughts had her heart thumping rapidly.

Thinking that the interaction was progressing well, she saw an opportunity and quickly hoisted herself on to the horse’s back.

It didn’t end well for Maebh.

She managed to hang on to the now panicking horse’s golden mane for some time, trying to desperately balance herself as it leapt around the pasture and tried to buck her off. The rapid spinning of the world around her and the deafening neighing quickly became too much. Suddenly, her balance was lost and she was falling through the air. The landing stung but she didn’t have much time to think about it; the stallion’s legs were kicking wildly and she could only assume she was in its path. Despite the wind being knocked out of her, she rolled her body in a direction she hoped was away from the  angered animal. She rolled and rolled and, as she sensed a distance being put between them, raised her head.

William stood beside the horse, lasso already wrapped around its neck and ensuring that the animal calmed down. Hands grasped her shoulders, and she looked up to see the worried expression on Arthur’s face. “You okay?”

“I’ve been better,” she admitted and winced as he helped her sit up. “I think I made a balls of that.”

“You nearly had it,” he replied and gave her a once over. “But I think it's in better hands now.”

Now that the horse had calmed down, William thrust the lasso into the stunned John’s hands before flying over to his sister’s side. “Are you alright? He didn’t kick you, did he?”

Seeing the panic in his green eyes, she tried to reassure him. “Nah, I’m grand.”

“You got bucked off a fuckin’ horse and you expect me to think you’re grand.”

“I am grand.”

“We’ll have Miss Grimshaw take a look at her back at camp,” Arthur added, presumably trying to calm the situation. “The main thing is she didn’t get kicked. Looks like she got away with only some bruises.”

She pouted at her sibling while he gently brushed some dirt off her tinted cheeks. “I’m sorry I gave you a fright, William.”

“You can repay me by lettin’ me help you back to camp.”

William and Arthur carefully hauled her to her feet, and she was relieved that she could stand without their assistance.

“She okay?” John called while he remained with the wild stallion a few feet away.

“She’ll be fine,” Arthur answered as he fetched their horses. “Doesn’t look like she got any broken bones.”

She allowed William to help ease her atop Dantés and carefully wrapped her arms around his waist as he sat in front of her. “Well, that was embarrassin’…”

“At least you got a new horse outta it,” he offered, taking the lasso as John passed it to him. “And you didn’t die either.”

“I think that horse is yours. You calmed him after all, and I don’t think he likes me much.”

William didn’t even glance at the animal as it followed them back to camp. “We’ll discuss that after we make sure you’re okay.”

Knowing that there was no arguing with him, Maebh simply let her cheek rest against his back and enjoyed the smooth ride home, nursing the ache in her hip and her somewhat fractured ego.

* * *

Arthur had thankfully been right — Maebh managed to escape the incident with no broken bones and only received a bit of hefty bruising on her hip and shoulder from the fall. It was nothing too serious, bar some cuts and grazes. She was mostly just relieved that none of her injuries kept her from the bank robbery that they had scheduled to do a few days afterwards. William didn’t leave her side for days, despite the fact she could walk and talk with no issue. She was however prevented from doing other jobs and leaving camp; Dutch said he wanted her in tip top shape for the robbery, so aggravating her injuries wasn’t an option. She did manage to convince her brother to keep the damn horse though, and now the stallion — formally named Banquo — stood grazing with the others at camp. Arthur checked up on her too, bringing hot food and coffee with him. His presence was appreciated, especially when she started getting anxious about being stuck in camp. At night time, Karen came to her with some beers and the two usually ended up drinking themselves to sleep after a sing-song with Uncle and Miss Grimshaw.

Maebh was relieved when the days passed by and the morning of the robbery arrived. She felt fit and ready for the occasion thanks to her few days of rest. Soon, she and William were riding into Winterset with Dantés and one of the spare mounts from camp.

The plan was simple enough. In order to avoid suspicions with a large group riding into town, she and William would go into the bank alone with concealed guns and inquire about making an account as a newlywed couple. Hosea would also go to the bank on his own, and the three of them would wait on opposite ends of the room for the others’ arrival. Karen was the signal that things would begin — she would come in, cause a distraction to grab everyones attention, and Dutch, Arthur, and John would storm the bank through the front door. Once they arrived, it was masks on and all hands on deck. Arthur was to intimidate the manager into opening the lock boxes as quietly and as quickly as possible. The others would keep the tellers quiet. The plan was that there would be no casualties.

They rode into town, dressed to impress in a suit and frock respectively. Having hitched their horses on the edge of town and entering the bank, Maebh and William played their part well, and the latter got into a casual conversation with one of the tellers under his alias.

“I think I should discuss it with my new wife before making a decision; she’d murder me if I did it without her. Y’know how women can be, huh, pal?”

They retired to a pair of seats on the right and pretended to be in deep conversation about their finances. Across the room, Hosea sat and made as though he was perusing through some bank statements.

“We’re lucky it’s not very busy today,” Maebh said to her brother in a hushed whisper. “Less people in the crossfire.”

He glanced around the room quickly before meeting her gaze. “Hopefully that’ll play in our favour. In and out in no time.”

It wasn’t long before wails could be heard outside and a figure came crashing through the front door. Karen stood there, dressed in her fanciest outfit with tears streaming down her plump cheeks. She heaved out complaints about an apparent man who had wronged her as one of the bank’s staff came to her side. Whatever attempts he had at hushing her were drowned out by her howling. She expertly drew him in, only to suddenly unveil a gun and push it into his gut.

Her voice shed its previous woes, now laced with stinging vinegar. “Get your goddamn hands up! This is a goddamn robbery!”

At her signal, Dutch, Arthur, and John burst through the doors, bandanas covering half their faces and guns raised.

“Nobody move!”

“Hands up!”

“Anyone moves and we shoot!”

John was on the teller with the keys in an instant, and William and Maebh moved into position. They tugged their bandanas on and William and Hosea quickly shut the front doors while Maebh waited by the teller’s door.

“Unlock the door,” John ordered and swiftly tossed her the keys. “Quick!”

Maebh did as asked, trying to ignore some of the pleads from the bank’s workers.

“This is a robbery, gentlemen,” Dutch announced, addressing the whole room. “And we don’t want to shoot any of you kind folk. So do as we say and no one gets hurt, is that clear?”

As soon as she unlocked the door, she called out to Arthur. “We’re in! Come help sort the vault out.”

While the others attended to those in the main room, Maebh, William, and Arthur stormed through the door to the vault. Arthur grabbed the manager by his collar and switched his demeanour like the flip of a coin.

“Open the goddamn vault!” he screamed, revolver pointed to his head. “Open it!”

“Okay, okay,” the manager said, voice quivering in terror considering he had three guns pointed at his head. “Just don’t hurt me, p-please. I’ve got a family—”

“Open the fuckin’ vault if you want’a see them again!” William growled, getting the man to move. “C’mon the fuck!”

He got to opening the vault, moving too slowly for their liking. With a swift whack of Arthur’s cattleman, he worked faster. “Sonofabitch, c’mon! Hurry up!”

The door opened with a heavy creak, and William pushed the suit into the vault with them. Inside were four lock boxes that were sure to hold ample amounts of money they could use. Though things were going well, Maebh could feel sweat building on the back of her neck.

“We’re in!” she called out to the others. “How you’s holdin’ up out there?”

“We’re fine,” Dutch called back. “Just make sure he opens those lock boxes up without causin’ any trouble!”

Arthur grasped the manager once more and threw him towards the lock boxes. “You best get them open before I put a goddamn hole in your head, boy!”

There was no arguing to be had, and the manager did as he was asked. They quickly shoved the contents of the lock boxes into four bags Arthur had brought along.

Once they were in the clear, William gave the manager a box and knocked him out cold. “That should give us a bit more time to get away.”

Before either of them could make a comment about how smoothly things had gone, a commotion stirred up in the other room. A single shot rang out. Glass smashed and screams erupted. Hosea’s voice could be heard amongst the rabble. “What the hell are you doin’?”

The trio emerged from the teller’s door to see Dutch stood by the front door, one of the window panes smashed through and glass littered on the ground. Maebh glanced out one of the other windows and saw a dead lawman on the street, blood pouring from a bullet hole in his chest. The weight of the money bag on her back felt all the more heavier now.

“What in the hell happened?” Arthur demanded.

“Lawman was investigatin’,” Dutch explained hastily. “He saw what was goin’ on — I had to shoot him.”

“We don’t kill people on these jobs!” Hosea argued, disgusted by the turn of events.

Dutch refused to back down. “We do when our lives are at stake!”

“Well now you’ve put all of us at risk! We could’ve done somethin’ else!”

Karen quickly joined Maebh at the window just as more lawmen appeared outside. “Awh, shit… We got more law outside, boys!”

“They sure as shit know we’re here now,” Maebh added and turned to face her friends. “What do we do?”

“We fight our way out,” Dutch answered, drawing his pistols in each hand. “And get back to camp alive and with the money. We’ve been plannin’ this for too long to give up now. We gotta leave this town as quick as we can. Arthur and I will open fire and force them to stay in cover while the rest of you get to the horses. Head down the alley and loop around; Hosea will lead the way. Shoot anyone in your way, you hear me?”

“Lead the way, Dutch,” John said and took the spare money bag from Arthur. “We’re right behind you.”

A swift glance amongst the group to ensure that everyone was ready, and Dutch was kicking the door open. He was the first to open fire on the waiting lawmen, who ducked behind shop fronts and buildings to steer clear of the bullets. Arthur followed, wielding a repeater and forcing their adversaries to hide if they wanted to avoid being shot. One by one they emerged from the bank, cash in hand and guns ready to take out anyone who threatened their escape. As always, Maebh planted herself ahead of William, staying low as they hurriedly turned and snuck down the side alley and through the back gardens of several shops and a hotel. The thundering clamour of guns firing and bullets flying through wood and clashing with brick could be heard as Hosea, Karen, Maebh, William, and John skirted around corners and hopped over short fences.

As the horses appeared up ahead, visibly skittering at the sound of shots firing, Maebh threw a glance over her shoulder to see if Dutch and Arthur were nearby. She let John and William pass her as she peered around one of the alleys.

“What are you at?” William asked, hesitating to continue.

“We can’t leave without them,” she insisted, wiping her brow and getting her breath back. “Two men against a whole load of law won’t end well.”

“It’s Morgan and Dutch; they’ll be grand. We need to stay with the others.”

Though the commotion continued to rage, she was relieved to see Arthur come barrelling around one of the corners, skidding on the dirt ground as he went.

Upon seeing the siblings, he sprinted to their side. “Y’all okay?”

Maebh shook her head. “I feel like we should be askin’ you that. Where’s Dutch?”

“Comin’ ’round now. He told me to go ahead, so let’s move.”

With his confirmation that their leader was alright, the pair followed the older man as they continued in their escape. As they reached the horses — the others already mounted up and ready to leave — Maebh saw Dutch appear from the corner where Arthur had come running. He was unscathed and thankfully outrunning and law that was following him. She would have grinned at the sight, had he been alone.

Before she could cry out in warning, an armed lawman leapt from around a fence behind Dutch. With a whack, he clocked him in the jaw with the butt of his carbine. Dutch was sent sprawling to the dirt.

Maebh grabbed Arthur’s arm in a knee jerk reaction and her breath caught in her throat.

As the lawman stood over their floundering companion and aimed his gun at Dutch’s head, she heard Arthur desperately calling out his name.

A single gunshot cracked through the air.

With a clatter, the carbine felt limply out of the lawman’s hands. His body went next, landing in a lump on the ground, and blood spurting from the wound in the back of his head. Dutch was stunned, as they all were.

“Who the fuck is that guy?” William asked.

Behind the lawman stood a reverend, decked out in a classic black coat and white neckerchief. Underneath his large brimmed hat was thick, wild ginger hair and a weary but anxious expression. In his hand he held a revolver, smoke steaming from its barrel — the weapon that had saved Dutch’s life.

“Thank you, Reverend,” Dutch said, voice cracking beneath his bandana as he let out a sigh of relief. “I think you just saved my life.”

“I think you were in trouble and I helped you,” the stranger replied, frowning beneath his moustache. “Doing nothin’ would’ve been wrong.”

Arthur quickly turned to the others atop their horses. “You three get outta here! We’ll make sure he’s alright.”

Needing no further encouragement, Hosea quickly guided John and Karen out of town at breakneck speeds. Maebh and Arthur sprinted to Dutch and his new friend while William quickly gathered the horses and prepared them for departure.

“Well, I doubt the law will see it that way,” Dutch said as she and Arthur quickly  helped him to his feet. “If you wanna live, I recommend comin’ with us.”

“I don’t even know your name,” he replied, but followed uncertainly as they approached their horses. “And by the sounds of things, you just robbed the bank.”

Dutch was quick to mount up and offered the man his hand. “I ain’t gonna lie to you — we did just rob that bank. There will be time for introductions later though. You saved my life, and I owe you a debt, Reverend.”

Though he hesitated for the briefest of seconds, the reverend took the offered hand and hopped on to the Count. Each of them mounted up, just as more law arrived in town, this time riding on horseback. Maebh grabbed her reigns and quickly pushed her horse to follow her companions’ tail. Last to leave, she tried to stay close behind her friends as they galloped out past the town’s limits.

Up ahead, Arthur called out. “More comin’ in!”

She looked up and, atop a small hill, three more riders appeared, coming towards them with guns drawn. Dutch was on them first, taking one man down while Arthur got another in a flurry of bullets. One remained, but she steered her heavily breathing horse in an attempt to dodge the oncoming attack. Her companions sped off up ahead, the continued strain of jerky movement causing her horse to tire and slow.

They were far off when her horse cried out in pain and several bullets struck the animal. For the second time in a few days, Maebh was flung from a stallion and sent crashing into the dusty road below with some force. Her head spun and her shoulder throbbed. She breathed deep, lungs working overtime to get whatever air she could down her burning throat. Quite suddenly, her scalp stung as a vicious hand grabbed her hair and pulled her head up.

She cried out as tears built in the corners of her eyes. Through blurred vision she saw the lawman who shot her mount. Now he stood before her, his gun stuck in her face. “I got you now, you little—”

A deafening blast cracked through the ringing in her ears, and the man’s chest quite literally exploded. Blood and bits of flesh and bone struck her face, and suddenly, the pressure on her skull relaxed. With a wobble, he crashed to the ground, revealing a fuming William behind him. He sat atop his horse, shotgun in hand with a look that could kill. His piercing eyes fell on her — his only visible feature thanks to his bandana — brow furrowed so deep into his brow that it cast a shadow over his youthful face and emphasised the scar marred into his skin. He barely even flinched as he holstered his weapon once more.

“Get on his horse!” he ordered through gritted teeth by the sounds of it. “We need’ta leave now!”

Though dizzy and trying to get her breath back, Maebh listened to her brother, and quickly hauled herself on to the abandoned animal. There was simply no time to think about what had occurred — if she thought about her close encounter at that very moment, it would surely cost her her life this time around. With a glance at the dead horse and body in the middle of the road, she lurched and kicked the animal into a gallop, following her brother over a hill and out of sight as cries from the evaded lawmen disappeared on the wind.

[bookmyshowtickets]

Mortal Engines Depicts a Post-Apocalyptic Steampunk London

A quote from Shakespeare’s play Othello goes like this, “And O you mortal engines whose rude throats / Th'immortal Jove's dread clamors counterfeit...".  This line has been the source of motivation for Philip Reeve, who then wrote a dystopian novel with the same title. Mortal Engines had won a Nestle Smarties Book Prize and was also shortlisted for the 2002 Whitbread Award.

The book is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been consumed by a ‘sixty-minute war’. To escape the environmental instabilities, a Nomad leader named Nicholas Quirke gives birth to a technology called Municipal Darwinism where the town is on wheels. The plot of the movie revolves around Tom, a twenty-year-old who has only lived within his traveling hometown and his feet has never touched the ground. His contact with the ground reality comes quite abruptly, when he thwarts Hester’s attempt to murder Thaddeus Valentine, a powerful person she blames for the death of her mother. Then, both Hester and Thaddeus, gets uprooted from their ‘traction’ town and then, they are on their own.

In this movie, the role of Hester Shaw is played by the Icelandic actress Hera Hilmar, the role of Tom Natsworthy is played by Robert Sheehan and the role of Thaddeus Valentine is played by Hugo Weaving. Other actors in Mortal Engines include Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Patrick Malahide, Stephen Lang and Leila George.

Mortal Engines have been adapted for the celluloid by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson. The movie is an American- New Zealand co-production. Mortal Engines is directed by Christian Rivers and is financed by Media Rights Capital and Universal Pictures. Christian Rivers previously designed creatures on The Lord of the Rings and won an Oscar for his visual effects contributions to the 2005 remake of King Kong.

Mortal Engines is produced on a budget of 100 million dollars. The movie is scheduled to release in theatres on December 14, 2018. Get ready to be transported an imaginary world that will spellbind you for sure.

[a-modernmajorgeneral]

Weekly Recap (20th – 26th May 2024)

Study

Read wh.org articles – Mesopotamia

Read 15 articles

61 shorter readings

Read 3 poems

Reading (non-fiction)

Read Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy – ch 1

Read The Third Reich in Power – prologue, ch 1

Read Educated (Tara Westover) – prologue, ch 1-2

Read Jangar: The Heroic Epic of the World's Nomads – cycles 4-9

Reading (fiction)

Finished reading Our Mutual Friend (Charles Dickens)

Read Othello – Act I-IV

Music

Listened to Vivaldi Opus 1: 12 sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (L'Arte dell'Arco)

Exercise

Walked down hill (Saturday)

Flat (etc)

Put groceries away (Monday)

Sorted out new remote (Tuesday)

Dishes (Wednesday)

Cleared kitchen bench & rubbish (Wednesday)

Put groceries away (Thursday)

Other

Doctor's appointment

Shopping list

Knitted 1 scarf row

Puzzles

Special Weekly Loop

10 Killer Sudoku

4 Code Crackers (Clueless)

[airship-full-of-dragons]

Also finished Othello and Triska! They're gonna be, along with Doubrava, my new grinding-dedicated team, so I'm glad they're Fancy now :)

[tarahighschool]

First Days in London

           After a travel day of long lines and screaming babies, we were grateful to get to our lovely, quiet London home. We highly recommend Temple Lodge in Hammersmith to anyone looking for a clean, quiet and comfortable place to stay close to the Tube. Once settled and fed, we all had a brief orientation-to-London-plans meeting and went to bed.

           On Friday, we slept in and left around 11:00 a.m. for the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery and a glimpse of Trafalgar Square on Good Friday. It is always a scene there, and we have had many experiences there that make for entertaining stories, but this time was particularly remarkable in that a religious group was staging a very raucous and sentimental version of the crucifixion story that was also projected on (and blared out of) a film screen and could be heard for blocks in every direction. The square was jammed with as many people as it could possibly hold. Amazing! The students fulfilled their art assignments in the two museums, Laurel spent the entire afternoon on correspondence with choreographer Liz about In the Heights arrangements, and Betsy sat for a long time in front of a painted Rembrandt sketch, the subject of which was the conviction of Jesus on Good Friday, and she sat in on a rehearsal of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion at St. Martin-in-the-Fields across the street. After having taken in enough art, some students went shopping, and Teaghan found the leather jacket he had been searching for.

          The highlight of the day was Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, a play that takes off where Hamlet ends with the two characters who were sent to murder Hamlet. The students found it exciting for a number of reasons: It was starring Daniel Radcliffe, whom they know for his roles in the Harry Potter films, so there was great enthusiasm about seeing him on stage, and many lined up to take photos with him in the lobby. (He was very accommodating and friendly). It was in the Old Vic, a very famous London theatre that, like the Nomad, has been on the edge of extinction more than once, the place where this play opened in April of 1967. And the playwright had attended some of the rehearsals and had some input into the production process.

           There is no question that the play was outstanding. But what was even more satisfying for us is how thoroughly the students understood it because of their studies of Shakespeare with Laurel and the classical education that is a deliberate part of the Tara curriculum. To really “get” this play, you have to really know Hamlet. People continue to ask Tom Stoppard what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is about, and he continues to answer, “It is about Hamlet’s excellent good friends.” Our students understood every joke and every reference, however, and they found the play intellectually fascinating as well as really well acted.

          Our schedule put us in London over Easter weekend. This looked like it was going to make a Westminster Abbey visit unlikely until a kind teacher with another group allowed our students go in with them. Otherwise, we would have had to stand in a two-hour line, which there was neither time nor interest to do. Because of that act of generosity, we all had a very interesting couple of hours browsing the history of that fascinating place. Saturday’s afternoon and evening were a double-bill of Shakespeare.

          Othello was playing in the Sam Wanamaker Theatre, a small venue adjacent to the Globe named in honor of the man responsible for the financing and the creation of the Globe itself. The tiny horseshoe-shaped space, illuminated only by candlelight, creates a very magical and “in your face” experience for the audience. The students were shocked how fascinating and effective the manipulation of light was, and they wished we could do something similar in the Nomad sometime. They found the actor playing Othello to be outstanding and noted how his voice became increasingly trashed the more overcome with jealousy he became. We all considered some of the choices, like modern music or an actor pulling out a cell phone and taking a picture of a particularly devastating scene, to be rather cheap shots that pulled the audience out of the intense mood that had been created. But we agreed that overall it was a strong performance in a unique setting.

[smlpodcast]

The SML Podcast - Episode 267: Zoinks! Games!

Download Episode 267

Massive show with Klaus Lyngeled of Zoink Games as well as tons of guest reviews!

The show kicks off with the joys of getting a new Xbox One and the changeover to a new system as well as discussions on new Mtn Dew flavors, plus a ton of reviews, so let's dig in! Freedom Planet brings the retro Sonic-flavored platformer to PS4 from GalaxyTrail. Holobunnies: Pause Café is three minigames in one from q-bit Games and Nkidu Games. Othello is, well, Othello on the Switch from Arc System Works!

Pernell Vaughn joins to talk Talisman: Digital Edition, the board game in digital form from Nomad Games. Katrinka Stanley-Manning joins to review the high school murder mystery Danganronpa 1•2 Reload on Steam from Spike Chunsoft and NIS America. Ryan Underwood reviews 2D anime fighter Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe from FK Digital and Arc System Works. Cole Martin reviews This is the Police, a crime based strategy/adventure from Weappy Studio and THQ Nordic.

After a break, Klaus Lyngeled of Zoink Games joins the show to chat all things Zoink including the recent Xbox One release of Zombie Vikings as well as future titles like Flipping Death and their EA partnership title Fe! We also chat about their unique art style and distinct humor and tons more! Great chat!

This show features music from our good friend Snappleman to celebrate his birthday last week!

Snappleman - Spadehands (Shovel Knight) Snappleman, finbeard, & ErichWK - Let's Go Away (Daytona USA) Preenus - Full Mast (Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)

http://www.zoinkgames.com/ http://www.galaxytrail.com/ http://q-bit.ca/games http://nkidu.com/ http://arcsystemworksu.com/ http://nomadgames.co.uk/ https://www.spike-chunsoft.co.jp/ http://www.nisamerica.com/ http://www.fkdigital.net/ http://weappy-studio.com/ https://www.thqnordic.com/ http://ocremix.org/artist/4625/snappleman https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sml-podcast/id826998112 https://twitter.com/theSMLpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/theSMLpodcast/

[airship-full-of-dragons]

maybe they'll get some Oldschool Vibes (aka I haven't used the steampunk apparel in So Long)

new dragon (imp on the right!) acquired!

They definitely have something to do with doubrava because theyre matchy... not sure what exactly, and not sure how to dress them up yet bcs I Love These Shimmer Gradients So Much, and don't want to cover them up much, but-