#( m.r. ) character study.

[desolationtimstoker]

Every Literary Reference in The Magnus Archives (I think)

These are just the ones I noticed. If you caught references I didn't, feel free to add on! Since this'll be pretty long, it's all under the cut.

Character Namesakes:

(One or two of these may be a coincidence)

Algernon Blackwood - Martin Blackwood, Dr. Algernon Moss (mag 98)

Braham Stoker - Tim Stoker

Stephen King - Melanie King

M.R. James - Sasha James

Mary Shelley - Michael Shelley

Lucy Leitner - Jurgen Leitner, "Leitners"

Clive Barker - Georgie Barker

James Herbert - Trevor Herbert

Jaimie Delano - Eric Delano

Institute Names

"Count Magnus" by M.R. James - The Magnus Institute, Jonah Magnus

"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe - The Usher Foundation

Pu Songling - The Pu Songling Research Centre

Direct References in Statements

Wilfred Owen, "Exposure" by Wilfred Owen - mag 7 (Wilfred Owen features in this episode and the statement giver, who served with him, references "Exposure".)

Misery by Stephen King -mag 17 (A passing mention of this book being shelved at the library.)

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - mag 17, mag 70 (In mag 17, the statement giver finds The Boneturner's Tale which, though obviously modern, is kind of Canterbury Tales fanfiction, focusing on a character who is either traveling with or stalking Chaucer's pilgrims. In mag 70, a character can recognize Middle English due to having studied Chaucer in high school.)

The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster - mag 31 (The statement giver references a line from the play to help describe an avatar of the Hunt.)

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - mag 38 (The statement giver's favorite book, a signed copy is among the objects stolen by the homophobic vase.)

Needful Things by Stephen King - mag 46 (The statement giver owns a small shop which he claims is often compared to the shop in Needful Things.)

"Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns - mag 85 (The central figure of this poem, or something resembling it, gives a statement.)

Die Nachtstücke (The Night Pieces), "The Sandman" by E.T.A. Hoffman - mag 98 (The statement giver recalls having read "The Sandman" as a child and, in his adulthood, is haunted by something resembling Hoffman's Sandman.)

Five Go Down to the Sea by Enid Blyton - mag 147 (Referenced in passing as the only book Annabelle Cain took with her when she ran away from home as a child.)

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - mag 147 (Referenced by Annabelle Cain as she waxes philosophic about free will.)

Leitners

(This list will, of course, only include real books referenced as Leitners. No Boneturner or Ex Altiora.)

The Dictionaire Infernal (Infernal Dictionary) by Jacques Collin de Plancy - mag 46

Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of Witches) by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger - mag 46

The Tale of a Field Hospital by Sir Frederick Treves - mag 68

The Key of Solomon by Solomon the King (purportedly) - mag 65, mag 70

The Seven Lamps of Architecture by John Ruskin - mag 80

Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe - mag 80, mag 91

Miscellaneous:

Dracula by Braham Stoker - mag 56 (The title of this episode, "Children of the Night" is taken from a line in Dracula, and is a pretty clever reference, if I do say so myself.)

Diana Wynn Jones - mag 81 (Referenced in passing as an author who Jon briefly liked as a child)

[gellavonhamster]

monthly media recap: may 2023

the lusty month of May! this one is gonna be long

read:

The Terror by Arthur Machen - a properly unsettling short novel about strange murders happening in England and Wales during World War II. I gotta say, I think the narrator is wrong :D as in, based on the story, I have a slightly different opinion on the cause of what happened

The Great Return by Arthur Machen - a novella about the reappearance of the Holy Grail in a small Welsh village; short, but beautiful

The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Algernon Blackwood - not bad apart from, as usual, certain period-typical yikes, but after Machen and M.R. James it just doesn't seem as good, and the endings to many stories felt too abrupt to me. However, I am a big fan of the character whose rooms were haunted by his friend's ghost, so he went to his other friend's place to study because "there's no hallucination about that exam; I must pass that whatever happens."

Issues No. 1-3 of the Hellebore zine - yep, still reading this, still in an absolutely random order. Witch trials, poison plants, the cult of Pan and other good shit; I've bookmarked the names of some books I might give a try later. I feel like the articles in earlier issues were more, uh, informal and essay-like and became more scientific as the zine continued to be released, which I think is a good change tbh

Temeraire series, Books 4-7 (Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, Tongues of Serpents, and Crucible of Gold) by Naomi Novik - hell yeah! I started this series in 2019 (I believe?), read the first three books, loved them, but then kind of forgot to continue. Catching up on it now and greatly enjoying the alternate history (in very broad strokes: Napoleonic wars with sentient DRAGONS in the air force), constant adventures, anti-colonialist themes, and the extremely likeable cast.

+ progress on Lancelot-Grail: done with The Quest for the Holy Grail, The Death of Arthur, and the first part of Post-Vulgate (The Merlin Continuation). Currently reading the Post-Vulgate version of the Grail quest and Book 8 of of Temeraire - Blood of Tyrants

watched:

Daisy Jones & The Six (2023) - there were changes in comparison to the book that I liked (loved Simone's storyline in the show, for example) and that I disliked. I think the novel and the adaptation work together best. The soundtrack is amazing, and the original songs are very good even out of context

Valkoinen peura / The White Reindeer (1952) - older horror films often are more haunting than the newer ones despite limited special effects and mostly relying on things like lighting and music - or maybe because of that - and this Finnish film is a good example of that. God forbid women do anything (turn into a murderous reindeer)

November (2017) - fascinating folk horror set in 19th century Estonia - mundane magic, deals with the devil, and the unrequited love no spells can fix. Beautiful and sad and very well-made

Yellowjackets (season 2, 2021-?) - AAAAAAA!!! I know many people found this season much worse than s1, but I honestly enjoyed it, even if I didn't agree with all decisions (they better do something unexpected about Van's cancer, or I'll be mad). The finale is devastating, but I kinda expected that to happen :( it was one of the most likely character deaths. Alas, the only one of these women I'd be ready to let go is the one who's certainly not dying unless they all die in the end (which is not that unlikely, I guess). Anyway, this is one of my favourite shows at the moment, and I'm really excited for season 3 (and the mysterious bonus episode?..)

[mearvindkumar-blog]

Choosing the Best CBSE Schools in Lucknow, Featuring Radiance International School

In the vibrant city of Lucknow, finding the right educational institution for your child can be a paramount decision. With a plethora of options available, selecting the Lucknow best CBSE school can seem like a daunting task. However, armed with the right information and insights, you can confidently embark on this journey towards securing a quality education for your child.

Best CBSE Schools in Lucknow, Featuring Radiance International School:

City Montessori School (CMS): Renowned for its academic excellence and holistic approach to education, CMS stands tall as one of the top CBSE schools in Lucknow. With state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated faculty, CMS ensures the overall development of its students.

La Martiniere College: With a rich legacy spanning over a century, La Martiniere College combines academic rigor with a strong emphasis on co-curricular activities. Its sprawling campus and esteemed faculty make it a preferred choice among parents seeking quality education for their children.

Lucknow Public School (LPS): LPS is synonymous with academic excellence and innovative teaching methodologies. The school’s commitment to nurturing young minds and fostering a conducive learning environment sets it apart as one of the best CBSE schools in Lucknow.

Seth M.R. Jaipuria School: Known for its modern infrastructure and comprehensive curriculum, Seth M.R. Jaipuria School offers a well-rounded educational experience to its students. The school's emphasis on character development and critical thinking skills prepares students for success in an ever-evolving world.

Radiance International School: Nestled in the heart of Lucknow, Radiance International School is a shining beacon of educational excellence. With a commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with both knowledge and values, Radiance International School stands out among its peers. The school’s dynamic curriculum, supplemented by modern teaching methodologies, ensures that students are prepared to excel in an increasingly competitive world. From academics to sports, arts, and beyond, Radiance International School provides ample opportunities for students to explore their passions and unleash their potential.

Top 10 CBSE Schools with Cambridge Curriculum:

While CBSE curriculum schools in Lucknow dominate the educational landscape in Lucknow, there is also a growing demand for institutions offering the Cambridge curriculum. Here are some notable mentions:

Radiance International School

La Martiniere College

Lucknow Public School (LPS)

Seth M.R. Jaipuria School

Spring Dale College

St. Francis' College

Loreto Convent

Cathedral Senior Secondary School

Study Hall School

St. Agnes' Loreto Day School

In conclusion, when navigating the educational landscape of Lucknow, it is essential to consider various factors such as academic reputation, infrastructure, faculty expertise, and extracurricular offerings. By conducting thorough research and visiting potential schools, parents can make an informed decision that aligns with their child’s unique needs and aspirations. And among the myriad options, Radiance International School emerges as a shining example of educational excellence, making it a top choice for discerning parents seeking the best for their children.

[nomorerww]

it would have been so much more interesting if instead of some fanciful chosen one storyline about "ancient magic" they focused on like....actually terrible people historically. this is just my morbid curiosity speaking but history is littered with outrageous nonsense that people did or thought and drawing inspiration from reality is far more interesting than "ancient magic". I also disliked the sorting hat saying that my character was smart b/c they "caught things that others didn't" or some crap. Like... a narc might want to hear that.

M.R. James is an "antiquarian" who wrote the spiritual ancestors to goosebumps, -- suspenseful ghost stories that drew from his extensive exp translating and studying old religious texts.

some of those stories are dark and give you a peek at his beliefs and the time he lived in. they feel less forced than the stuff this game's trying to sell you.

but they're probably not AAA game material. generic, easily digestible story lines are probably ideal if you are focused on sales and profit.

[itsmarcusreyes]

PLAYLIST. marcus & ravi.

come home with me. zolita.  unicorn loev. raleigh ritchie.  nfwmb. hozier.  ultraviolet. au/ra.  hostage. billie eilish.  stay gold. run the jewels.  fire. just a gent, caitlyn scarlett.  undisclosed desires. muse.  bliss. muse.  sing to me. missio.  like that. jp saxe.  billie bossa nova. billie eilish.  pienso en tu mirá. rosalía.  love me. kloud, gabriel paris.  fav flav. dua saleh, duckwrth.  long time. somme.  scary love. the neighbourhood.  deep sea diving. aboutagirl, emir taha.  murder. mako.  tell it to my heart. meduza, hozier, fideles.

listen.

[fanarchoslashivist]

@thequeer-quill

Sorry I had to go looking through old emails to find the lists sent to me, the fiction section is my personal rec list of books I'm reading and authors I love. I always always insist anyone who wants to write Indigenous characters in their stories need to read Indigenous authors. Not just to show support, but you’ll not find a better teacher on ensuring you're not falling into racist tropes and tokenizing your characters than by surrounding yourself with beloved stories and characters from that demographic.

For non fiction I've separated culture, language, and lore from the ones that focus on regions, historical events, wars, and people.

I know I'm missing books, but I was sent a lot of recs in private messages I can't track down. Generally if you see a book by these three authors they are the #1 recommended resource from everyone I've spoken with.

C.A. Weslager

Anthony F.C. Wallace

Paul A. W. Wallace

Some of these books are very old so they'll have dated terminology, be out of print, and can be expensive (Red Men on the Brandywine goes for over $200) so I have not been able to read everything on this list. I know there are more than a few with ebooks available through libraries, and some ebooks. My goal is to one day have all these books as PDFs, even if I have to buy and scan them myself.

Fiction

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

The Trickster Trilogy by Eden Robinson

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

Crow Winter by Karen McBride

Ghost Lake by Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler

Celia's Song by Lee Maracle

Chasing Painted Horses by Drew Hayden Taylor

The Björkan Sagas by Harold Johnson

Wrist by Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler

A Line of Driftwood: The Ada Blackjack Story by Diane Glancy

Birdie by Tracey Lindberg

Feral series by Cynthia Leitich Smith

How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle

Spirits Dark and Light: Supernatural Tales from the Five Civilized Tribes by Tim Tingle

March Toward the Thunderby Joseph Bruchac.

The Winter People by Joseph Bruchac

Blue Bear Woman by Virginia Pesemapeo Bordeleau

The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor

The absolutely true diary of a part time indian by Sherman Alexie

Anthologies

Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time

Indigenous LGBT Sci-fi Anthology

Walking the Clouds

Indigenous Sci-fi Anthology

New Suns

Speculative Fiction by People of Color

Taaqtumi

An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories

Love After the End

Anthology of indigiqueer Speculative fiction

Picture Books

Little Bear Builds a Wigwam by Sherman Stoltzfus

When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger & Sue Katz

The Legend of the Cape May Diamond by Trinka Hakes Noble

Non fiction

Native Harvests: American Indian Wild Foods and Recipes by E. Barrie Kavasch 

We Are Still Here! The Tribal Saga of. NewJersey’s Nanticoke and Lenape Indians, John R. Norwood

The Indians of New Jersey: Dickon Among the Lenapes, M.R. Harrinton

Folk Medicine of the Delaware and Related Algonkian Indians by Gladys Tantaquidgeon

Oklahoma Delaware Ceremonies, Feasts, and Dances, Frank G. Speck

A Study of Delaware Indian Medicine Practice and Folk Beliefs, Gladys Tantaquidgeon

History, Manners, and Customs of the Indian Nations Who Once Inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States, John Heckenwelder

The Celestial Bear Comes Down to Earth, Frank G. Speck

Legends of the Delaware Indians and Picture Writing, Richard C. Adams

Mythology of the Lenape, John Bierhorst

A Study of the Delaware Indian Big House Ceremony, Frank G. Speck

David Zeisberger’s History of Northern American Indians, Rev. David Zeisberberger

Eastern Shore Indians of Virginia and Maryland, Helen C. Rountree and Thomas E.Davidson

Memoirs of Rev. David Brainerd, Based on the Life of Brainerd, Prepared by Jonathan Edwards, D.D. and Afterwards Revised and Enlarged by S.E. Dwight

Strong Medicine Speaks: A Native American Elder has Her Say, Amy Hill Hearth

The Culture and Acculturation of the Delaware Indians, William W. Newcomb, Jr.

A Lenape Among the Quakers: The Life of Hannah Freeman by Dawn G. Marsh 

A Delaware – English Lexicon by Zeisberger & Whritenour. 

The Lenape and Their Legends, With Text & Symbols By Daniel G. Brinton

The Lenape-Delaware Indian Heritage, Herbert Kraft

The Nanticoke, Frank W. Porter, III.

The Nanticoke and Conoy Indians, Frank G. Speck

The Nanticoke Community of Delaware, Frank G. Speck

The Nanticoke Indians Past and Present, C. A. Weslager

A Nation of Women – Gender and Colonial Encounters Among the Delaware Indians by Gunlög Fur

Colonialism in the Margins: Cultural Encounters in New Sweden and Lapland by Gunlög Fur 

White Deer and Other Stories Told by the Lenape, John Bierhorst

A Delaware Indian Symposium, Herbert Kraft

History

A History of the Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania by Dr. George P. Donehoo.

Walking Purchase Hoax of 1737 by Ray Thompson.

The Victory With No Name – The Native American Defeat of the First American Army by Colin G. Calloway

William Penn’s Own Account of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians by William Penn.

Indian Paths of Pennsylvania by Paul A. W. Wallace

The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania by C. Hale Sipe.

The Indian Chiefs of Pennsylvania by C. Hale Sipe.

Teedyuscung: King of the Delawares by Anthony F.C. Wallace

C.A. Weslager's many books

Red Men on the Brandywine

Delawares Forgotten Folk

Delawares Forgotten River

Delewares Burried Past

The Nanticoke Indians

Into the American Woods: Negotiations on the Pennsylvania Frontier by James H. Merrell.

The Ambiguous Iroquois Empire by Francis Jennings.

The Crucible of War: 7 Years War & the Fate of the British Empire in British North American 1754-1766 by Fred Anderson

At The Crossroads: Indians & Empires on a Mid-Atlantic Frontier, 1700-1763 by Jane T. Merritt

The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery, and Endurance in Early America by Scott Weidensaul

Dark & Bloody Ground: The American Revolution Along the Southern Frontier by Richard D. Blackmon

Gods of War, Gods of Peace by Russell Bourne

Our Savage Neighbors: How the Indian War Transformed Early America by Peter Silver

[thebookishaustin]

ARC Review: The Book of Koli

Image from the publisher’s website

The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey

Release: April 14, 2020

Publisher: Orbit

*I received a free, digital ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my own.* 

M.R. Carey’s writing was introduced to me when a book club friend picked The Girl With All the Gifts one month. I immediately fell in love with the dark character studies that entrenched that book and went straight into the companion novel, The Boy on the Bridge, when it was released. Since then, I’ve discovered Carey is well known in the graphic novel community as Mike Carey, writing in both the DC and Marvel worlds (X-Men, Fantastic Four, and more) as well as a creator of popular characters such as Lucifer (click here for Mike Carey’s works and here for M.R. Carey’s)! 

I’m thrilled to see he has a new work coming out - The Book of Koli - about a boy named Koli in a post-apocalyptic world. In this “new” world, Koli grew up learning the only safe place is inside the walls of his fortress-like town. Outside are creatures and plants waiting and ready to kill you at a moment's notice. The only saving graces are pieces of advanced technology that can be used to protect Koli’s people. However, after a series of events, Koli finds himself outside the walls, pushed to his own limits of survival on the search for deeper truths than he ever realized he needed to learn.

I believe Carey is a masterful storyteller. He writes with such suspense and depth with his characters that readers can find themselves wanting to continue the story just to see what happens. Little details are left here and there that will make you question and wonder What comes next? or How in the heck did THAT happen?! but they always serve a purpose. They’re intentional, little tidbits of worldbuilding that I rather enjoy (compared to that info-dump that can happen in fantasy/sci-fi). 

One thing I found difficult about this book is the style. It was intentional and fantastic, but it was also incredibly hard to read! Koli is writing this book (not a spoiler, mind you) after-the-fact and he’s never learned to read or write until after all this has occurred. With that in mind, Carey wrote this book with interesting word choices, spelling mistakes, and other various changes that occur to language over a period of time. It was fascinating and interesting to read, but made for slow going at first. I think it helped to build Koli’s character, though, and helped add to my desire for him to win, thrive, and survive. 

I’m giving The Book of Koli 4-out-of-5 Awesome Austin Points. It’s engaging and unique in style with such fantastical science fiction elements that I think readers are going to be pleased when they get their hands on it. It’s set up to be a trilogy already, so be prepared for some closure but open plot lines as well. The Book of Koli will be hitting shelves on April 14, 2020! 

[elizasmarkgatissblog]

Mark Gatiss Visits The Rosenbach To Film Dracula Documentary

The Rosenbach was delighted to have writer/actor/director Mark Gatiss visit in June to shoot scenes for his In Search of Dracula documentary, which was just released on the BBC. Along with Stephen Moffat, Gatiss created a new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula which aired on the BBC over the first three days of the new year (and is now available on Netflix). Gatiss has had a long association with Moffat, writing several Doctor Who episodes and most notably, the two created the Sherlock series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

To accompany the new Dracula, Gatiss wanted to explore the roots of the character and also look at how the vampire has developed over the years on film.  And if you want to know how it all started, you must consult Bram Stoker’s Notes for the novel which are housed at The Rosenbach. Stoker researched and wrote Dracula over at least seven years, finally publishing it in 1897, and his extensive handwritten notes, ideas, outlines, character lists, plot summaries changed over the course of the novel’s development.  Gatiss wanted to see this development and learn how Stoker first came to create one of the icons of literature, the vampire, Count Dracula.  Gatiss’ delight in handling the notes and the secrets they yield are clearly apparent in the documentary.  His visit lasted just one afternoon, as he was due to shoot scenes at Orava Castle in Slovakia the following day. Orava was used in the 1922 unauthorized silent film version of Dracula, Nosferatu, and the castle is also featured in the new Dracula adaptation.

Of course, as one of the creators of Sherlock, Gatiss was also very interested in The Rosenbach’s Arthur Conan Doyle holdings.  While waiting for the filming to begin, Gatiss pored over the manuscript of the Sherlock Holmes story, “The Empty House.” As he has been with all who’ve asked, he was non-committal about any new Sherlock episodes, but did ask, “which story would we like to see filmed.”  He did share in June that he was working on a new M.R. James Ghost Story for Christmas episode, which aired on the BBC on Christmas Day. Gatiss has been instrumental in continuing the British tradition of telling scary stories during the Christmas season.

Many scholars have come to The Rosenbach to study Stoker’s Notes over the years and we have held many exhibitions and programs featuring them. It was a delightful treat to also be part of this latest Dracula adaptation.

[queenofcarrots]

N and Q for end of year asks? If you haven't done them yet? :)

N. Anything you were planning to write that never got written?

Yes! I have a list of prompts for the finnreylo murder au, stories that fill in the plot, and then other things will come along and render those careful plans moot. At one point I was going to have a whole story where Ben and Rey basically propose to Finn and ask him to move in with them, but then I wrote How To Bake Sweet Honey Cake: A Recipe as a prompt for @lovethemfiercely and @flypaper-brain and the topic came up in that story so I ran with it. And my next story will be Finn moving in with them. There are aspects of that original planned story that will turn up later, but the story itself is no longer a thing.

Q. Quote three bits of writing you read his year. Can be your writing, or not. 

Your father is about to ask me the question. This is the most important moment in our lives, and I want to pay attention, note every detail. Your dad and I have just come back from an evening out, dinner and a show; it’s after midnight. We came out onto the patio to look at the full moon; then I told your dad I wanted to dance, so he humors me and now we’re slow-dancing, a pair of thirtysomethings swaying back and forth in the moon-light like kids. I don’t feel the night chill at all. And then your dad says, “Do you want to make a baby?”

Ted Chiang, “The Story of Your Life” (the short story on which The Arrival is based) The whole story is beautiful and I love the use of tenses.

I love everything @lovethemfiercely writes. She is the best person to be writing Statera Trium and I will forever be thankful that she chose to write the prompt. It’s impossible to pick a favorite bit, but this from the most recent chapter is a lovely illustration of the evocative language she uses, and how she effectively keeps the characters together even when they’re physically separated.

Finn had stopped as they saddled the horses and made ready to depart; he was leaning his head against the mare’s side, anxious and conflicted, feeling inside his satchel to touch the book, the Gospels. It was still there, still secret.  At once, his mouth was filled with the taste of strawberries. There’d been no such fruit at breakfast, but the tart-sweet flavor was unmistakable. Eyes closed, he could feel the burst of juice on his tongue, and hear a sound he’d heard only once before;  Ben was laughing. Finn could feel a hand on his own, feel the small shape of the fruit in his palm. He felt hot, and a little confused; but over all of that was a sense of surprise, and delight. It was enough reassurance, for now.

Rey’s raptures over the little handful of strawberries he’d picked were extremely gratifying.  The speed with which she popped the first one into her mouth when he placed it in her hand surprised a laugh out of him; which made her grin out of the side of her mouth as she chewed.  She insisted on sharing, and he was happy to comply. It made a nice addition to their bread and cheese, and Ben knew he’d be looking out for more as they rode. She’d thrown her arms around him in thanks; such a small thing, to make her so happy.  He was still smiling as he lifted her onto Exilium’s back to start their second day’s travel. Making Rey happy was something he enjoyed a great deal.

This last bit is my own, probably not the best or most poetic, but I like it because it’s the first bit in this particular story where I hope the reader thinks, oh shit. It’s from The Beach House, a Lovecraft/M.R. James influenced horror story (Finnreylo) that I wrote at Halloween for @rosemoonweaver‘s ficoween. The lead-up to this is Ben losing his shit because Rey blows a whistle that they found in his dead uncle’s study.

“That was so scary,” Rey whispered to him, “I had no idea he could be like that.”

Finn could only nod, his eyes trained on the horizon outside the window, which was now almost completely dark. “Yeah, that was bad. I’m really sorry, Rey. He’d better apologize.” But Finn didn’t know what he’d do if he didn’t.

As it happens, Ben did apologize. He came up to the bedroom, head hanging, about an hour later. And he was very, very sorry. He explained that he’d used to have anger issues, but he’d been in therapy for a few years, and he didn’t understand what had set him off earlier. It was just a stupid whistle. He promised to practice his calming techniques the next time he felt an outburst coming on. And he cried, too, he wept, and asked them to please, please forgive him.

They did, of course, and their caresses of forgiveness quickly turned heated. Ben argued convincingly that he deserved to be punished for his transgressions, and Rey agreed with this wholeheartedly. And Finn? Well, Finn was happy to go along with this; anything to keep his lovers happy.

Afterwards, when knots had been untied and heated skin was being iced, Finn finally thought to ask Ben what the Latin words on the whistle had said.

“Oh right, I forgot about that,” Ben answered. “It means who is the one who is coming. I can’t bring myself to make a joke about it. Anyway, it’s nothing.” And Finn nodded, and kissed his boyfriend’s lips again, and promptly forgot all about the whistle and its inscriptions.

Narrator: he should not have forgotten.

Thanks for the asks @orkindofamazing!!

[weirdletter]

21st-Century Horror: Weird Fiction at the Turn of the Millennium, by S.T. Joshi, Sarnath Press, 2018. Info: stjoshi.org.

The literature of terror and the supernatural has been experiencing a renaissance over the past several decades, and with the advent of the new millennium a diverse cadre of writers have expanded the bounds of weird fiction and enriched it with their penetrating vision. This book is the first to present a broad analysis of horror fiction as written by writers in their forties and fifties. S.T. Joshi, one of the leading authorities on weird fiction, brings divides his book into three categories, based on his judgment of the varying merits of the authors in question. Among the 'Elite' are such writers as Michael Aronovitz, a master of metafictional narratives that intensely treat the emotional traumas of his characters; Adam Nevill, author of expansive novels that use the classic work of M.R. James, Arthur Machen, and others as a springboard; and Jonathan Thomas, who has found in the work of H.P. Lovecraft a touchstone for his cynical view of human foibles. Among the 'Worthies' are the grimly pessimistic writer Nicole Cushing; Reggie Oliver, who has revivified the ghost story; and Clint Smith, whose tales are distinguished by his lyrical prose. Controversially, Joshi has established a category of 'Pretenders'—authors whose work, in his opinion, is not commensurate with their reputations. Here we find Laird Barron, whose distinguished early writing is now confounded by mediocrity and preciosity; Joe Hill, author of bloated potboilers all too reminiscent of the unimaginative work of his father, Stephen King; Brian Keene, the prototypical hack writer; and Jeff VanderMeer, author of a trilogy whose confused premises and tiresome length try the patience of the most indulgent reader. Whatever one may think of Joshi’s views, his writing remains lively, provocative, and sure to promote discussion.

Contents:    Introduction    I. The Elite Michael Aronovitz: Teller of Tales Gemma Files: Sex, Myth, and Film Adam Nevill: The Sense of Dread Mark Samuels: Corporate Horror and Others Simon Strantzas: The Cosmic and the Human Jonathan Thomas: A Study in Contrasts    II. The Worthies Nicole Cushing: Suicide and Other Horrors Richard Gavin: The Nature of Horror Glen Hirshberg: The Sense of Place John Langan: Tales from the Heart Reggie Oliver: Ghosts and More Ghosts Clint Smith: Decaying Cities, Decaying Lives James Ulmer: Exponent of Quiet Horror    III. The Pretenders Laird Barron: Decline and Fall Joe Hill: Like Father, Like Son Brian Keene: Paperback Writer Nick Mamatas: Failed Mimic Paul Tremblay: Borrowing from His Predecessors Jeff VanderMeer: An Aesthetic Catastrophe    Works Cited    Index

[ninja-muse]

Science Fiction Recommendation Masterpost

$ for LGBT characters £ for characters of colour € for characters with disabilities * for problematic content ! for #ownvoices

(all based on my slightly spotty memory, so feel free to correct if I’ve missed something)

Does not include time travel, superheroes, or alternate history.

Classics

1984 - George Orwell

Winston is a patriot, until a chance encounter and his job altering history start him thinking. Big Brother, it turns out, isn’t acting in his best interests.

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter Miller

In the centuries after a nuclear war, a group of desert monks have devoted themselves to preserving scientific knowledge with the hope of someday rebuilding civilization.

The Chrysalids - John Wyndham *

In a Newfoundland rife with religious fundamentalism and genetic mutation, a boy, his cousin, and his sister must hide their telepathy or risk everything to live freely.

Dune - Frank Herbert $*£*

Even before fleeing to the open desert of Arakkis and its taciturn worm-riding nomads, Paul Atreides’ life was fraught with danger. Now he must use his understanding of people and politics to weather everything his world can throw at him, including sandstorms, a baron with a grudge, and those who want him to be a prophesied hero.

Foundation - Isaac Asimov

Hari Seldon has designed a program that predicts the paths of civilization. What better way to test it than to start a utopian colony at the furthest edge of known space?

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Victor Frankenstein is fascinated by anatomy and determined to prove resurrection possible. Once he succeeds, he’s equally determined to get as far from the sentient corpse as he can, when all the Creature wants is a hug and someone to talk to.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

When Arthur Dent woke up, he thought the bulldozer levelling his house was the worst his day could get. By teatime, he’s halfway across the galaxy on a ship that runs on probability, with his alien best friend, the two-headed President of the Galaxy, and a depressed robot—and things are just getting started.

I, Robot - Isaac Asimov

A series of short stories that outlines the evolution of robotic technology and society around it.

The Planet of the Apes - Pierre Bowles

An astronaut crashes on an alien planet populated by sentient, speaking great apes. They put him in a zoo until he proves he’s not an animal. A brilliant examination of race and what it means to be human.

Space Opera

the Expanse series - James S.A. Corey $£€

Humanity has colonized the solar system, but hasn’t fixed its other problems. The Belters are disenfranchised and preparing a rebellion. Earth and Mars are in a paranoid arms race. Corporations can do just about anything they want. Throw in a terrifying virus, an alien threat, and a space crew who do the right thing and damn the consequences, and things are about to get very interesting.

Fortuna - Kristyn Merbeth - $ - *

Scorpia Kaiser is a screw-up, the family pilot, and out to prove she has what it takes to take over smuggling operations from Mama. Corvus Kaiser, exiled from his family to fight a war he doesn’t believe in, is finally coming home. Then a smuggling deal goes massively south and suddenly, what was going to be a difficult time becomes much, much worse.

the Saga series - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples $£€

An inter-species family flees the military powers tearing the galaxy apart. Their luck goes up. Their luck goes down. They meet the best and worst the galaxy can offer—and through it all, a little girl grows up. A nuanced look at prejudice, hope, and love.

the Shieldrunner Pirates series - R.E. Stearns $£€

A lesbian couple arrives at the pirate base on Barbary Station expecting a welcome to the crew, but are assigned to take out the murderous station A.I. instead. As much about social skills and interpersonal dynamics as it is about guns and hacking.

the Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold $*£€

How do you solve a problem like Miles Vorkosigan? He’s too smart for his own good, too impulsive and progressive for his military culture, surely too disabled to amount to anything. And he (and his accidental mercenary fleet) are going to prove everyone wrong. Dryly witty and generally feminist.

Horror, Apocalypses, and Dystopias

The Rampart Trilogy - M.R. Carey $£€

Koli wants more than his future offers, starting with becoming a Rampart, with control of ancient technology. His attempts to change his cards send him on an unforgettable journey of discovery.

Devolution - Max Brooks $£€

An elite sustainable community outside Seattle finds itself stranded after Mount Rainier erupts—and there are creatures in the forest. Hairy ones, with big feet.

The Girl with All the Gifts - M.R. Carey £

Melanie gets up, goes to school, eats her food, and idolises her teacher just like any pre-teen. However, when her school’s attacked by Hungries and she, her teacher, a doctor, and the surviving soldiers have to flee, Melanie begins to realise she’s … not exactly normal after all.

The Giver - Lois Lowry

When Jonah turns twelve, his regimented community assigns him to apprentice to the Keeper of Memories. The memories Jonah receives throw everything he knows into question, and he must choose between the quiet life laid out for him and the emotion and independence he’s discovering.

The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

In a world where most women are sterile, Handmaids are stripped of their identity and given out as surrogate wombs. This is Offred’s story of oppression, resistance, and escape.

the Hunger Games trilogy - Susanne Collins £€

In an America where teens fight to the death for entertainment and the survival of their District, Katniss Everdeen volunteers—and finds herself the unwilling face of the rebellion.

Into the Drowning Deep - Mira Grant $£€ !

Was the terror on the Atargatis a hoax? Are there mermaids deep in the Pacific? A ship full of scientists has been sent to find out. They are not prepared.

the Newsflesh trilogy - Mira Grant $£€ *

A generation after the zombie apocalypse, humanity’s secure behind blood tests and heightened security and Georgia and Shaun Mason, and their Newflesh team, have been hired to blog the Presidential campaign, which is perfect until the first outbreak. Conspiracies, mad and sane science, and social critique ensue.

the Parasitology trilogy - Mira Grant $£€

Sal awoke from her coma to a family she didn’t remember, a body that wouldn’t respond, and restrictions on her autonomy that seriously chafe. Now she’s on her feet and resisting, but at the worst time. People are starting to die from their miracle-cure tapeworm implants and it’s looking like Sal’s implant might be … different.

the Passage trilogy - Justin Cronin £

A century ago, a virus turned most of humanity into bloodsucking monsters or food. Now the descendants of a group of survivors must strike out across a wasteland, looking for a safe new home. Better and darker than it sounds. Christian overtones.

The Space Between Worlds - Mikaiah Johnson $£ !

Cara’s climbed out of the toxic slums and into a job as a traverser, visiting parallel worlds and capturing data. She’s this close to having all her dreams—and then she uncovers a murder.

Other

Blindsight - Peter Watts

An independent observer is sent on a first contact mission, but the aliens and the secrets on board push him into a completely different role. About perception and ethics more than anything else, and I nearly “shelved” it in the horror section.

Congo - Michael Crichton £*

A team of scientists push deep into the African jungle in search of a society of mythical sentient gorillas, but the jungle pushes back.

The Diamond Age, or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer - Neal Stephenson £€

An inventor misplaces a one-of-a-kind book. A girl from the slums finds it and it changes her life. A nearly Dickensian future full of hope, tenacity, vim, and nanotech.

Eifelheim - Michael Flynn

An alien ship crashes in the medieval Black Forest and the village priest, steeped in heretical philosophy and medieval science, must intercede between the survivors and the peasants who see only demons.

The Martian - Andy Weir £

Mark Watney wakes up to find he’s been left behind on Mars. Fortunately he’s a botanist, he’s smart, and he has potatoes. A thrilling survival story paired with hilariously explained science that will leave you believing it already happened.

Passage - Connie Willis €

Joanna Lander is a psychologist studying near-death experiences, which is hard when you never know who in the hospital will have one. When a new (and cute) neurologist finds a way to induce them, she turns to the closest subject she can find—herself. The most heart-wrenching of Willis’s novels.

Shine - Jetse de Vries, ed. £

An anthology of optimistic, uplifting science fiction, with stories ranging from space opera to solarpunk and everything in between.

Snowcrash - Neal Stephenson £

Hiro Protagonist is the hacker’s hacker. There’s a virus in the Metaverse that’s killing people and he’s on the case. At least when he’s not delivering pizza. Both glorious cyberpunk and a send-up of the same.

[whompingwillowy]

Rules: Answer any 20 questions about yourself and then tag 20 followers that you wanna get to know better!

tagged by @lavenderbrowne, thanks friend!

name: Salovie

nickname: Sal

age: 29

gender: female

orientation: straight

height: 5’7”

favourite colour: wine red

book recommendation: If the horror genre doesn’t turn you off too much, I loved “The Girl With All the Gifts” by M.R. Carey

movie recommendation: I feel like I’m the only one I know who saw and loved Cloud Atlas? That movie left such an impression on me.

anime recommendation: I’m not familiar with any!

music recommendation: the entire Prince of Egypt soundtrack

coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? hot chocolate with all the whipped cream

cats or dogs? Cats, although to be honest I’m not much of a pet person 🙈

favorite meme? Distracted boyfriend

i want to live long enough to witness: TELEPORTATION ok fine at least self driving vehicles

weird obsessions: uh, maybe trees? I just really love to stop and admire a good tree, ok? And study the character of it, in the way its branches bend and twist and divide, examine the color and shape and veins of its leaves, caress the bark… NOT in a weird way ok, just to appreciate its texture!! Trees are magical

tumblr birthday: I’m not sure, maybe sometime in March?

how many sideblogs: I’ve got my main poetry blog and this is my HP sideblog. Then I’ve got one where I reblog other people’s poetry, and one for everything else I like that doesn’t fit anywhere else.

random fact about me: I don’t really get bored. I can always find something to occupy myself.

goals for 2018: make healthier eating choices, complete NaPoWriMo, read more

tagging: @perenelleflamelle, @disscndium, @henrylovesfog, @chocolate-and-flour, @siriusmaraudeers, @thetravelingthunderbird, @mauradars, @puddifoots, @literary-nerd, @poppy-for-who, 

, and that’s all I can manage tagging because I switched to tumblr mobile and I’m staring at the html and taking a hard pass.

[witchyfashion]

Why Do People Tell Ghost Stories on Christmas? Christmas ghost stories are a tradition going back much farther than “A Christmas Carol” Ebenezer Scrooge wasn’t the first fictional character to see ghosts around Christmas time. The tradition of holiday ghost stories goes much, much farther back—farther, perhaps, than Christmas itself. When the night grows long and the year is growing to a close, it’s only natural that people feel an instinct to gather together. At the edge of the year, it also makes sense to think about people and places that are no longer with us. Thus, the Christmas ghost story. Its origins have little to do with the kind of commercial Christmas we’ve celebrated since the Victorian age. They’re about darker, older, more fundamental things: winter, death, rebirth, and the rapt connection between a teller and his or her audience. But they’re packaged in the cozy trappings of the holiday. “Christmas as celebrated in Europe and the U.S. was originally connected to the ‘pagan’ Winter Solstice celebration and the festival known as Yule. The darkest day of the year was seen by many as a time when the dead would have particularly good access to the living,” religious studies professor Justin Daniels told Omnia, a University of Pennsylvania blog.  And Christmas as a holiday has a cocktail of elements that invite ghosts,  writes Colin Fleming for The Paris Review.  “These are the short days of the year, and a weird admixture of pagan habits and grand religiosity obtains.” Between all that and the rum punch, well, a few tall tales are bound to come out. This was particularly true in the days before TV.  As we’ve discussed before, by the time Charles Dickens came along with his Carol (1863), the tradition of Christmas was fading. “In fact, for most people it was still a work day,” writes antiquarian bookseller Tavistock Books. “The Industrial Revolution meant fewer days off for everyone, and Christmas was considered so unimportant that no one complained.” The decline of the holiday came courtesy of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell, the Lord and Protector of England in the seventeenth century and a Puritan, was “on a mission to cleanse the nation of its most decadent excesses,” writes Clemency Burton-Hill for The Guardian. “On the top of the list was Christmas and all its festive trappings.” Prior to this, he writes, Christmas was celebrated in much the way that a modern Christmas is: lots of food and drink, decorations and singing (Cromwell famously banned Christmas carols). Medieval people from Britain and elsewhere also had Christmas ghost stories, writes author and ghost story expert Jon Kaneko-James on his blog.   But with A Christmas Carol occurring around the same time as the invention of the commercial Christmas card and nineteenth-century businesses looking to create a new commercial holiday, Christmas saw a resurgence in Britain. And with it came the ghost stories that British Christmas is now known for. Terrifying tellers like E.F. Benson, Algernon Blackwood and J.H. Riddell laid the groundwork for twentieth-century tales by the likes of A.M. Burrrage and M.R. James. The ghost story tradition has even made it some way into modern times, preserved in places like the lyrics to Christmas classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” which talks about “scary ghost stories.”  Though to modern eyes, Halloween might be a more appropriate holiday for ghosts, Christmas makes sense. As Dickens wrote, the ghosts of Christmas are really the past, present and future, swirling around us in the dead of the year. They’re a reminder that we’re all haunted, all the time, by good ghosts and bad, and that they all have something to tell us.  Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-ghost-stories-go-christmas-180961547/#AQOjTA6t7RC6PM7G.99 Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

[itsmarcusreyes]

—  SELF PARA,  SERAPHIM PROMOTION.

featuring rafael femanias jr, ravi reyes, kitty mallick, & jessica reyes.

marcus returns home seraphim. there are many things he should feel, some he should not. he should be grateful, and he is. he should be proud, and he is. but there is also unease, the source of which he wishes he could ignore. it's no secret to him, or any blood relative, that he was not the popular choice. trust was broken by his destructive hands, and he saw the remnants of it in rafael's eyes, he suspects he will see more of it in kitty's. 

marcus also knows he shouldn't feel this lonely. the years spent working side by side with his spouse had taken root in him, a contradictory belief to his ambition in thinking they would always be equals. now, marcus is looking down, and nothing he can say will close that gap. “nothing's changed between us, you know that, right?” it feels wrong to be questioning them at all.

there are forces working against him, and they are made of his flesh and blood. jessica congratulates him, but with it comes a reminder of his wrongs. she is only trying to protect her family, herself, and so marcus doesn't fight her. then comes kitty, who shows him how now, he is far more capable of hurting them all, looking for proof that his heart is still with the family. their concerns are rooted in truth, and so they're added to the weight marcus carries on his back. but it's not his sisters who leave marcus feeling hollow, it's his brother. rafael is removed when he shakes marcus' hand, a cool professionalism that has never had a place between them, suddenly taking root. maybe rafael doesn't forgive him as much as he or kitty were lead to believe. 

kitty's words keep him up at night, more than usual, and a few nights into his new role, marcus comes to a conclusion. the final one, he hopes. his uncle gave him this role for a reason, and he thinks maybe it's to have the power to set things right. here, at rafael's side, marcus is in no better place to right his wrongs. 

he's only able to sleep when it settles into every fibre of his being that control is back in his hands. it might look different now, less harsh and more forgiving, patient even, but he can rest knowing all that stands between him and his family, is himself.

healing will start in the morning.

[vikas1993-me-blog]

Our Legacy and Motto – Seth M.R. Jaipuria School Bansal Campus

OUR LEGACY AND MOTTO

Seth M.R. Jaipuria School Bansal Campus brags of craftsmanship foundation with extensive classrooms. The elegant school building has special theme based interiors which pave way for reasonable blissful learning. Big grounds with homegrown greenery enclosure, zoological corner, and rainwater harvesting system speaks a ton about this best school in Lucknow. Spacious classrooms and flawlessly arranged yards give abundant chances to every student to explore, observe and learn.

Bansal Education Trust is established on 11th December 2007 to advance and give the best academic facilities to the children of Lucknow. Since its origin, the school is venturing towards the path to accomplish higher scholastic standards thus making its mark as the best CBSE school in Lucknow.

To guarantee quality education, the school takes all the necessary steps and will never back down when it comes to maintaining the standards which made the school stand out as a prominent CBSE school in Lucknow. Our school intends to provide the right foundation required for every young student to develop in all walks of life.

THE SCHOOL AIMS

•    To impart integral education, general, as well as vocational to all, irrespective of caste, creed, and colour in an atmosphere of purity, efficiency, discipline, and fraternity with special emphasis on moral and spiritual values and character building rooted in Indian culture.

•    To ensure all-round development of integrated personality of the scholars through efficient education under the guidance of highly dedicated and competent teachers

•    To provide training in leadership and experience in self-governance through the prefectorial system and other allied positions of responsibility

•    To promote the creative potential of children through art, dance, music and other forms of performing arts

•    To foster discipline and fraternity with special emphasis on national integration and foster international understanding and brotherhood

•    To instill among learners awareness for maintaining environmental purity and ecological harmony

•    To improve self-confidence and creativity through participation and involvement in co-curricular activities

ACADEMICS

Biological Science

This part of science deals with living organisms, their structures, molecular reactions, and physical traits.

To get a better understanding of this interesting segment of science our school provides hands-on experience by making the students do the following experiments :

1: Students will study pollen germination on a slide.

2: Students will collect and study soil from at least from two different sites and study them for texture, moisture content, pH & water holding capacity and will compare them with the kinds of plants found in them.

3: They will collect water from two different water bodies nearby and will study them for pH, clarity, and presence of any living organisms in them.

4: Students study the presence of suspended particulate matter in the air at two widely different sites.

5: Students in our school Study the plant population density by quadrat method which provides them with a better understanding.

6: Students will study the plant population frequency by the quadrat method.

7: Students will prepare a temporary mount of onion root tips to study mitosis.

8: They will also study the effect of different temperatures & 3 different pH on the activity of salivary amylase on starch.

9: They will be taught to Isolate DNA from available plant material such as spinach, green pea seeds, papaya, etc. and will study them.

Chemistry –

The students try to unfold the mysterious world of chemicals. They try various methods to discover something new. The subject is divided into 5 sub-subjects to promote deeper learning of the topic in hand.

A – Surface chemistry

This branch involves

(a). Preparation of one lyophilic and one lyophobic sol

Lyophilic sol – starch, gum and egg albumin

Lyophobic sol- Aluminum Hydroxide, Ferric Hydroxide, Arsenous Sulphide.

(b). Dialysis of the solution prepared above which are lyophilic and lyophobic sol.

(c). Study the role of emulsifying agents in stabilizing the emulsion of different oils.

B – Chemical Kinetics

(a). Effect of concentration and temperature on the rate of reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate & Hydrochloric acid.

(b). Study of reaction rates of any one of the following:

(i). The reaction of Iodide ion with Hydrogen Peroxide at room temperature using a different concentration of Iodide ions.

(ii). The reaction between Potassium iodate, (KIO3,) & Sodium Sulphite: (Na2SO3,) using the starch solution as indicator (clock reaction).

C – Thermochemistry

Anyone of the following experiments will be done in our labs.

(i). Enthalpy of dissolution of Copper Sulphate or Potassium Nitrate.

(ii). Enthalpy of neutralization of strong acid (HCl) and strong base (NaOH).

(iii). Determination of enthalpy change during interaction (Hydrogen bond formation) between Acetone and Chloroform.

D – Electrochemistry

This branch deals with the variation of cell potential in Zn/Zn2+ || Cu2+/Cu with a change in concentration of electrolytes (CuSO4 or ZnSO4) at room temperature.

E – Chromatography deals with

(i). Separation of pigments from extracts of leaves and flowers by paper chromatography and determination of Rf (Retardation factor) values.

(ii). Separation of constituents present in an inorganic mixture containing two cations only (constituents having a large difference in Rf values to be provided).

Computer

Computer science in our school is both a core subject as well as an activity. Information on new techniques of networking, the latest development in peripheral devices, languages etc are made available to the students. The students show extreme felicity in preparing programmes and high-tech software.

Creative Writing (Hindi & English)

This activity gives a new approach to writing. It provides a wonderful opportunity to get maximum exposure to a wide array of genres modes and approaches to writing. The most remarkable contribution of this activity is the school chronicle. Besides, newsletters are also published quarterly.

Environmental Science

An awareness regarding environmental protection and sustainable development is to be created among our students. The study of E.V.S. is incorporated as an essential part of learning in our institution. The students are motivated to participate in various environment-related projects.

Geography Modelling

The varied landforms, the atmosphere, the oceans etc have undoubtedly caught the imagination of our young students. The Geography modeling activity is essentially a creative activity, where the students make miniature forms of geographical features. Discussions are held to comprehend the unfathomable secrets of Mother Nature.

Physical Science

Physics is the science that finds applicability in almost every aspect of human life, be it falling of an apple, rising of tides in the sea, or the launching of the rocket. To induce the young minds to develop a scientific temper of physics models, projects and experiments play a vital role.

To provide hands-on experience, students will do various experiments

1: To determine resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting a graph for potential difference versus current.

2: To find the resistance of a given wire using meter bridge and hence determine the resistivity (specific resistance) of its material.

3: To verify the laws of combination (series) of resistances using a meter bridge.

4: To verify the Laws of combination (parallel) of resistances using a meter bridge.

5: To compare the EMF of two given primary cells using a potentiometer.

6: To determine the internal resistance of a given primary cell using a potentiometer.

7: To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by the half-deflection method and to find its figure of merit.

8: To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into a voltmeter of the desired range and to verify the same.

9: To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into an ammeter of the desired range and to verify the same.

10: To find the frequency of AC mains with a Sonometer.

Yoga and Aerobics

This activity includes stretching exercises, body postures and balancing poses to make our body flexible. In yoga, the students practice several yogasans like Padmasana, Vajrayana, Ushtasana, Gaumukhasana, which enrich the activity sessions.

Home Science

It gives training to young students on how to manage the daily affairs, the smallest tasks and how to do simple household work on their own.

Electronics

Armed with creativity and inquisitiveness the students create various gadgets like the fortune teller, remote control projection, automobile fountain, music system.

SPORTS

“A sound mind in a sound body’’

Games and sports form an integral part of the Jaipuria School Bansal Campus curriculum. The school provides indoor and outdoor sports facilities and ensures adequate exposure through inter-house, inter school and CBSE cluster sports events.

Large playfield with a plethora of sports facilities.

Indoor games-Table Tennis, Badminton, Chess, and Carom.

Outdoor Games-Basket Ball, Football, Volleyball, and Cricket.

Yoga, Aerobics, Martial Arts and Skating.

This school, hands down is the best school in Lucknow one can provide for their children.

Visit:- http://www.jaipuriabansalcampus.com/

[mi4013andrewjung]

Analysis of Final piece.

Within the first semester, there were a total of three major assignments to hand-in and among them all I was most stumbled with the Motion-graphic module task. The reason behind this varies but it’s mostly due to the fact that I was previously inactive in terms of learning digital techniques in creating art and worried my inexperience may hinder my ability. This Analysis will criticise my final produced work for the Introduction to Motion graphics module which was to create a 30 second motion-graphic sequence which visually explains a Science themed Ted talk with no restriction of choice. Whilst demonstrating an aptitude of understanding of techniques given awareness during lectures. In addition, it was key to make a motion graphic which interprets the Ted Talk’s information from a non-literal stance. This Analysis will critically judge the following aspects of the Motion-graphic sequence based on the Ted-Talk “Your Fingerprints reveal more than you think” by Simona Francese - The artistic inspirations, its reproduction of the storyboard, and the overall technicality demonstration, followed by ending with a reflection for possible improvements given a chance to repeat the process.

Firstly, with our final pieces there was a suggestion to research possible artists in order to derive upon them influence for our piece of work. Among, the many artists, a few that captured my attention were some youtubers and Illustrators for example, Jorge Alderete, Christoph Nieman, Daniel Bueno and the art production team behind the youtube channel- Crash Course. In addition, I was captivated by title sequences from the movie Juno and Dr Strangelove. All of those artists culminated were to have some hints of influence in my work. However, when making a final evaluation of my work in connection to the artists I have not been able to replicate the textures of Daniel Bueno and have any detailed life form like Jorge Alderete. In addition, I have not managed to inhabit the conjoining of both live footage and animation like Christoph Nieman. However, I contest that I followed the philosophies of Daniel Bueno’s art which is to “deform a initially redundant element” seen evidently in my piece with the use of the question marks as living characters. Although, there is a mishap in terms of aligning Crash course influence to my work, I believe to have used a simple color palette and retain a comical look with the simple blocked out color scheme.

Secondly, the purpose of a storyboard is for structure and avoiding hindrance from either plot, style, or timing. When overlooking the final piece with my storyboard there is occasional incongruencies with the techniques and methods which were initially casted to deliver the message. For example, the section of the piece whereby Simona states - “And I'm not just talking about the twisted parting of lines that make our fingerprint unique.” (Francese S., Analyst, 2017) within this part originally it was to have line partitions on the hand asset and have it flowing with a opacity being brighter than the hand opacity. However, this did not happen on the final piece due to the fact I was interested in using the simulations that After effects offers. Therefore, it could be concluded that Digitization and technology can be a leeway to something new. In part also, I was technically incompetent to remember using the wave motion.

Lastly, from a technical standpoint the techniques that were applied from the tutorials taught during classes were mostly using the transforming,scaling, positioning and  rotating the assets, using the pen tool and using linear interpolation and application of the Fx’s like cc sphere, and other available effects in disposal of After-effects many effect collection. However, there is a few regrets as I wished to have used the blend modes for the question mark on the finger when the video starts but instead I used opacity changes which didn’t disarray too much but if I were to practice the technique applying it would have made the question seem more seamless as if embedded in the finger which was the striving point.

In conclusion, the Introduction to Motion-Graphics module has tested me to produce artwork adjacent with non-literal presentation of the meanings. In addition, it has challenged me to use multiple new softwares like After-effects, In-design, and Illustrator which has enhanced my capabilities in visual communicating ideas. The process, has also taught me to rely on a structure and planning and I came to realisation that the artistic process is not always spontaneous but arduous hardwork in sticking to one idea. Overall, when viewing the final work I am pleased but with a few regrets mentioned earlier like using alternative methods and techniques that are more precise to handle the task. Thus, if to do the task again I would pay more attention in studying a plethora of techniques that may be easier and more effective which would reduce the static animation of the sequence. In conclusion, this analysis has critically judged the following aspects of the Motion-graphic sequence based on the Ted-Talk “Your Fingerprints reveal more than you think” by Simona Francese - the artistic inspirations, its reproduction of the storyboard, and the overall technicality demonstration.

Citations

"Towards the integration of matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry imaging into the current fingermark examination workflow", Bradshaw R., Bleay S., Wolstenholme R., Clench M.R., Francese S., Forensic Science International, 2013

"Implementation of MALDI MS profiling and imaging methods for the analysis of real crime scene fingermarks", Bradshaw R., Denison N., Francese S., Analyst, 2017