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needlesandsilk · 4 years ago

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Hearthshome Estate Brochure

Surrounded by seemingly endless hills of dense deciduous trees and guarded from behind by a sizable mountain, the Hearthshome Estate is a secluded haven built on indulgence and pleasure. One can go on a hike to the beautiful peaks of Mt.Girandole and watch the sun rise, then be back in time for a five course luncheon with fellow guests, and spend the night in the village browsing shops/watching performances/participating in events/or whatever you may please! We offer a variety of housing options, from traditional hotel life in the main Hearth Manor where you may mingle with guests easily, to cabins on the outskirts that afford ample privacy without losing the amenities of organized life!

(Included are images of mentioned places. The first is an aerial view of the grounds, depicting the green painted roofs of the Manor with their golden spires, which leads down gently with winding paths and trolleys, into an expansive village. Hanging off at different points are pools and tennis courts, a small fair grounds, some riding grounds that lead out to a farm barely in the scope of the picture, then a main strip with ample lighting. While there are no images of the farm, and only a few distant shots of the tennis courts, there is detail in others.)

While we do offer opulence, it comes at only a trivial cost: Indulge! Hearthshome Estate exists in a sapient, docile pocket dimension that seeks to facilitate the recovery and indulgence of those who dwell in it. So long as you are happy, our grounds flourish. Money is not an object within our hallowed acres, and the material scarcely contributes. All needs to keep the lights on are fulfilled by feeding the land and staff by simply enjoying yourself!

(Another image, this far more explicit. A view of the lobby with vaulted ceilings and hanging chandeliers that gleam gold light over the sheen tile floors, which reflect the natural exterior view thanks to massive windows, flourishes with obscenity. Hotel guests chatting between themselves, none any more dressed than a loose top and tight shorts, though most opt either for partial nudity like lingerie or full nudity. The staff are dressed in green and brown with trim of gold, standing behind desks or cleaning up messes as many folk are frozen in chatter. Aliens and beasts of all sort, casually moving about.)

Our policy is: as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone without their consent, go for it! All guests who stay with us are required to commit to basic rules. Consent is paramount at Hearthshome Estate! Any person who attempts to knowingly violate another’s boundaries will be ejected immediately as demanded by the laws of this pocket reality. Guests are required to, when engaging in public play, ask partners for verbal or otherwise communicative consent. Private areas allow indulgences of play without enumerating conditions, but the standing protections remain across every micrometer of the grounds.

(Another image. This is a walking shot of the main village strip at night, when the street lamps are strung with large bulbed lights that glow warmly upon the brick and lush greens. People are similarly dressed here, though the shot primarily seems to have an excited trio of collared folk pointing towards a public exhibition further down of folks in stockades or on crosses as directed by dommes. Some here where full bitchsuits, others traipse around with lewd words written upon them, others still scarcely walk at all so much as they are dragged or carried depending on the attitude and time. But amidst those are people casually nude, sipping on drinks together at a quaint cafe or laughing as they rest upon each other on a bench)

A large variety of both guest-directed and staff prepared activities run here! If you want to engage with large groups or find like minded folk, try some of the events as posted on the complimentary Hearthshome Organizer, updated hourly. If you want to organize your own event, first check the Organizer to see if there is overlap, then speak with the front desk if there isn’t any conflicting event!

(Again an image. The dining room it seems, a large space with tables, booths, lounge spaces, and allotted floor space. The floor is, obviously, for those engaging in some form of power play as the picture captures food being delivered in bowls to some bound figures on the ground. The trend of dress continues as people tend to their various sized meals, ranging from a simple appetizer to a stacked tower of plates that are paused mid shovel into a hungry bear-person.)

For further details or an in person tour, simply enter [NUMBER] into your nearest device for relocation, or incorporate it into your casting. All persons will be stripped of their weapons upon entry and required to pledge to obey the rules of the Estate before entering beyond the welcome lobby. We look forward to seeing you soon!

(The final image is of some staff, smiling at the camera with a good number of guests around them in all manner of dress. To their credit, the staff doesn’t look that out of place. Some are clearly here as watch but others are hastily dressed and missing pieces. A man has lost his hat and seems to be wearing a shirt a few sizes too small, while a woman is caught in the middle of trying to adjust a skirt that’s rode just high enough to hint at a hickey freshly made on her thigh. It’s inviting at least.)

#long post

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justinspoliticalcorner · 3 months ago

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Judd Legum at Popular Information:

On Wednesday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) enacted a new policy that could impose massive demands on the agency's overburdened network of field offices, according to an internal SSA message obtained by Popular Information. Although the new policy will impact millions annually, it was not publicly announced. "The havoc and destruction they’re causing is no doubt going to break the agency and hurt the public," an SSA source familiar with the new policy said.

Each year, the SSA automatically issues millions of Social Security numbers and cards to non-citizens granted work authorizations as part of an agreement between the SSA and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The agreement, known as Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE), benefits both the work-authorized non-citizens, who receive their cards in the mail as part of the application process, and the government, which does not need to spend time and money processing separate applications for millions of Social Security numbers. In the 2024 fiscal year, there were over 3.24 million initial Employment Authorization Documents approved by USCIS. In the absence of the EBE program, everyone granted work authorization will be required to visit a Social Security field office to obtain a new Social Security number and card.

The SSA message, sent March 19, states that the EBE program for "noncitizens granted work authorization" and "newly naturalized U.S. citizens" has been "temporarily" frozen. It is unknown how long the freeze will be in place or if it will ever be lifted. Even though the EBE program has been in place for years, people with new or pending work authorization applications have not been informed. Although staff was instructed to implement the new policy immediately, there were no public communications about the change. As part of the USCIS work authorization form, applicants are told SSA will issue them a Social Security card upon approval. Currently, people who receive approval for work authorization likely believe that their Social Security number and card are being processed and that the card will soon be in the mail. But this is not happening. Should the freeze remain in place for more than a few days, 60,000 to 75,000 additional people per week will need to visit a field station to obtain a Social Security number, according to the SSA source. The internal SSA message provided no rationale for the change. The SSA has also frozen the EBE program for newly naturalized citizens. Most of those individuals have already been issued a Social Security number. However, the EBE program also allowed newly naturalized citizens to process a name change and update their citizenship status without visiting an SSA field office. (Individuals granted permanent residence status are also covered under the EBE program but were excluded from the freeze.) In response to a request for comment, the SSA press office sent Popular Information the following statement: "We are aware. We are monitoring it closely. And we will provide an update as appropriate." The potential flood of new in-person visits comes as the SSA imposes another change, first reported by Popular Information on Monday, that will require millions of elderly and disabled people to travel to a field office. That policy will require people making new benefit claims to verify their ID through the internet or at a field office. Since the internet is not an option for many elderly or disabled people, the SSA estimates it will require an additional 75,000 to 85,000 in-person visitors per week to SSA's offices to implement the policy. An internal memo describing the impact of the policy, obtained by Popular Information, predicted "service disruption," "operational strain," and "budget shortfalls" once the policy went into effect.

Popular Information has a report on a key policy shift that could massively overwhelm Social Security Administration (SSA) offices that are already overwhelmed as it is: the freezing of Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) issued to non-citizens granted work authorizations.

#SSA #Social Security Administration #Social Security #Enumeration Beyond Entry #USCIS

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lawblrwithalcohol · 5 years ago

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A Modest Proposal for the Modern World

It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great nation, or travel to others, when they see the streets, the roads, and tenement-doors crowded with gig-workers of all kinds, found in three’s, four’s, or six’s, all in thrift-store-bought clothes, and refreshing LinkedIn every five minutes. These ... adults, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood and advance their careers, are forced to employ all their time searching for four hours labor to pay interest on student loans and rent on run down boarding houses, instead of being accountants, designers, speech-writers, historians, and musicians.

I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of underemployed adults is due in no small part to the prodigious number of unintentially old adults, who, through no fault of their own, have lived far beyond what was once believed to be the natural life span of a man, and who, through their own mismanagement, have not the savings or security to retire the field and spectate on the great game that is our magnificent capitalist economy; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these old adults give up their postings and leave for the young and hungry the incomes of their posts would deserve to have his statue made of finest stone and his placard inscribed in gold.

But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the old adults still reaping the benefits of their postings for the fifth decade: it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of adults past their seventy-third birthday, who now take safety and surety from the young either by holding on to positions of monetary reward or by claiming public benefits for more than one decade.

As to my own part, having turn my thoughts for many years, in between looking for gigs of my own, upon this important subject, and maturely weighted the several schemes of our projectors, both government and private, both liberal and conservative, I have always found those projections to be grossly mistaken in their conclusions. It is true, an aged man requires less food, space, and amenities than a young one, but the aged men I see do in fact elect to use more than even three young men! And I see no harm in allowing a period of years, certainly no more than ten, for a man to relax and enjoy the fruit of his labors while he still has strength of limb to do so. But it is precisely when this strength fails him, when all his prodigious wealth is turned to pills and potions and prolongings, that I propose he should instead think of how he might contribute to the betterment of society.

There is likewise another advantage to my scheme, that it will prevent that slow spiral and decay that all fear and which many know as The Long Goodbye: the loss of memory, of fellowship, of freedom that makes of a man a shell of who he once was.

The sheer number of souls in this land being usually reckoned upwards of 100 million, of these I calculate there may be 15 million so-known aged adults, from whom I would subtract two million as those who live with family and instead of being burdensome instead provide support in the form of cooking, child-care, cleaning, and other non-economic benefits, but this being granted, there will remain 13 million aged adults. The question therefore is, how this number shall be brought to see the common sense of their retirement, which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly to blame for the stagnation and infantilization of the young adults of the nation. For the young can neither gain entry to those fields for which they have been trained nor advance if they were lucky enough to receive an entry level position, often requiring a minimum of five years of relevant experience, without the removal of the top of the hierarchy so that those of middling age may advance and free up postings for the young.

I am assured by our bankers and economists, that a man of years, but no more than 60, is a valuable worker, a sharp mind, and a driver of the great machine of industry, but that a man beyond that is all too often trapped in his way, antiquated in his approach, and full of rust in his gears. He does not aid his employer or his field by remaining on the pitch and should instead be sent home to enjoy his last few days on this earth out in the fresh, which is just reward for spending so few of his days before then out of sight of his desk, calendar, and fluorescent-lit office.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

I have been assured by a very knowing Chinese of my acquaintance in Seattle, that an old, decrepit man, is, at 73 years old, past his prime as a man and in his prime as kindling, his muscles having disappeared and his frame instead filled out with fat, for the fires of our power plants, though of course he must first be humanely put down and drained of all congealing fluid.

I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration, that of the 13 million aged adults, already computed, all may be be disposed of by exsanguination and immolation to decrease our reliance upon foreign energy suppliers and reduce the burden on our governmental support structures while increasing the availability of profitable and desirable postings for the young men and women of our nation.

I have reckoned that a man in this country will weigh 165 pounds upon retirement, most of that muscle and bone, but, if given ten years of leisure, he will weight 225 pounds and most of it will be burnable fat.

I grant that these men will be somewhat rare in more healthy climes, but those climes are well suited to supplying energy through solar or wind anyway and do not rely upon fuel-burning plants to create electricity.

The supply of these gentlemen will be guaranteed, as our country has very fine healthcare and is able to ensure that any man of standing is able to live to see 70 at the least, provided the man himself cooperates with his health and is not subject to fast living. This measure will also have the benefit of freeing our healthcare industry to more readily focus on those great problems faced predominantly by the young, who have no money with which to fund such research today, as opposed to those minor affections endured by the old, such as erectile dysfunction.

I have already computed the output of such a man’s frame, and have found it to be about the same as three gallons of foreign-bought oil; and I believe no gentleman would object to his own immolation if he knew it meant we would be free of foreign interest and beholden to none other. Thus our cities will be alight, our young burning with ambition, and our industry steaming along.

Those who are more lean, as some men become in their age instead of fat, may still take solace in knowing that in joining with all others, they have not failed their country, but instead carried out the finest duty we could ask of them.

As to the collection of these men, our hospitals and hospices are already equipped for the administering and transportation of them, and our doctors and nurses well know their needs and complaints. Have no fear, these men shall receive only the finest of treatment as their wick burns down.

A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme, He said, that many wives of this nation, having lately been discouraged from cooking traditional, Julia Child-esque meals, might find new life and vigor in the knowledge that those meals would be most desirable by the government, and that cookbooks, programs, and community classes on preparing hearty and vigorous meals should be a priority of any scheme that seeks to make use of the old. I heartily agreed and thanked him for such enlightening advice, and assured him that I would roll out such an addendum the moment my scheme was adopted.

I have perhaps too long expounded on the potential of this scheme, and therefore shall return the the meat of it: I think the advantages my proposal are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance.

First, as has already been observed, it will great reduce the number of underemployed gig-workers as the positions at the top will be emptied, soon to be filled by those in the middle, leaving open the middle for the bottom to grab, and opening the bottom postings for the young and hungry.

Second, the ramshackle neighborhoods and dilapidated boarding houses will be done away with as those newly employed shall find newly vacated housing units in far nicer neighborhoods, leaving the slumlords to refurbish or demolish their slums.

Third, whereas it is always good to reduce our dependence on others for power, our use of foreign oil will go down and our global power will go up. For surely no harm ever came of disentangling ourselves from the business interests of other nations.

Fourth, the children of the aged will be relieved of the overpowering burden and heartbreak of The Long Goodbye and will instead know the day and time to make their farewells.

Fifth, the taxes exacted by our government shall decrease as there will no longer be a need to maintain a man’s livelihood for three decades after he is no longer working.

Many other advantages might be enumerated, should the time be taken to fully explore the ramifications of this proposal, but for brevity’s sake I will not do so here.

I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that a number of people will thereby much lessened in the nation. This I freely own, but as the population will decrease proportionately across all states, no state shall gain advantage and no seats of Congress will be reapportioned, saving perhaps those of Florida.

Therefore I ask that none talk to me of whatever faux destractions they may conjure for my plan, lest they have some other scheme that would do so much good for the nation.

I profess in the sincerity of my intentions, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country, by advancing trade, providing for the young, reliving our tax burden, and giving some pleasure to those stuck in the middle. I have no grandparents. I have no children who would benefit from these measures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Damn this was fun to write! I claim no copyright, having lifted several sentences and passages from “A Modest Proposal”, but ask only that the internet not burn me at the stake for my attempt at comedy in these trying times.

@charmedatlaw I hope this made you laugh, or at the least, shake your ruefully.

#personal #writing

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chanoyu-to-wa · 5 years ago

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Nampō Roku, Book 5 (32): the Display of [Two] Temmoku, for [the Service of] Two Noblemen, on the Shaku-naga[bon].

32) Ryō-son temmoku shaku-naga kazari nari [兩尊天目尺長飾也]¹.

The kaki-ire [書入]²:

〇 Nothing is different, with respect to the temae³.

One should refer to the ku-den [for further information]⁴.

_________________________

◎ The arrangement shown in the sketch is actually rather difficult to effect in reality -- the shaku-nagabon simply appears to be too small for things to be arranged as shown -- which some might find objectionable. Furthermore, this arrangement requires the shaku-nagabon to be off-center, in order to accommodate the need of both dai-temmoku to overlap their respective kane by one-third. As in the previous arrangement, every care must be taken to avoid giving the impression that one of the noblemen is being treated with greater deference than the other.

However, the sketch found in Shibayama Fugen’s teihon [底本], below, shows a slight modification to this arrangement which makes things more visually pleasing: while both of the dai-temmoku still overlap their respective kane by one third (which would be the salient point, for anyone who understood the rules of kane-wari), the dai-temmoku on the left extends toward the right (while the other things extend toward the left). This brings the utensils closer together, so that they do not need to project beyond the face of the tray, while still adhering to the requirements of the kazari. In this case, furthermore, the shaku-nagabon is centered on the ten-ita of the daisu.

This is another in the series of machi-shū temae that were created around the beginning of the sixteenth century.

¹Ryō-son temmoku shaku-naga kazari nari [兩尊天目尺長飾也].

“[For the reception of] a pair of noblemen: [both] temmoku are displayed on the shaku-naga[bon],”

²The complete Japanese text of the kaki-ire is:

〇 Temae betsu no koto nashi kuden ni sumu

[手前別ノ事ナシ口傳ニスム].

³Temae betsu no koto nashi [手前別ノ事ナシ].

“[With respect to] the temae, there are no special differences.”

The temae is basically done in the same manner as for the previous arrangement (where a hadaka-temmoku, with chakin, chasen, and chashaku, was placed on a dai, and a fukuro-iri temmoku without a dai, were arranged on the shaku-nagabon, with a chaire in the middle).

In the previous case, the host had to be careful to balance the handling of the two chawan. Here, since both temmoku are tied in their shifuku, and displayed on temmoku-dai, the arrangement looks equitable. Because of this, both temmoku should be handled in exactly the same manner.

Since both temmoku are tied in their shifuku, a kae-chawan must be brought out, as Shibayama Fugen notes in his single line of commentary on this arrangement. As before, to simplify matters, two chakin should be arranged in the kae-chawan, together with one chasen (because both guests will be served the same tea), and the chashaku.

If there is any difference between this temae and the one that was described in the previous entry, it is that the present arrangement is suitable for use when receiving two noblemen of the highest status -- assuming they are of comparable rank.

⁴Kuden ni sumu [口傳ニスム].

“[Any questions] will be resolved by the ku-den.”

Sumu [済む] means to resolve, to complete, to be satisfied (by something). In other words, the ku-den should be able to resolve any doubts that the host might have, regarding the performance of this temae.

According to Tanaka Senshō, the “ku-den” to which this refers are the collection of points that were enumerated in the previous post:

◦ the two noblemen should be of comparable rank -- neither significantly higher or lower than the other;

◦ a small tray (chaire-bon) should be brought out for the chaire;

◦ two chakin should be arranged in the kae-chawan (so that a different chakin can be used for each temmoku);

◦ the shaku-nagabon should never be lowered to the mat during the temae*; and,

◦ a naka maru-bon should be brought out, so that the two temmoku and their dai may be handled on a tray (rather than stood directly on the mat). ___________ *Actually, in the narration of this temae that is included in Tanaka Senshō’s commentary, it states that “it is also permissible for the shaku-nagabon to be lowered to the mat” (shaku-nagabon hakari-oroshite mo yoshi [尺長盆計下ろしてもよし]) -- though this statement is at odds with the ku-den that is associated with this tray (as it was enunciated during the sixteenth century), and which is quoted above: namely, that “the shaku-nagabon should never be lowered to the mat during the temae.” The assertion that this tray may be lowered to the mat during the temae is found only here (though it was mentioned, and speculated upon briefly, in Tanaka’s commentary on the preceding arrangement, while referencing the present discussion).

The narrative that Tanaka is quoting from is found in an Edo period document that he refers to as the Kiri-kami den [切紙傳] (“Secret teachings of the kiri-kami”: the title is actually rather common in the archives of Japanese “secret teachings” literature from the Edo period, though usually such writings are distinguished from one another by the inclusion of the author’s name -- which is not mentioned in this instance, making the document impossible to either trace or locate historically), which was apparently drafted (by a follower of the Sen family, which would make it no earlier than the middle of the seventeenth century -- though possibly much later) in an effort to interpret these temae in accordance with the teachings of the Sen school. While this document specifies the shaku-nagabon by name, it actually seems to be describing the temae when a tsune-no-nagabon [常ノ長盆] is used -- since a shaku-nagabon would project too far to the left to make the temae practicable. This narrative indicates that a small tray should be placed on the right side of the mat for the chaire -- which would mean that the shaku-nagabon extends at least as far as the left-most kane; thus, its presence would interfere with the handle of the hishaku, and kae-chawan (if this was a large chawan, such as one of the ido bowls -- as would have been the case in Jōō’s day).

Of course these issues can be resolved if the futaoki were placed on the ji-ita, rather than on the mat; if something like a Raku chawan were used as the kae-chawan; and if the ko-bon was one of the sort used by Sōtan and his followers (these trays are approximately 6-sun across, regardless of the diameter of the chaire) -- and one ignores the location of the kane with which the chaire and other utensils are supposed to be associated. But this explanation is both contrived and anachronistic, and so should be considered irrelevant -- since the original temae was an early sixteenth century usage, appearing in Book Five of the Nampō Roku as it was reinterpreted by Jōō during his middle period, at which time neither the Raku-chawan, nor Sōtan’s chaire-bon existed, and the kane, as a manifestation of the shiki-shi [敷き紙], controlled every aspect of the arrangement of the utensils both on the daisu and in front of it. That said, Tanaka was initiated into the high daisu temae by the Urasenke Iemoto, and, at the time when he wrote this commentary, he continued to view Urasenke (which he refers to as “the Sen family” in his writings) as the ultimate authority.

——————————————–———-—————————————————

◎ Analysis of the Arrangement.

As in the previous temae, a chaire-bon should be brought out for the chaire, as well as a naka maru-bon -- on which the temmoku and their dai will be handled. The arrangement of the daisu and utensil mat at the sō-rei are shown below.

(Note that after the chaire and first dai-temmoku have been lowered, the second dai-temmoku is moved into the center of the shaku-nagabon, and then the nagabon is repositioned so the dai-temmoku rests on the central kane.)

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afishlearningpoetry · 6 years ago

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Looking Closer at How The Abominable Bride Foreshadowed and Can Be Used to Chronologically Decode Series 4:

In TAB, John’s stories are famous for its account of the great Sherlock Holmes and his many adventures with his scribe, Dr. John Watson. As this is in Sherlock’s head, everything about the comparison and contrast of their popular image vs. their personal lives is some expression of how Sherlock feels and thinks, including his insecurities. “I’ve had to grown this mustache just so people will recognize me,” John grumbles shortly after. Sherlock feels that certain things are expected of him and John in the public eye –– and that John’s blog, the closest thing Sherlock has to a confession of how John really feels –– hides Sherlock away from the world, both to protect him, and because John does not pick up on how Sherlock really feels about him, which frustrates him.

In TLD, John’s blog is –– seemingly apropos of nothing –– suddenly famous for being Sherlock’s account of his adventures and that people don’t know who John is. As series 4 is John’s blog, and therefore takes place innately from his own perspective and authorship, everything about the comparison and contrast of his story vs. reality is some expression of how John feels and thinks, including his insecurities. “I have a website.” “In which you enumerate two hundred and fourty types of tobacco ash. Nobody’s reading your website,” John responds to Sherlock in ASIB. John feels that certain things are expected of him and Sherlock in the public eye (such as Mary’s covered up murder) –– and that Sherlock’s on-and-off disdain for his blog, the closest thing John has to a confession of how John really feels about him, and really feels about his portrayal of the two of them together –– is inaccurate gibberish, and that Sherlock holds this view because John’s feelings towards him are not shared.

[Continue below the cut for more ➤]

See also: The Unfinished Act of Series 4, 10 Revealing Things From The Six Thatchers That Haunt You Late At Night, 10 Revealing Things From The Lying Detective That Haunt You Late At Night, and 10 Revealing Things From The Final Problem That Haunt You Late At Night.

Bonus: Filters.

After the opening scene of TAB, the episode transitions from The Strand magazine, establishing right away that we are seeing a filtered story instead of an unfiltered perception of reality. John’s latest story is doing well, as Sherlock’s image in the public eye is thriving, but Sherlock still imagines John protecting (and misunderstanding) Sherlock from further scrutiny, as the eager paper seller hands out further copies of their latest adventure.

After the case starts in TLD, John has a, on the surface text, pointless conversation with a random woman who’s mistaken John’s blog for being Sherlock’s. To be blunt: this scene has literally no other function beyond informing us again, that what we’re seeing is John’s filtered perception and story of the true events behind series 4, and that not only does John feel insecure about his work and the way his representation of his life with Sherlock is seen by everyone else, but also a self-aware jab about how it’s “gone downhill a bit”, a reference to public perception of John’s blog covering recent events, and thus what we are being shown throughout series 4, because this is not the truth. It has no other purpose. This is literally what it’s telling us.

While these two events don’t line up chronologically, they’re the most blatant examples of the way that Sherlock’s dream and John’s story are meant to line up to each other. Also considering that John’s latest story in TAB is not being considered a “proper murder”, and that TLD opens as another chapter in John’s blog after the last entry, which was about Mary’s death, it is fitting in the sense that TLD is meant to be the fallout of the cover-up, and that TST was indeed, meant to be a story told to the masses featuring a tragic death and not an exciting murder mystery.

There are many other examples of how John and Sherlock express their insecurities in their own universes, but John’s blog is the most personal, because it’s part of the continuing conflict and misunderstanding of how the feel about each other. That’s what the blog is to each of them, and that they continue to misunderstand each other, John’s portrayal of Sherlock and inability to pick up on Sherlock’s feelings, and Sherlock’s frustration at this, John’s portrayal of him, and John’s incorrect assumption about this meaning Sherlock must not mean the same way –– dear lord they’re a mess aren’t they –– means that it’s only natural that in their own stories, their portrayals of John’s blog are utterly contradicting each other in almost every way possible. Because their blog is their agreement on their relationship and how they choose to present it, and yet have never been able been able to agree on it. They don’t get it.

Sherlock’s portrayal is arguably closer to reality –– in the most basic sense that John’s blog is both hiding and misunderstanding who Sherlock really is, while John is a confused mess –– but Sherlock still isn’t getting to the heart of how John really feels. And while John’s portrayal is more blatantly incorrect, it’s just as emotionally honest as Sherlock’s. John also feels deeply insecure about the blog, or rather their agreement on their relationship, and himself in context of it. John is literally imagining a world where no one knows who he is. Not just who he really is, but his name and significance period. John is filled with self loathing. In TFP, he reminds us of this:

“Now, for once in your life, do the right thing. Put this stupid little man out of all our misery. Shoot him!” Mycroft says.

“Stop it.” Sherlock responds.

“Look at him. What is he? Nothing more than a distraction, a little scrap of ordinariness for you to impress, to dazzle with your cleverness. You'll find another.”

John thinks he’s boring and disposable. John thinks he’s worthless. John thinks Samarra is unavoidable.

He has no idea how much Sherlock loves him and that he doesn’t think of John that way. “People do get so sensitive about their pets,” Moriarty says to the two of them in TGG. In TST, John barraged himself under the scope of imagining Sherlock and Mary’s perfect relationship, comparing himself to being less than a dog. John feels the same here –– sub-human, nameless, faceless, and that his blog has accomplished nothing but deluding himself and making his inaccurate, romantic portrayal of Sherlock popular in the public eye. Shortly before this scene Sherlock takes drugs in the bathroom, and soon after John says he thinks Sherlock is a monster.

Sherlock resents John’s blog because John has been wrong about him this entire time, ever since they first met. John begins to hate his own blog because he’s so sure he’s been wrong about Sherlock this entire time, ever since he first met him. Both feelings translate to the two of them imagining scenarios where strangers comment on it in a way that pricks all of their insecurities about each other at the same time.

It wouldn’t be the first time. In TAB, as Sherlock is suffering a relapse and Mycroft and John are worried about his livelihood, Mary takes an opportunity to make a jab at Sherlock. “You’ve been reading John’s blog. The story of how you met.” Sherlock evades the truth about how he feels about John’s blog while still commenting it’s an inaccurate portrayal, while John is so surprised by this that he still doesn’t pick up on the truth. Neither of them are getting the full picture –– it’s only when they come together and arrive at their shared truth will their back and forth with the blog will end.

“Oh, my god, I love your blog,” another stranger cheers on Sherlock as John grimaces onwards, feeling forgotten by everyone else, which is just a conduit for him being neglected by Sherlock.

#sherlock bbc #sherlockedit #tjlc #tjlcedit #edits #gifset #gifs #television #series 4 #looking closer at tab timeline #sherlock holmes #john watson #john x sherlock #the six thatchers #the lying detective #the abominable bride #meta #john as the author

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athomewiththecicadas · 2 years ago

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Okay, as far as the AI dilemma, AI technology is a benefit for consumers and corporations. To extend services, and help people better manage thier lifestyles to improve quality of life.

With that being said, I keep hearing there's another issue, where AI would be issued as a disciplinary action. And this is addressing corporate security.

And the issue I'm hearing is that there are real observations rooting from mental crisis, where services required are beyond the ability of the workforce to alot provisions. And that's completely different accounting.

If that's the case, corporations are already stating that thier technologies and services are unmanageable. And I don't really know what to do about that. I would think that's just a buyout.

But there is an entry level battalion technology, that has to be embedded in the predictor circuit of the CPU, somewhere around 12 tiers. And the concept in this case is an enumeration for corporations to control mental crisis. Similar regulation to economy cars, is not subject to moorse law, and so on, but it isn't stating that people are completely impossible. It is stating that you are trying to control mental crisis.

But this isn't technology that is the brand new hottest, it's a financial security provision, similar to a bank's armoured car officers.

-a disciplinary action

-to manage mental crisis

-entry level battalion

-12 tier, embedded

-enumetation for financial security

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packedwithpackards · 3 years ago

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The Nebraskan Man of Mystery: The Story of Joseph Winfield Packard

Close up of an 1897 map of Nebraska on the website of Hall County, Nebraska

On the morning of Sunday, March 13, 1910, three boys from South Sioux City, Nebraska, who were on a duck hunt, found a horrifying sight near Coburn Junction. [1] A man, said to be 27 years old, was lying beside a train track, his body mangled with a deep gash in his forehead, a broken hip, and numerous contusions and bruises across his body. He had been dead for several hours. On his person was five dollars of change, a “quart bottle of whiskey” (a fifth of a gallon or about 26 ounces), a raffle ticket, and a receipt belonging to a saloon (Duggan and Heffernan) in nearby Hubbard, Nebraska. He also had a letter on him, dated at West Cummington, Massachusetts, on an inside coat pocket addressed to “B.F. Packard” (likely an error) and signed “father.” He was, as local papers reported, killed instantly by a passing freight train that morning by accident and was dragged by the train, furthering his injuries. These same papers said he was suspected of robbery at the Duggan and Heffernan saloon on Saturday night, not an uncommon occurrence for the saloon (which had been robbed and burglarized in 1902, 1904, and 1906). [2] They also supposed that he walked down the Omaha railroad northeast toward the Coburn Junction, on his way to Sioux City, Iowa, across the Missouri River, but was overtaken by a train. His body was held “awaiting some word from his relatives.” This man was named Joseph Winfield Packard.

Joseph was the third child of Cyrus Winfield Packard (1852-1924) and Dorothy “Dora” Ann Mills (1849-1895). He was born on June 17, 1885 in the small town of Plainfield, Massachusetts. [3] His fellow siblings included 3 brothers, John Henry (1882-1950), and Charles Edward (1887-1960), Robert (1891-1956) [adopted in 1895 by the Mills family], and 3 sisters, Margaret (1884-1976), Marion Estelle (1889-1965), and Mabel Hattie (1892-1961).

Little is known about his life, how he got out to Nebraska, what his occupation was, or where he lived. He may have been a boarder with the locally-known Streeter family in Cummington, Massachusetts in 1900 due the fact that it correctly lists his father’s birth place (Massachusetts) and mother’s birthplace (New York), while saying he was born in May 1885. [4] However, since census record lists a “Joseph M Packard” rather than a “Joseph W Packard,” it cannot be confirmed that they are the same person.

Further complicating matters is his gravestone in Plainfield’s West Hill Cemetery, which his father Cyrus once oversaw. It correctly notes his dates of birth and death (1885-1910). However, it also states that he was “buried at Sioux City Nebraska” even though no such place exists! On his Find A Grave page, a family bible entry, sent to me by second cousin once removed, is attached, stating that his death date was March 10th even though it was actually March 13th. This raises the question of who provided this faulty information, which went into the family bible, and who provided the incorrect burial place which was carved into the stone.

We know from local newspaper reports that Joseph was buried in a cemetery in Dakota City on March 19, 1910. Unfortunately, searches on the page for Dakota City Cemetery, the only cemetery listed for this town on Find A Grave, have been fruitless. Joseph’s remains were taken there by coroner B.F Sawyer. The county paid the funeral expenses as his father, Cyrus, said he was a “poor man” but he would like to know “the particulars of his son[’]s death.” This charge may have had some validity. The 1910 U.S. Federal census, enumerated about a month after Joseph’s death, showed Cyrus as a farmer who mortgaged a farm in Plainfield, married to his third wife, Clementina Cheney, and having five children in the household (Olive, Herbert, Rachel, Thomas, and Harold), none of whom had any occupation listed. [5]

Despite the lingering mystery of many of the particulars of Joseph’s life beyond his birth and death, there is something we can say for certain: Joseph lived in a small town environment, with Hubbard numbering in the hundreds of people, tied into the train system to nearby towns like South Sioux City and Dakota City, which are four miles apart, both to the Northeast of the town itself. [6] When authorities attempted to bring law and order to the Dakota County, ordering the closing of “remaining gambling houses,” there is no doubt that they were thinking of places like Hubbard, which had at least one saloon. These areas, within Dakota County, were also highly influenced by the railroad and agriculture, the latter due to the fact that the county was “originally vegetated with oak prairie savannas” and lies within confluence of the major rivers draining from Minnesota (Missouri, Minnesota, Mississippi, and St. Croix). [7]

The horrific death of Joseph was not unusual for those times. During the 19th century, railroads in the U.S. were “comparatively dangerous” to workers and their passengers, especially for freight trains. [8] In 1910, Joseph was one of the 314 people killed in railroad-related deaths and over 12,000 were injured, which was even a decrease from previous years.

In the end, while there are many remaining questions about Joseph’s life, there is no question that he was, to put it mildly, the Nebraskan Man of Mystery.

Editor's Note: This article was originally slated to be published in an upcoming issue of Packard's Progress, led by Dale Cook and pushed by others, which I submitted for consideration back in January of this year. I felt that it was wrong to let this article linger without further publication, so it seemed right to publish it at this time.

Notes

[1] “Mangled Body of Man Found Near Coburn Junction,” Norfolk Weekly News-Journal, Mar 18, 1910, p 8, Death of Joseph W. Packard, Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, 16 Mar 1910, p. 1; “The body of a man…,” Dakota County Herald, Mar 18, 1910, p 5; “Joseph Packard, the man who…,” Dakota County Herald, Mar 25, 1910, p 5; “B F Sawyer took the remains…,” Dakota County Herald, Mar 25, 1910, p 5; “Surviving Nebraska Railroad Stations,” American-Rails.com; M.M. Warner, Warner’s History of Dakota County, Nebraska: From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time, with Biograpical Sketches, and Anecdotes of Ye Olden Times, (Dakota City, Neb.: Lyons Mirror Job Office, 1893), p 97. A 1915 railroad map assists in locating where Coburn Junction was at the time. Coburn Junction is near South Sioux City, Nebraska and is “five miles due west of Dakota City…there is neither a settlement nor post office at this point” as M.M. Warner put it in 1893.

[2] “Hold Up [at] Hubbard Saloon,” Omaha Daily Bee, Dec 24, 1902, p 1; “Nels Anderson Disappeared,” The Lincoln Star, Dec. 15, 1902, p 3; “Notorious Robber is Convicted of Murder,” Lincoln Journal Star, Feb. 22, 1904, p 7; “U S Senator Norris Brown on County Option,” Dakota County Herald, Oct 14, 1910, p 4; “Former Negro Politician Dies in Insane Hospital,” Lincoln Journal Star, Nov 5, 1907, p 1; F.B. Tipton, “Anti-Saloon Legislation,” Nebraska State Journal, Jan 4, 1907, p 8; “A Question of Point of View,” Beatrice Daily Express, Apr 2, 1903, p 1; “Law and Order League,” Lincoln Journal Star, Apr 20, 1904, p 5; “Changes in the Mulct Law,” Omaha Daily Bee, Oct 18, 1903, p 6; “The Duggan and Heffernan saloon…,” Dakota County Herald, Apr 23, 1909, p 4; “The Dugan and Heffernan saloon…,” Dakota County Herald, Nov 30, 1906, p 4. The saloon was part of the local community, like other saloons in the area, leading to debates as to whether saloons should lawfully exist in the county. This was manifested by one writer in 1903 saying saloons “serve the devil,” F.B Tipton calling for limits on Saloons in Jan 1907, Norris Brown writing in October 1910 that “the county government polices and protects the saloons,” and a Law and Order League established in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1904, calling for “the union of all temperance people, the proper enforcement of the laws and the abolition of the saloon.”

[3] "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch, Packard, 17 Jun 1885, Windsor, Berkshire, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #90, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,428,207. His Family Search page, which I have contributed to, like other ancestral pages, is a work in progress like all good family history. It is used for rough information on his fellow siblings, the accuracy of which I can vouch for.

[4] "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, accessed 4 January 2019, Joseph M Packard in household of Edward B Streeter, Cummington Town, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 618, sheet 2A, family 31, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,653.

[5] "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Cyrus W Packard, Plainfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 712, sheet 1A, family 20, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 594; FHL microfilm 1,374,607.

[6] Charlene Jenson, “Hubbard,” Virtual Nebraska, 2005; Lori Steenhoven, “South Sioux City,” Virtual Nebraska, 2005; Shirley Sides, “Dakota City,” Virtual Nebraska, 2005; “Trains,” Sioux City History, accessed Jan 4, 2019.

[7] “A Premier County,” Dakota County Historical Society, accessed Jan 4, 2019; “Hastings Downtown District Added to National Register of Historic Places,” History Nebraska, Jan 3, 2019.

[8] Charles W. McDonald, “100 Years of Safer Railroads,” Aug 1993, p 14; March Aldrich, “History of Workplace Safety in the United States, 1880-1970,” accessed Jan 4, 2019.

Note: This was originally posted on August 2, 2019 on the main Packed with Packards WordPress blog (it can also be found on the Wayback Machine here). My research is still ongoing, so some conclusions in this piece may change in the future.

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natsuhikoshidou · 7 years ago

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INVISIBLE CH.2 - UNBELIEVABLE PHENOMENON (PART 1)

Chapter 1 Pt 2 | Chapter 2 Pt 2

The next morning, Souhei woke like a mole crawling out of a hole, his aunt was still asleep as usual. He didn’t necessarily need to come in her room to check she was asleep, the fact that there was no sound of typing on a keyboard while the sliding doors were closed meant he didn’t have to.

He went to school on foot. Since there was a path that took no more than twenty minutes one way he could go by bike, but unfortunately he had no other the way to get there than by foot. Because of that Souhei had made a habit of leaving the house in a hurry. While eating his breakfast of rice topped with an egg, because he devoted himself to remembering the things his aunt asked him to buy last night, he was a little late to leave the house today. He remembered the milk, bread and cereal, but for some reason he forgot the bacon. He didn’t know what to say to his aunt when he gets home.

When he arrived at school, most of his classmates were already gathered in the classroom. As usual they were engaged in lively conversation about video-sharing sites and TV programs. From within them there wasn’t a single person who called out to Souhei who just barely appeared. Three male students gathered around Hijiri, sitting at the window. Someone over there held their stomach in laughter, "Hijirin, that’s so funny!"

Deep in his chest Souhei, who sat at his seat, wished that today and tomorrow would go by quietly. The details of the hatred he was subject to for standing out differed day by day. If he had a day that passed by peacefully, he’d then also have a day where it didn’t. They just act based on how they feel. But when a voice Souhei remembered reached his ears, his wish was interrupted.

"Souheeei!"

"-Huh?"

Suddenly, a large shadow appeared in his line of sight, Souhei reflexively threw his head back.

"Eeh...?"

Appearing before his eyes was a single girl. But she wasn't a classmate. That being said it wasn’t like he’d never seen her before. He remembered seeing her somewhere

"...Ah, Hey! From yesterday-"

Her jewel-like eyes sparkled with fire.

"-Ma, Maki-chan?"

"That's right~. It's Maki~" The girl said, her grin swinging across left to right.

It was the strange girl he met at the secret shrine. For some reason, she was enrolled at this school and wearing the sailor uniform. But her gloves and ripped stockings remained the same.

Full of surprise, Souhei spoke from deep in his throat after a short while.

"...Huuh? Wh, what are you... doing here?"

But before the girl answered another person interrupted.

The owner of the cold voice appeared behind Maki-chan. A female student and class organiser called Sawai from Grade 11 Class 5.

Sawai removed her short-lived gaze from Souhei, and smiled "Good morning, Tamagawa-san" at Maki-chan.

"Moorning, Sawachi"

Sawai, who has just been called a nickname, went very red and seemed incredibly happy. She’s a girl with a tight personality as far as you can tell, but now she reacted like a fan whose idol called her name out.

This Sawai then changed her facial expression in the blink of an eye, and looked down at Souhei with a blank stare again.

"-And? You were about to say, what?"

"Well..." The fact that this was Souhei’s first exchange of words with this girl bewildered him. But there wasn’t anybody else he felt he could pose the question to, so he had no choice but to ask. "...Um, is this girl from another class?"

When Souhei spoke, for a moment, Sawai made a face like she swallowed a watermelon.

"…Huh!? What did you say?"

"Eh, what...?" Souhei had no idea what was happening. Then he suddenly thought.

"Oh, is she a transfer student?"

Sawai hugged Maki, while she grinned like usual, like she was protecting a kitten drenched in rain.

"I can’t believe you! She's already been here for 2 months, and you still don't remember your classmate? Especially Tamagawa-san?"

This force panicked Souhei. And since he couldn’t comprehend why Sawai had such a violently threatening attitude, it took him some time to grasp the meaning of her words. Tamagawa? She’s called Maki Tamagawa? Already 2 months?

"...Classmate?" Said Souhei

"I can't believe you. You're just the worst."

Sawai said with a spit and took the girl now known as Maki Tamagawa away from him. "See ya" Maki-chan waved.

Souhei watched her go, dumbfounded. Why did she act like that? Sawai was acting just like that girl joined school at the beginning of the year. Before he realised it, Souhei noticed all eyes in the class had gathered towards him. Hijiri also looked towards him with dubious eyes. It was good timing that the teacher in charge appeared, so that situation came to a stop.

Maki Tamagawa sat at the middle seat on the window row. Until yesterday the person that sat in that seat was a large boy, but for some reason now he sat diagonally behind Souhei – even though there wasn’t a desk there yesterday.

When homeroom was over, Souhei found the chance to pick up the attendance record on the front desk. In it, the names of boys and girls were lined up in alphabetical order. He ran his hurried eyes over it, and the name "Maki Tamagawa" was stated firmly in it. The entry was also recorded right in the middle of the others. Just like it had been that way from the beginning.

Souhei put the attendance record down and returned to his seat. He didn’t understand anything. Even though 2 months hadn’t yet passed, memories of that unique girl had been engraved into his mind whether he liked it or not- or they were supposed to be. Souhei's head began to hurt.

---Maybe I hit my head somewhere?

Maki Tamagawa's characteristics didn’t fit her behavior.

In first period, they all wrote up easy formulas until she arrived. Souhei and his fellow students looked at her in shock with mouths agape from beginning to end, the excited salt-and-pepper haired teacher began to taking pictures of the blackboard with a digital camera he took from the staff room. According to him, as he muttered to himself, the formulas that Maki-chan enumerated could apparently be the answer to a famous unsolved equation. When the teacher snapped the shutter for the fourth time, the bell rang.

In music class in second period, she occupied the grand piano, and dexterously began to perform with flowing fingers. Souhei watched her in amazement, he thought the tune in which the sounds seemed to bounce and halt about might be a classic.

His young female teacher began to tremble like she was about to cry, she seemed overwhelmed by the songs that were being played one after another. After class, according to the veteran music teacher who appeared once he heard the nimble sounds, the tunes Maki-chan played all seemed to be songs by the old American pianist Bud Powell, who was honoured as “The Master of Modern Jazz Piano”. If Haruka were here she’d probably be full of joy.

In fourth period the gym was split in the middle with a net, the boys did gymnastics, the girls did basketball. During the match, holding the ball in one hand, Maki Tamagawa achieved three magnificent slam-dunks while other girls remained on the ground. No matter how big of an estimate you make, she probably wasn’t even 160cm tall. Though Souhei promised he’d no longer be surprised despite what she does, when he realized she jumped from the free throw lane, he went beyond surprise and could only feel some kind of terror.

Since she was such an alien existence, Maki Tamagawa became popular in class. No, that reputation went beyond the so-called classroom limit, even people from other classes were coming to meet her. In breaks between lessons and lunch time, surrounding her, there were so many people around her you couldn’t see her. So in class, Souhei quickly released that Maki Tamagawa, who started to become not just a student but also a teacher, was superior to him.

Gym finished and it turned to lunch break. After going to the ground floor cafeteria to buy some bread, without returning to the classroom, Souhei went to the school grounds. Today there was pleasant wind-less weather. There was nobody near the bench. The requirements for a comfortable lunch break were aligned. But today Souhei's head was dull and cloudy.

Why did Maki Tamagawa suddenly start coming here?

Souhei thought as he put the 100-yen greasy curry bread in his mouth. It was just like his other classmates thought her fame and her non-standard behaviour had always been a thing. It couldn’t be that they were all in cahoots and crafting a lie for only him.

"Souhei!"

"Ah."

-She’s here.

Maki Tamagawa hugged Souhei from behind. "Here you aaare. I was looking for youuu"

"...Ta, Tamagawa-san. You were looking... for me?"

"That's right. Hey, Souhei, how come don't you eat with everyone else in the classroom?"

"Wh, Why-- First of all... could you let go of me?"

Souhei looked at Maki Tamagawa’s eyes, who sat next to him. They sparkled like the eyes of a child who just received a present. They shined in a way so pure it was eerie, he swallowed without thinking.

"What on earth… are you?"

"Eh, Maki? Maki is Maki" she said with a puzzled expression.

"I'm not asking about your name. You weren’t in this class until today -right?"

"I was."

Having received an unexpectedly concise answer, Souhei's thoughts paused for a bit. "...Huh?"

"I was there, that’s the truth." she spoke like she was answering a normal question. "Anyway, Maki's waiting for Souhei to decide his wish y'know. So tell me as soon as you decide! I'll do my best!"

Maki Tamagawa made her hands into fists, he didn’t understand a single thing she said. Every single one of her bizarre words stood as robustly as an iceberg, he felt like they wouldn’t melt by any means possible, he couldn’t try to decipher them. When Souhei was finally able to open his mouth, he was interrupted. It was some girls from his class.

"Tamagawa-san, we brought the volleyball" Sawai said. Her gaze was only focussed towards girl sitting next to Souhei, it seemed just like they didn't realise a person was sitting next to her.

"Hey, thanks!" Maki-chan put her hands together. "Hey, Souhei should play too!"

The girls moved slightly so they could see Souhei. Don't worry. I don’t plan on doing that here.

"I'll pass"

He answered, getting up to walk towards the school building.

"Huuh, You should plaaay, Souhei"

But the other female students gently restrained Maki-chan as she invited him. "Let's leave that guy alone" the voice of Sawai reached him from behind.

By all means, please do, Souhei thought.

Several days passed, Souhei was slowly becoming able to understand the girl’s wild and free nature. As soon as she left morning homeroom she would go completely unseen until just before lunch, today was a day where he wondered if she was even going to turn up. In any case, her actions didn’t show any consistency, she seemed like the kind of person that only does what she pleases.

That day, he hadn’t seen Maki Tamagawa since the morning. Just from the fact that she wasn’t there, Souhei wondered if he could spend a peaceful regular day, but that didn’t happen.

With the unfortunate rain, at lunch break, Souhei nibbled at his bread in his seat in the classroom. Outside the dark mouse-fur-like clouds continued forever, waterfall-like rain water went along the glass window. But his line of sight stayed on the top of his desk. His nylon pencil case with a ragged hole was there. The hole looked like it was stabbed open with a box cutter or something. The event happened when he quickly went to the toilet. The thing that he used since middle school became garbage in just a brief moment. It’s not like he was especially emotionally attached to it. He didn’t remember where he bought it from, but there was no doubt that it was cheap. However, since it was something he’d continued to use for several years, the reason he looked so miserable once he saw it after the short time he’d left his seat was because he was considerably shocked.

Since he couldn’t help looking at it, Souhei put it away in his desk. On the days where Maki Tamagawa wasn’t at school, the harassment towards Souhei tended to get much worse.

There were almost always several thumbtacks in his shoes in the shoe cupboard. The first time he saw them he tried to chuckle scornfully to himself, how old fashioned, I wonder if anybody would fall for this – but mentally the shock he received wasn’t small. Wet cloth was also thrown into his locker built at the back of the classroom. When he returned from an overnight class trip once, Souhei’s desk alone had been thrown out in the hallway like a sheep lost from the herd. Once Souhei tidied it up, returning it to how it was before, the same old giggles leaked out around him.

When Souhei finished eating the bread he bought, someone called out "Hey, Shima".

It was Hijiri. On the one hand Souhei thought to himself that it was kind of rare for Hijiri to be the one to talk to him, but then he thought absent-mindedly that he stopped calling him “Souhei” like he did a long time ago.

(* typically in Japanese, you only refer to someone with their first name if you’re good friends or if they’re younger than you, referring to someone with their last name shows formality or that you have an indifferent relationship with that person)

"...What?"

"Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Despite the way he phrased it, his tone was imperative. There were two others apart from him, the three surrounded Souhei's seat.

What on earth, Souhei had his guard up.

"Hey, I think you should knock it off with that attitude you’ve got with Tamagawa-san"

"...Attitude?"

"Even though Tamagawa-san lets you talk to her, she told me you were acting cold"

"Well, even if she said that..."

"I didn’t wanna bring it up, but it’s bothering some people in our class. I’m telling you because I’m an old friend of yours.”

Hijiri met eyes with the other two, he looked back at Souhei again and smiled boldly.

"Also you should probably treat girls more gently when you talk to them."

As he said that one of the boys put his hand on Souhei's shoulder. It was a boy called Shiroyama from the soccer club.

"Hey, how come Tamagawa-san’s the only girl you’re into? Tell us."

Shiroyama said with a grin. This was the reason why the harassment accelerated these last few days. Because Maki Tamagawa, who’s attracted all the attention at school, is always following him around. What’s so special about him -- regardless of gender, their eyes always judged him with that. I want to ask the same question, he thought every time deep in his chest.

"Well... I don't know" He really didn't know.

Shiroyama tutted. "Well, whatever, don’t get so carried away for Tamagawa-san”

"...I don’t really-"

"Huh? What was that?"

When Shiroyama threatened him, Souhei closed his mouth like a wilted flower. That would be a bad fight to pick.

(言いがかり – iigakari means both ‘to pick a quarrel’ and ‘a false accusation’… not sure if Souhei referring to talking back to Shiroyama or the accusation that Shiroyama’s making is false.)

"Well that's that then" Hijiri said. "Take care"

His tone was just like he was acting from a sense of justice. But what does that mean? Souhei, however, didn't have the courage to ask that to his face. If he said that he would face new harassment - there's no doubt about that.

Unexpectedly, the classroom door opened. Maki Tamagawa appeared.

"Good mooorning"

The lights came on in the classroom. Everyone raised their heads, their gazes pouring towards her. Even though fifth period was beginning she’ll probably be let off the hook, that’s what everyone seemed to think.

Shiroyama tried to get close to her and greeted her with a bouncy voice "Morning, Tamagawa-san!".

"Moorning, Shiro-chan" Maki Tamagawa said. Shiroyama made a satisfied face. Next, she said "Souhei, good morning!"

"...Good morning."

Souhei spoke as hospitably as he could. As usual Shiroyama’s expression was like someone who just got out of a hot bath, but even though he couldn't make a smile, he thought it was good enough. Just then the English teacher appeared. As the scattered students took that as a sign to return to their seats, the Maki Tamagawa in question approached Souhei's ears and whispered.

"Maki’s gonna find out Souhei's wish no matter what."

Surprised, Souhei's body jumped back "...What?"

"Maki will do anything to find out."

After she said that, she quickly went back to her seat. Souhei had no time to ask her to repeat. What on earth does she mean by ‘wish’? She's been talking about it since I first met her.

But he realized thinking about it was useless. Souhei, who tried to concentrate on class and switched on his brain, opened the notes in his textbook, and took out a sharp pencil from his shredded-up pencil case.

After school, Souhei went into the school’s northern building. He planned to stop by the convenience store and take out a book at the library, then go to Othello’s spot. When he thought that and tried to leave the classroom, the voice of a female student called Mizuguchi from his class called out to him.

The girl is the student that sits right behind Souhei, in her free time she's always making bead-accessories. Apparently, she's in the handicraft club.

"Mr Kashiwazaki called for you" she explained to Souhei briefly and then left.

Kashiwazaki is a middle aged male teacher in charge of science. In any case, it seems like he needs help preparing for an experiment next week. Souhei was sure he remembered being on weekly duty next week. But he wants me to go now… how big is he planning to make the experiment?

In this school there's a so-called preparation officer-system in each class. They’re assigned lesson chores outside of the classroom, someone else is responsible every week.

It can seem like a pain when you’re ordered to do something, but compared to being an executive committee member for events like the culture and sports festival, or for regular activities like health and library committee, Souhei preferred doing this, so he didn’t mind it.

The first floor which housed the special classrooms felt kind of creepy with today's horrible weather and the lack of people there. Souhei knocked on the science prep office's door but he didn't hear a response. According to Mizuguchi, Kashiwazaki should be waiting here. The door wasn’t locked.

The prep room wasn’t very big. He entered the room, Hijiri Aota, who sat on the windowsill, immediately met eyes with Souhei.

"Eh, Hijiri...?"

Souhei saw he was also surprised. His face looked taken aback.

"Oh? Why are you here?"

"…Because I'm the prep officer for this week. What about you?"

In the closed room, when the two came face to face, there seemed to be a different atmosphere than usual.

Hijiri seemed like he didn't want to talk and stayed quiet, but answered briefly after a moment.

"... School trip meeting."

"…Oh, you're in charge. You're meeting here?"

Hijiri is one of the excursion committee members. Many students have more important events in high school, they probably thought they could leave it to the most popular student in class.

"Kashiwazashi's in charge of the trip"

Souhei asked nervously. "...How come you're alone?" There's another girl on the school travel committee.

"...It’s fine if it’s just me for today’s meeting. Anyway, stop asking about every little thing. Just shut up and wait."

Then they both closed their mouths. Souhei sat down in an empty chair.

What a weird story, Souhei thought. Kashiwazashi was planning to have a meeting with the excursion committee and for Grade 11 Class 5’s experiment preparation at the same time. He must be on a pretty tight schedule.

Looking out of the window behind Hijiri, the scenery was struck with rain. There was no sign of it stopping. The rain fell like waves, flapping in the wind ever so often. Each drop hit the window hard. The only sounds in the room were the sound of rain and the music department playing music in the distance.

As the silence continued, the hands on Hijiri’s wristwatch tick-tocked. Slowly. If Kashiwazashi is late, the other class' committee member won't appear at all. In the quiet and dimly lit room, it felt just like a cave in the mountains, like they were waiting to be rescued.

When the momentum of the rain outside became even stronger, Hijiri opened his mouth

"You got Haruka’s pictures right?"

"Eh... Yeah. I did."

It was a few days ago.

"Hmm."

After saying just that Hijiri was quiet again. He didn’t understand the reason behind that, but Souhei didn't ask.

Even so, how long has it been since Hijiri and I talked to one another?

Another 20 or so minutes passed after that. The landscape outside became dark.

He realized he could try to make use of this time. He was currently like this because of his falling-out with Hijiri due to what had happened — to be exact, the hatred from Hijiri was one-sided, his other classmates were probably just piggybacking on that relationship. Despite what Hijiri did or didn’t do until now, Souhei had nonetheless become a target for him to vent his stress onto. But he wasn’t sure that would change, even if his relationship with Hijiri would repair. He wasn’t sure if he’d end up in even more pain.

Hijiri spoke again.

"How many did she give you?"

"...Umm--" the suddenness surprised Souhei.

"--Around thirteen, I think."

"...Whatever, she said she gave them to you."

Hijiri was talking about Haruka. But something in those words sounded rather unpleasant to Souhei.

"She said that she didn’t really care about giving you those photos from two years ago. ‘Cause Haruka told me she thinks you’re in the wrong.” Hijiri spoke like he was doing a monologue again. It was a somewhat fitting way of speaking. Souhei felt a flashing sign of danger, like Hijiri was holding a knife behind his back.

"...What do you mean?"

Souhei couldn't hold it in and asked. He already sensed a discomfort, like his heart was being scraped with sandpaper.

"I told you to shut up-"

In that moment, Souhei knew he didn't want this light to go off.

It's fine if I don’t hear it. I have to close Hijiri's mouth by any means possible, he thought instinctively.

"--We're going out."

That’s what Hijiri said.

It was so quiet his ears hurt.

The rain he saw outside the window was still strong in momentum, it seemed like it would keep falling forever. However, he couldn’t hear the sound of rain. Souhei couldn't hear anything. Hijiri's words just spun around again and again in his head.

I must have misheard him. There's no way—something whispered to Souhei. But Haruka’s been on my side until now. We promised to study at the library together.

-- But that's all.

"Guess you didn’t know then." Hijiri said. "Feel free to ask Haruka."

Souhei felt a huge melting feeling sinking in his stomach. Without any energy, his voice became a whisper.

"Are you surprised?" Hijiri asked.

"I am." Souhei agreed meekly.

The power came out from his body. Naturally he couldn’t even pretend to keep his cool with a fake smile. His heart and lungs just moved on their own accord, he became a speechless doll.

"Well, don't be too glum about it." As Hijiri said that he left the prep room "I'm going home. Have fun waiting."

"Why did Haruka---"

Hijiri's feet stopped outside the door "What?"

"Why did Haruka... care about someone like me? She always cared about me..."

There was a long pause. After that, Hijiri deliberately spoke with a sneering tone.

"Sympathy."

Souhei's head suddenly became hot. He realized his hands had been made into fists. But it was no use. I don’t have the right to get angry--- Souhei held it in. When he thought about how Hijiri spoke to him, he couldn’t put it into words, was it insulting or persecuting? In addition, what he said is probably true. After the three of them stopped being on good terms in middle school, he was the only one that felt left out. Haruka probably only cared about him because of that. It was nothing more than sympathy.

The anger I have for Hijiri is unreasonable. I have to endure it.

How long had it been like that? Suddenly, he realized Hijiri was already gone. The rain had weakened, though only a little.

I'm going home, he thought. But the same time he got up, the door to the room opened.

The science teacher Kashiwazashi flinched in shock when he saw Souhei in a room which should have been empty. "What are you doing here? This place is prohibited, authorized entry only."

He had a familiar sour look.

"I know" Souhei responded.

Part 2 -->

#kemu #kemu voxx #invisible #インビジブル #panvoxx #PANDORA VOXX

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millingroundireland · 2 years ago

Text

The story of Hattie Ellen Stanley

In my post last month, I quoted from Goss's biography of RBM I, which included the following two lines:

"On November 20, 1894, Mr. Mills was married to Miss Hattie E. Stanley, of Binghamton, and to them one son, Stanley Sterling, has been born [in 1901]. They also have an adopted son, Bert [son of Dora Mills and Cyrus Packard]."

This post aims to expand on that topic by focusing on RBM I's wife, Hattie E. Stanley, otherwise known as Hattie Ellen Stanley or Hattie E. Mills. I wrote on Find A Grave a simple summary of her life:

Hattie Ellen Stanley was born Jan. 5, 1862 in Binghamton, Broome County, New York. Hattie Stanley of Binghamton, New York married RBM I on December 22, 1894. I think a probable story can be proposed. Hattie was born in 1862 in Colesville, and was the daughter of Adison/Addison Stanley, a farmer (and later a butcher), and Jane M., living in Binghamton from 1872 until 1894. She also had one brother named Alonso who was three years older than her, and one aunt (sister of Addison) named Anna who was 15 years older than her. This residence means it is possible that Hattie, who was a teacher, just like Dora, met RBM I in the Hotel Bennett since he was working there from 1886 to 1896, making very likely they crossed paths. She would later marry RBM I and have one child named Stanley in 1901 after adopting Bert in 1895 (#181795438). Little else is known about her life.

This post was originally published on WordPress in August 2018.

That entry includes a photo of RBM I, Hattie, William and Mabel in 1921, but you can't see Hattie's face!

Luckily, there is another photo of her, RBM I, RBM III, Carol, and Helen, with the latter three being the children of RBM II, the son RBM I adopted in 1895, in the 1930s:

We know that in 1901, her father, Addison listed her as his "closest relative":

Source: "United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938," database with images, FamilySearch, Addison Standley, 1901; citing p. 8725, Bath, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1749 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 4; FHL microfilm 1,536,169.

Beyond that, we know that Hattie was born in 1862 and died in 1949. Her father, Addison, had been living in Conklin, Broome, New York from 1850-1855. [1] By 1865, Hattie was age 3 in a household, in Colesville, Broome, New York, with her brother, Alonso Hiriam, her 37-year-old father (and farmer), Addison, and 26-year-old mother, Jane Mundane. By 1870, five years later, Hattie, age 8 is living with her brother, her farmer father, and her mother, in Vestal, Broome, New York. She is, like her brother, attending school. Five years after that, in 1875, she is age 13, living in Binghamton, Broome, New York with her father, now a butcher, her brother, and her father's sister Anna K Watrous. We can also find her in 1880 in Queensbury/Queensberry, Warren, New York, said to be 16 years old, working in a collar factory (with her sister Carrie), and among six other siblings! It must be noted that these ages could be off due to errors by census takers. As such, the 1880 census is reprinted below:

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Hattie Stanley in household of Hiram Stanley, Queensbury, Warren, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 121, sheet 155D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0941; FHL microfilm 1,254,941.

With this, we can move on since there were no state censuses in New York between 1875 and 1892.

We already know, from the 1892 New York State Census, that RBM I was living in Binghamton as a hotel steward:

"New York State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch, Robert B Mills, 1892; citing , Binghamton, 09, 01, Broome, New York, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 809,002.

Not far away was Hattie, whom was a teacher:

"New York State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch, Hattie Stanley, 1892; citing , Binghamton, 05, 03, Broome, New York, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 809,002.

With this, here is a map of all the places Hattie lived in New York from 1865-1892:

In the upper corner is an insert of Vestal, Binghamton and Coleville.

In years after her marriage to RBM I, after which she moved to Cincinnati (almost 500 miles away from Binghamton), her father would live in Hancock town, Waushara, Wisconsin (1900), in Bath, Steuben, New York (1905-1915), the last years in the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. [2]

There is, sadly, no record I have found, as of yet, of their marriage, which would have been presumably in New York. However, we do know, for certain they were married based not only on the 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses, but RBM's obit in 1950 and RBM II's marriage license application in 1921:

Source: "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch, R.B. Mills in entry for Robert B. Mills and Miriam E. Hirst, 25 Jun 1921; citing Hamilton, Ohio, United States, reference 212; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 384,173.

Says Hattie died in 1949. Hmm, "two nephews and three nieces." Who are they? Packards? DGVallender says in response to this question that "Yes, they are Packards as Robert was born a Packard & adopted by aunt/uncle."

In the process of searching on Family Search, I stumbled upon Hattie's Death Certificate in 1949. Her father is incorrectly named (its Addison, not "Anse") and her mother (Jane) is not even listed. Still, her birth place and year of birth is right.

"Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch, Hattie Stanley Mills, 10 Jul 1949; citing , reference certificate; FHL microfilm 2,247,093.

I also stumbled upon an interesting document, showing that Hattie and RBM I tried to have a baby in 1899 but it died in childbirth (on August 2, 1899), which could be why they were glad to get a natural-born child two years later:

"Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001," database with images, FamilySearch, Hattie E. Mills in entry for Infant Mills, 02 Aug 1899; citing Death, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States, source ID v 1B p 243, County courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 355,118.

There was also a funeral record for Stanley Sterling Mills in 1934, with Hattie's name again incorrectly listed as "Harriet":

"Ohio Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997," database, FamilySearch, Robert B. Mills in entry for Stanley Sterling Mills, 02 Nov 1934; citing Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,535,665.

That's it for now. Until next time!

Notes

[1] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Addison Stanly in household of Samuel Stanly, Conklin, Broome, New York, United States; citing family 328, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.; "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch, Addison Standley in household of Samuel Standley, E.D. 1, Conklin, Broome, New York, United States; citing p. 5, line #6, family #36, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 809,005; "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch ( : accessed 28 December 2017), Adison Stanley, District 01, Colesville, Broome, New York, United States; citing source p. 11, line 32, household ID 98, county clerk, board of supervisors and surrogate court offices from various counties. Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York; FHL microfilm 808,828; "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch, Addison Stanly, New York, United States; citing p. 13, family 109, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,406; "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch: 30 June 2016), Addison Stanly, Binghamton, Broome, New York, United States; citing p. 74, line 13, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 808,830.

[2] "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Wisconsin > Waushara > ED 106 Hancock town > image 1 of 25; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.; New York State Census, 1905, database with images, FamilySearch, Addison Stanley, Bath, A.D. 01, E.D. N Y S S and S Home, Steuben, New York; citing p. 15, line 5, county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm 512,431; "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Addison Stanley in household of Bert J Graves, Bath, Steuben, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 95, sheet 5B, family 134, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1079; FHL microfilm 1,375,092; "New York State Census, 1915," database, FamilySearch, Addison Standley, Bath, Steuben, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry; citing p. 24, line 33, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany.

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