#Southern history my beloved

[antis-hero]

From “Down from the Hills And into the Slums” by James A. Maxwell, December 13, 1956.

Full article

[wrishwrosh]

hey, i find your posts about historical fiction pretty interesting, do you have any recs?

anon this is the most beautiful and validating ask i have ever received. absolutely of COURSE I have recs. not gonna be a lot of deep cuts on this list but i love all of these books and occasionally books do receive awards and acclaim because they are good. in no particular order:

the cromwell trilogy by hilary mantel. of course i gotta start with the og. it’s 40 million pages on the tudor court and the english reformation and it will fundamentally change you as a person and a reader

(sub rec: the giant, o’brien by hilary mantel. in many ways a much shorter thematic companion to the cromwell trilogy imo. about stories and death and embodiment and the historical record and 18th century ireland. if you loved the trilogy, read this to experience hils playing with her own theories about historical fiction. if you are intimidated by the trilogy, read this first to get a taste of her prose style and her approach to the genre. either way please read all four novels ok thanks)

lincoln in the bardo by george saunders. the book that got me back into historical fiction as an adult. american history as narrated by a bunch of weird ghosts and abraham lincoln. chaotic and lovely and morbid.

the everlasting by katy simpson smith. rome through the ages as seen by a medici princess, a gay death-obsessed monk, and an early christian martyr. really historically grounded writing about religion and power, and also narrated with interjections from god’s ex boyfriend satan. smith is a trained historian and her prose slaps

(sub rec: free men by katy simpson smith. only a sub rec bc i read it a long time ago and my memory of it is imperfect but i loved it in 2017ish. about three men in the woods in the post revolutionary american south and by virtue of being about masculinity is actually about women. smith did her phd in antebellum southern femininity and motherhood iirc so this book is LOCKED IN to those perspectives)

a mercy by toni morrison. explores the dissolution of a household in 17th century new york. very different place and time than a lot of morrison’s bigger novels but just as mean and beautiful

(sub rec: beloved by toni morrison. a sub rec bc im pretty sure everyone has already read beloved but perhaps consider reading it again? histfic ghost story abt how the past is always here and will never go away and loves you and hates you and is trying to kill you)

an artist of the floating world by kazuo ishiguro. my bestie sir kazuo likes to explore the past through characters who, for one reason or another (amnesia, dementia, being a little baby robot who was just born yesterday, etc), are unable to fully comprehend their surroundings. this one is about post-wwii japan as understood by an elderly supporter of the imperial regime

(sub rec: remains of the day by kazuo ishiguro. same conceit as above except this time the elderly collaborator is incapable of reckoning with the slow collapse of the system that sheltered him due to britishness.)

the pull of the stars by emma donoghue. donoghue is a strong researcher and all of her novels are super grounded in their place and time without getting so caught up in it they turn into textbooks. i picked this one bc it is a wwi lesbian love story about childbirth that made me cry so hard i almost threw up on a plane but i recommend all her histfic published after 2010. before that she was still finding her stride.

days without end by sebastian barry. this one is hard to read and to rec bc it is about the us army’s policy of genocide against native americans in the 19th century west as told by an irish cavalry soldier. it is grim and violent and miserable and also so beautiful it makes me cry about every three pages. first time i read it i was genuinely inconsolable for two days afterwards.

this post is long as hell so HONORABLE MENTIONS: the amazing adventures of kavalier & clay by michael chabon, the western wind by samantha harvey, golden hill by frances spufford, barkskins by annie proulx, postcards by annie proulx, most things annie proulx has written but i feel like i talk about her too much, the view from castle rock by alice munro, the name of the rose by umberto eco, tracks by louise erdrich

[sabertoothwalrus]

Hi!! I hope it's okay to ask, which university are you/were you attending? I want to study animation in university but i have no idea which one to choose, so can you please tell me about yours?👉👈

I go to CSUF! It’s definitely one of the cheapest places to get a degree in animation in California, if not the US.

Only a handful of the California State schools offer animation, and most of the ones that do are 3D only, and I wanted to learn 2D.

SJSU has a good 2D anim program, and they’re the only state school in the bay area that does, BUT last I checked you need something like a 3.9 GPA to get in?????? like HELLO these are animation students. who are you fooling

the other schools I considered were CSULB and CSUN.

CSULB has a strong animation program! They have the guy that literally created the worldwide 24 Hour Animation Challenge. However, they required ONE extra art history class that none of the other CSUs needed, and I didn’t have it, and I wasn’t about to prolong transferring a whole other semester just to take it. (It was prehistoric art history, I think, which I admit sounds cool as fuck)

The reason I chose CSUF, beyond liking their curriculum better than CSUN, was because I heard about the Pencil Mileage Club. It’s the largest student-run animation club in Southern California. I’d argue that networking is almost more important than your actual skill. I’ll admit, the faculty is probably not doing as much for the students as other schools, but PMC more than makes up for it. I’ve made all my friends (and girlfriend teehee) through this club. I was president of my Art Club at my community college, so it was important to me to be part of PMC’s council. I’m now an event coordinator and so I help organize and run events and studio tours and guest speakers! :)) Clubs and extracurriculars look fantastic on resumes, so wherever you go, look into what’s available.

Things I should note: when you start at CSUF, whether as a freshman or through transferring, you will not be an animation major yet. You have to do the portfolio review first, and you can’t have any of the prerequisite classes in-progress when you apply. The portfolio requirement is only a few years old, too, and therefore it’s not nearly as competitive as, say… calarts or sheridan. I often say, students make the program better, not the other way around. the higher the level of students that apply, the higher the overall education quality will need to be to match that. Though this does mean that the higher quality a program is, the more people will be excluded, unfortunately.

CSUF’s aniamtion program itself is…. a little silly. You take storyboarding and character design after doing your short film ? for some reason? The new department head started at the school the same semester I did, and she’s definitely trying to make it better. She held a screening of the production classes’ finished films, and she told me she plans to have the curriculum restructured by 2025 (after I graduate, lol).

I’ll also mention that the art buildings are in the process of getting demolished and rebuilt. The first wave of new buildings won’t be done until the end of this year, and once that’s finished, they’ll tear down the remaining two buildings and start remodeling those. For now, we do a lot of our classes in the modular buildings jdhshfjs 🫡

We also have a mated pair of gay ducks that come every spring. Their names are Pebble and Rock. They are beloved by the art students.

And really, you don’t NEED a degree in animation to get into the industry. There are SO many online resources out there, a lot that are free, that can give you just as good of an education (in fact, several of my professors’ lectures have just been playing youtube videos and pulling up articles). BUT your classmates WILL be your future coworkers. If you’re not establishing relationships with people in some way on your own, you definitely need to make that bigger priority. After all, you won’t be working by yourself when you’re in the industry.

edit: oh I forgot to say that all the california state schools are striking the first week of the semester. so uh. there’s that

[writernopal]

🎻Mariachi - El Sonido Mexicano🎻

Alright friends, this is not the type of post I usually make on this blog but I felt like I needed to because, well, sharing is caring, and because I don’t see a lot of posts or music recommendations containing mariachi music and it breaks my heart! You’re really missing out!

Mariachi is, my god, so special to me. As a Mexican-American, mariachi always felt like one of the strongest ways to connect with my Mexican heritage (aside from the food of course hehe) especially because I grew up in an area where there wasn’t a very strong Mexican cultural presence. It made me feel proud of who I am when there were so many reasons to feel like I shouldn’t be. The energy, the lyrics, the outfits, the dances, the tradition surrounding mariachi are just things I wish more people had the chance to know and appreciate even if they don’t speak Spanish or have any kind of personal connection to Mexican culture.

So that’s my goal today! Buckle in because this is going to be a LONG post. And for anyone that makes it to the end, I hope you come away with a better understanding of this cornerstone of Mexican culture and even find a few songs to add to your playlists. 💙 🇲🇽

For anyone that wants to get right to the song req's here is a playlist I put together that has my favorites in it, it's also linked at the very end of this post!

A Brief History

Mariachi is a regional music style, native to ranches and small towns, which developed in the late 19th century in central/western Mexico, particularly in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato (Nopal’s family is from here!), Michoacán, and Colima. Some sources will also include Sinaloa, Durango, and Guererro as places where mariachi developed even though they are on the northern and southern extremes, respectively, of the aforementioned central/western region.

The history of mariachi, in many ways, is the history of Mexico and her people. It starts as early as 1519 when the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés made landfall in what would later become Mexico. With him, traveled musicians carrying primarily string instruments—harps, guitars, and the vihuela (the predecessor to the modern day one used in mariachi, this one was more similar to a lute)—all new to the pre-colonial region. By contrast, indigenous peoples mainly used rattles, drums, flutes, and conch-shell type horns to play their music. African peoples (via the Spanish as slaves) were also brought to Mexico, along with their musical influences. Its the blending of these three rhythms—Spanish, Indigenous, and African—during Mexico’s colonial era (1519 - early 1800s) that formed the basis of mariachi, el son jalisciense.

Other influences, like waltzes and polkas, and the introduction of brass instruments like trumpets, have transformed el son jalisciense into the beloved mariachi that we know today. Because of these added influences, and the rise in popularity of mariachi in the 20th century, there are many other regional styles/genres which are performed with/by mariachi ensembles. Some of the most notable styles are rancheras, corridos, cumbia, and boleros. These styles have their own instrumentations which include marimbas, accordions, drums, synthesizers, tubas, and various percussions instruments, like maracas and claves, that will often accompany a mariachi group performing pieces from that genre. So the key thing to understand here is that mariachi is both a genre and an ensemble type.

Since 2011, the mariachi genre has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Instrumentation and Ensemble

Mariachi instrumentation primarily consists of violins, trumpets, guitars, vihuela, guitarrón, and in larger ensembles, harps. Of the instruments listed here the two I want to focus on are la vihuela and el guitarrón because they are likely unfamiliar to most of you.

La vihuela is somewhere between a guitar and ukulele in size and has five strings. The sound it makes is very crisp and high, producing little to no echo, and gives mariachi that sharp quality to its string section. Its primarily strummed but can also be plucked!

El guitarrón is kind of the opposite of la vihuela in that is makes up the bass of mariachi instrumentation. You’ve probably seen it before, its much bigger than a guitar and has a large rounded back with six strings and no frets. It’s usually plucked to create a deep and full-bodied sound which forms the backbone of that hallmark mariachi sound.

Ensemble sizes vary but many consider a full ensemble to be 12 members strong—6 violins, 3 trumpets, 1 guitar, 1 vihuela, and 1 guitarrón (this is the size I had at my wedding!). In some cases, a 13th member will be added, usually a harpist. However, schools and professional companies may have more (upwards of 16) whereas more casual groups will have 4-6 members (think the kind that you see at Mexican restaurants!). Some groups may have a dedicated soloist/singer, but if they don’t, group members will take turns soloing before returning to play their instrument (sometimes even while they play!). They also sing as a group, so its pretty common to have instruments and the musicians themselves microphoned, especially in larger concert halls. However, mariachi in smaller venues often don’t need mics because they’re pretty loud as it is hehe.

Traditional Dress

Remember how I said that the history of mariachi is also very much the history of Mexico and her people? Where here is further proof! You might have noticed that mariachi ensembles wear a pretty distinctive style—the wide brimmed sombrero, bolero jackets, tight pants, both often in black with embellishments, fluffy silk scarves tied in a bow, and leather boots. This outfit is based on another Mexican cornerstone—el charro, or Mexican horseman—and is aptly named traje de charro or charro suit.

Charros have a storied history that I won’t get into for this post but know that these aren’t the “Mexican cowboys” popular media would have you believe. They are sportsmen (and women!) of the highest caliber who not only demonstrate exceptional control over their horses but of the lasso and represent values of honor, gallantry, community, and family. Charros are more like the rugged intersection of rodeo contestants, dressage riders, cowboys, and knights, who trace their origins back to the great haciendas of Mexico, where they competed to outdo one another in their skills of horsemanship.

To digress a little, the mariachi traje de charro also has a variant for women mariachi as well! This sees the inclusion of a long close fitting skirt. Its usually just full enough to allow the woman wearing it to ride sidesaddle, a detail which I think makes a little more sense after the charro origin of it has been explained.

Designs often include embroidered embellishments around the hems and pockets of the suit and of course the signature aletón down the side of the pants. Other accessories can include the zarape, large belts, and brooches.

Dance

You might have noticed there are no percussive instruments in the mariachi ensemble, which in concert settings, is true, but not in full scale performances. Enter another Mexican cornerstone, el zapateado! You have likely seen this style of dance before! Men in trajes de charro will dance with women in bright colorful dresses with big skirts, often striking their heels loudly on stage to produce a thundering sound. Dancers will often whistle, cheer, and sometimes even throw out short phrases of encouragement as they dance, further adding to the ensemble’s music.

This type of footwork was adapted from Spanish Flamenco (among other styles) and is in itself a type of tap dance, characterized by those hard heel strikes, and wide sweeping movements. It can be performed by as little as two couples (yes they are always paired off, even if either the men or women appear alone at first) up to a dozen (really as many as can fit on the stage or dance area haha, the more the merrier!)

There are a few other dances that accompany mariachi such as el jarabe and huapango dances. I should note, that these dances all form what is known as ballet folklórico (or folkloric dance) of which most Mexican states have their own signature style and steps. This is why outfits (most notably the women’s) will look different depending on which state’s performance you are watching. The most well known are the dances and outfits from Jalisco (remember the history section where I mentioned Jalisco as one of the origins of mariachi?) which features those big colorful skirts. Veracruz’s dresses are also very well known, these dresses are white with black embroidered aprons. Another notable mention is Puebla which have more narrow, brightly colored and sequined skirts.

I’ll add some links here to see zapateado and jarabe performances because you really do have to witness it if you’ve never seen it before! I would also encourage you to find a dance group in your area if you can, because the heel strikes are a lot more impressive in person!

Guadalajara, La Culebra, El Tranchete, Son de la Negra y Jarabe - Ballet Amalia Hernandez (dancing begins around 3:30)

Jalisco. Son de la Negra, El Carretero y La Madrugada

Tradicional baile del Jarabe Tapatio

La Culebra, El Tranchete, y Son de la Negra

Artist and Song Recommendations

Now, we’ve talked enough about mariachi and its history so let’s get down to the music itself! The lyrical content of mariachi music revolves around themes of love, heartbreak, betrayal, death, politics, country life, and carries tones of strong masculine pride. Thus the voices who perform these songs are typically masculine/male. However, as I mentioned before, there are women mariachi and mariachi groups. The key thing here is that mariachi music must be performed with body and soul!

Some other characteristics you might notice are el grito or shout, which is common to traditional mariachi and is that loud “Ay!” or “Wah!” you’ll often hear in performances, live or recorded, and may also come from dancers if they are present. Lyrics may also be crooned out to characterize the pain of the lyric’s meaning, Vicente Fernandez does an excellent job of this.

Below I’ve included some of my favorite artists and a playlist of songs for you to check out, but I would encourage all of you to explore the genre on your own and find what you like! I will note that not all of the artists here do strictly mariachi music, some branch out into other genres, but in general, most traditional Mexican artists have sung mariachi before due to its sheer popularity and cultural significance. You’ll also find that there are a lot of classic songs covered by many artists, so there is a mixed bag of original and covered works here!

Artists

Mariachi Vargas

Vicente Fernandez

Alejandro Fernandez

Jose Alfredo Jimenez

Pedro Infante

Pepe Aguilar

Javier Solis

Christian Nodal

Ana Gabriel

Angela Aguilar

Aida Cuevas

Lucha Villa

Nopal’s Mariachi Faves (YouTube Music Playlist, in no particular order!)

[chiptrillino]

How the hell do you find every accurate representative culture fashion for the avatar gang? Like it pains me the hell how people this good and hardworking can find these gorgeous cultural clothes and accessories and draw them so well and detailed like you- TELL ME YOUR SECRETS (Please)

idk about accurate. at the end it is still a fantasy world inspired by real life cultures contrasting or soothed out to fit a charakter personality and traits. listen if i spot an option to have a older fire lord zuko with his titts chest out i will go for it and nothing can stop me not even accuracy i say this as if i didn't already do it in private with seethrough material hahah

there is not much secrets behind it though, sorry its research, fact checking. often even the most random things. at least that is my method. you go to google and type in what you need and would like to know. read the wikipedia article for some general understanding on the topic but them go to the source part and check these out. or like double check these. if reading is not your thing there are lots of dedicated youtubers or ticktockers that love to share and explain parts of their culture or tradtions (clothing included. depends on what you research.) contemporary to that or after that you build up your visual library by collecting images on pinterest, or google or websites covering the topic you are researching. make your own folders or pin boards.

an amazing blog for atla real life culture sources is of course or beloved: @atlaculture blog!

https://www.tumblr.com/atlaculture who recently began to dedicate some post in flashing out more water tribe and air normad cusine, also instruments. its a delight to read through.

of course you have an easier time with some research than with other. some things are clear others a contradicting some are barley documented. it is also necessary to have an occasional reality check. like reread your sources see if there is something new. replace what you misunderstood before. don't always go for what looks pretty and aesthetically good to you. there is a reason why things looked like they did. was it the material, was it protection, was it culture.

a part looking at contemporary photography i personally preffere to look at how people liked to depict themself at that time. Statues, wall painting, illustration, old fotos from that time and compare them to current pictures to see how they used to stylize this element or to see what was essential to them. thats probably my old art-history phase flaring up again though hahah. at the end it is also how you Interpret and headcanon the atla world for yourself. before i were able to redesign jet i had to figure out how i want to draw fire nation armor. because to me jet repuporses a lot of the armor from the enemy. a shin guard will be used as an arm protection. the red shirt he wears is fire nation, a shoulder guard that fits will just be used as it is. i just assume that FN armor is better in being fire resistent than earth kingdoms ones.

but fire nation armor is a chellenge on its own again. because is it tang dynasty? is it song? but the collar protector is a typical thai armor element. how do i combine that? is there a history behind it?

speaking about armor what would be the southern water tribe one? if it is lamellar ivory armor, how and why does it look so different by season 3 at the day of the black sun? did the southern water fleet separated form their home begin to adopt EK styles. switching out kuspuk and parkas in for sleeveless wrap shirts and armor with inside plating like they have in ba sing se? because that what was aviable to them?

(appart everything the talk of armor is in general really curious because... what do you wear when you go in to fight against fire??? in the poles you can argure that it is not a concern. if you burn you roll in the snow but in the EK... hm.. they dont have fancy heat resistand clothing like fire fighters have now.... armor is ment to cushion off impact and or slicing. our standard armors conzept can work well against earth-, water- and air bending (to some degree) but fire burns what do you idealy do against that? leather helps to some degree)

while the southern water tribe is clearly circumpolar people inspired (although lacking lots of world-building which you can kind of excusing it with... the war destroyed everything but also... uh.... its a nearly 20 year old show.... ) the northern water tribe shows korean or even mongolian elements. so what do you want to focus on? i personally like to make things connect because these characters live in one world togheter and trade and exchange happens. (yes even during a 100 year war or at least there had to have been a time of influence and the lack of exchange froze(*snorts*) this culture in time) you know... migration? and transition of style and life through out history.

maybe i overthink things to much for just drawing some clothes... -srugs-

[rocknroll7575]

Rising Dawn - Chapter 4: Knight, Snake, Orphan, Arrow

Jax and Bertilak ambled through the weathered entrance of the diminutive ancient temple, its timeworn façade a testament to the passage of ages. Restored under the careful eye of its recent custodian, the temple bore signs of rejuvenation amidst its age-old architecture.

As the duo ventured further into the temple's depths, the guardians stationed within ushered them towards a secluded chamber, hidden away from prying eyes. With each step, the air grew heavy with anticipation, a palpable sense of intrigue guiding their path.

Upon crossing the threshold into the chamber, their gaze fell upon an unexpected sight: their elusive "investor" reclining in a bath, the scene juxtaposing the solemnity of the temple's surroundings with an air of casual luxury.

In the depths of the tub, Vermillion Raddock reclined, his demeanor exuding an air of serene detachment. A rouge Huntsman by trade, he had once called Mistral his home, yet now found solace amidst the shifting sands of Vacuo. Renowned as a figure of both dread and awe, his name reverberated through the annals of Southern Vacuo's history as one of unparalleled notoriety.

Throughout a decade, few could rival Vermillion's prowess in the art of death. His hands, stained crimson with the blood of countless adversaries, bore witness to the extent of his lethal capabilities. But it was not merely his physical prowess that inspired fear; it was the manifestation of his Semblance that truly set him apart.

In his undertakings, Vermillion consistently veiled himself behind the guise of a boar, concealing the essence of a seasoned 50-year-old man beneath. With a complexion weathered by years of life's trials, his brown skin bore scars, a testament to the harshness of his existence.

Atop his head, a close-cropped mane of red-greyish hair spoke of both maturity and resilience, complemented by a rugged array of facial hair. But it was his eyes, a vivid crimson reminiscent of freshly spilled blood, that captivated onlookers, while a scar etched defiantly across his nose hinted at battles fought and conquered.

Despite his age, Vermillion remained undeterred by the passing of time. As a seasoned warrior, he had weathered countless battles and witnessed the depths of human strife, rendering him an intimidating force whom none dared to challenge.

"You wanted to see us, Vermillion?" he inquired, his voice laced with authority.

Vermillion, reclining in the tub with an air of nonchalance, lifted his head at Jax's address. A sly grin danced across his lips as he met Jax's piercing stare. "Ah, the illustrious king graces us with his presence," Vermillion quipped, amusement coloring his tone. "And how fares the expansion of our forces under your esteemed leadership?"

"They are my forces," Jax corrected sharply. "You may fund me and my organization, but make no mistake, they are my people, I brought them together with a singular purpose: to defend Vacuo,"

"Is that so?" Vermillion's tone was laced with disdain as he eyed Jax with a mixture of skepticism and amusement. "Do those followers of yours, who grovel and worship at your feet, realize that you're not cut from royal cloth?"

Jax's gaze hardened, his resolve unshaken by Vermillion's barbs. "I may lack the lineage of a true king, but Vacuo is in dire need of leadership if it is to withstand the looming threat," he asserted firmly.

Vermillion's expression shifted, a flicker of genuine interest dancing in his eyes amidst his lingering smirk. "Oh~? And what manner of peril do you believe threatens our beloved Vacuo?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued by Jax's proclamation.

Jax's derisive snort echoed through the chamber, a tangible manifestation of his frustration. "Even a blind man can see the writing on the wall, someone's tearing through the kingdoms like a rabid beast," he declared with a note of urgency. "Vale's already fallen, Haven's been hit, and Atlas? They're cowering behind their walls like scared children! If we want to come out of this alive, we need to stand together under a leader worth a damn!"

Vermillion regarded Jax with a quirked eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And ya fancy yourself that leader? The "savior" of Vacuo?" he prodded, his smirk widening.

Jax's chin lifted defiantly. "Damn right," he shot back without hesitation. "Isn't that why you threw your weight behind The Crown? Because you saw in me what Vacuo needs?"

A smile played at the corners of Vermillion's lips, though it held more cunning than agreement. "You catch on quick, kid," he conceded, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You're exactly the kind of leader Vacuo's been yearning for," he assured Jax, the truth of his intentions hidden behind a mask of false encouragement.

XXX

XXX

XXX

"Ever stop and think about all the shit we have to put up with?" Carmine grumbled, slamming back another shot.

Perched on stools at a local watering hole, Jaune and Carmine found respite from the rigors of their latest mission, a routine Grimm extermination commissioned by Gillian to safeguard a Crown-protected town.

Jaune arched an eyebrow, a wry grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "By "shit" you mean the endless stream of missions Gillian keeps throwing our way while Jax and Bertilak cozy up to their mysterious benefactor?" he teased.

Carmine's response was a vehement nod, her frustration palpable. "Exactly!" she exclaimed, her voice edged with exasperation. "Why is it always us getting the short end of the stick? Why does that guy get to tag along with Jax while Queenie saddles us with these mundane tasks?"

Jaune chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "I wouldn't go as far as calling them mundane," he replied, amusement dancing in his eyes. He decided to steer the conversation toward a more intriguing topic. "Speaking of that benefactor, ever crossed paths with them?"

Carmine shook her head, her expression thoughtful as the bartender refilled her glass. "Nope, but it's always struck me as odd," she admitted, swirling the contents of her drink. "Some creepy figure bankrolling us, fully aware of what we do, It's... unsettling, to say the least,"

With a weary sigh, Jaune raised his glass to his lips, savoring the warmth of the alcohol as it spread through him. A sudden buzz from his pocket interrupted the moment, prompting him to retrieve his scroll and check the notification, revealing a new message from Gillian.

Carmine tossed back another shot, her gaze locking onto Jaune with a raised brow. "Gill?" she inquired, her voice cutting through the ambient noise of the bar.

Jaune nodded, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "Yep, wants our asses back as soon as possible," he confirmed, his tone resigned.

With a swift motion, Jaune stashed his Scroll away and swiftly drained his glass, mirroring Carmine's actions as she knocked back another shot. Rising from their seats in unison, they prepared to depart.

"Who's footing the bill this time, me or you?" Jaune quipped, fishing through his wallet with a playful grin.

Carmine flashed him a mischievous smile. "It's my turn," she declared, producing a handful of lien and laying them on the bar's counter.

Exiting the establishment, the duo stepped back into the bustling streets of the town. However, their departure was abruptly halted as a commotion caught their attention.

In front of them, a young girl was unceremoniously thrown from a passing cart, landing in a heap on the sandy ground. Clad in nothing more than a tattered, gray garment that scarcely passed for clothing, she appeared to be no older than ten. Her pink eyes, olive hair, and dark complexion stood out starkly against the backdrop of the dusty street, but it was the sight of her busted lip that caused Jaune and Carmine to freeze in their tracks, concern etched into their expressions.

"Thief!" The cry echoed through the bustling street as the cart owner emerged from the rear of his vehicle, brandishing a single-edged knife. "Dirty little thief!"

The man lunged toward the young girl, his accusatory finger pointed like a dagger. But before he could make good on his threat, Carmine intercepted him, her stance firm and unwavering, while Jaune extended a helping hand to the trembling child.

"Put that knife away, you fool, or else!" Carmine's voice sliced through the tension like a whip, her eyes ablaze with righteous anger.

Recognition dawned in the man's eyes as he took in Carmine's imposing figure. "Y-You're the Rattlesnake of the Sands! Carmine Escolados!" he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.

Carmine nodded, her expression steely. "Damn right, now tell me, what's going on here?" she demanded, her voice brooking no argument.

The cart owner hesitated, his gaze shifting uncomfortably to the young girl cowering behind Carmine. "That thief there stole some food!" he accused, his voice quivering with indignation. "She's been plaguing my business for days, swiping goods whenever she pleases! Today, I finally caught her in the act!"

Carmine's gaze flicked over her shoulder to where Jaune tended to the girl's injuries, wiping blood from her split lip. Turning back to the cart owner, her features hardened. "How much did she take? What's the value?" she demanded, her voice cold and clipped.

"About 20 lien," the cart owner responded, his tone defiant.

Carmine's glare deepened, her jaw clenched in frustration. "And what punishment did you have in mind for her?" she pressed, her words dripping with contempt.

"I was going to cut off the little thief's hand!" The cart owner's words hung heavy in the air, sending a shiver down Carmine's spine.

Jaune shot to his feet, his fists clenched, and his eyes ablaze with fury as he glared at the cart owner. "You were going to mutilate her over 20 lien!?" he roared.

The cart owner met Jaune's enraged gaze with a defiant stare. "The punishment for theft is the removal of the hand that committed the crime!" he retorted, his voice dripping with self-righteousness. "It is the law, and if you are ignorant of the law, then you must not be Vacovian... what are you?" he demanded, a sneer twisting his lips.

"Valerian," Jaune spat back.

Disgust twisted the cart owner's features as he recoiled from Jaune's declaration. "What is a dog of Vale doing here!?" he spat, his voice laced with disdain.

Carmine stepped forward, her presence commanding attention as she inserted herself between Jaune and the cart owner. "He's with me," she stated firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "That a problem?"

Realization dawned in the cart owner's eyes, his demeanor shifting from hostility to panic in an instant. "N-No!" he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.

Carmine's nod conveyed a sense of finality as she addressed the cart owner. "Good! Now then, we'll cover the cost of what she stole and handle her punishment accordingly," she declared, her tone firm and authoritative. "Understood?" she questioned, her gaze piercing.

The cart owner's head bobbed in rapid agreement, eager to comply with Carmine's directives.

"Good, now buzz off before your face pisses me off more," Carmine said.

With a nod, the cart owner retreated, his steps hurried as he made a hasty exit back to his cart. Jaune observed the man's departure, a mixture of contempt and relief flashing across his features as the cart owner vanished from sight.

Turning his attention to the young girl, Jaune approached her with a gentle expression, lowering himself to one knee to meet her eye level. He searched her face for any signs of injury, his concern evident in his gaze.

"Are you okay?" he inquired softly, his voice laced with compassion.

The girl nodded, her eyes obscured by a curtain of hair.

Jaune offered her a reassuring smile and nodded in return. "Good," he replied gently. "Do you have a name?"

Again, the girl nodded, still remaining silent.

A playful glint danced in Jaune's eyes as he leaned in slightly. "Could you tell it to me?" he asked, curiosity coloring his tone.

Instead of verbalizing her name, the girl simply pointed at Jaune.

Jaune's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You... want me to tell you mine first?" he surmised, his amusement evident.

The girl's affirmative nod prompted a smirk from Jaune as he reciprocated the gesture. "Alright," he replied, his tone warm and welcoming. "I'm Jaune Arc."

Carmine sidled up beside Jaune, draping an arm casually over his shoulder. "And I'm Carmine Escolados," she interjected with a grin, punctuating her introduction with a thumb pointing toward herself.

A chuckle escaped Jaune's lips at Carmine's theatrics. "Now it's your turn," he prompted, turning his attention back to the young girl.

Clutching the hem of her dress tightly, the girl hesitated before speaking softly. "A... Aurora," she revealed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaune offered her an encouraging nod, his smile genuine. "That's a beautiful name," he remarked kindly. "Do you know where your family is?" he inquired gently.

Aurora's gaze dropped to the ground, a shadow crossing her features. "I... don't have one," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.

Sympathy softened Jaune's expression as he regarded Aurora with compassion. "I'm sorry to hear that," he murmured. "Do you have somewhere to stay?" he pressed, his concern evident.

Aurora shook her head, her demeanor resigned.

Jaune closed his eyes briefly, a heavy sigh escaping him before he met Aurora's gaze once more. "Would you like to come with us?" he offered tentatively. "We have food, and I'm sure we can find you some clean clothes."

Carmine's brow arched inquisitively as she shot a glance at Jaune, silently questioning his decision. Jaune felt her gaze on him but remained focused on Aurora, his resolve unwavering.

"R... Really?" Aurora's voice quivered with disbelief, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Jaune offered her a reassuring nod, his smile warm and genuine. "Yep," he affirmed with a hint of excitement in his tone.

Aurora's nod was swift, her face lighting up with a mixture of excitement and gratitude. Jaune rose from his crouched position, extending a hand toward Aurora, which she eagerly accepted.

As Jaune and Aurora prepared to depart, Jaune caught Carmine's gaze, silently conveying his intention to explain his decision later. Carmine returned his look with a nod of acknowledgment, trusting Jaune's judgment as they made their way back to the town's small inn to collect their belongings.

Once they retrieved their gear, the trio hastened to the stables where their horses awaited them, Aurora's eyes widening in wonder at the sight of the majestic animals.

"Horses!" Aurora exclaimed with unrestrained excitement. "You ride horses here!?"

Carmine nodded with a grin, her enthusiasm mirroring Aurora's. "You bet, little lady!" she affirmed. "Our base isn't too far from this town, so we use them to get around," she explained, patting the flank of her horse affectionately.

Aurora's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with joy at the prospect of riding a horse. The sight brought a small smile to both Carmine and Jaune's faces, their spirits lifted by Aurora's infectious enthusiasm.

With their horses saddled and luggage securely fastened, Jaune and Carmine prepared to depart from the town.

Jaune lifted Aurora onto his horse, ensuring she was positioned comfortably in front of him to avoid any discomfort. "You ready for your first ride?" Jaune's voice was gentle, laced with anticipation as he glanced down at Aurora with a warm smile.

Aurora's eager nod was met with a chuckle from Jaune.

"Alright, but I won't be going too fast. Don't want you taking a tumble," he reassured her, his tone infused with care.

Carmine's playful banter interjected, her grin mischievous. "Aw, and here I was hoping to race you back to the base," she teased, a glint of challenge in her eyes.

Jaune's grin widened. "And exhaust the horses before we're halfway there? Not happening," he retorted, his playful tone tinged with amusement.

Carmine rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, but her smile remained. "Tch, you're no fun," she teased in return, shaking her head.

Jaune chuckled at Carmine's antics as he gently urged his horse forward with a light squeeze of his legs. The animal obediently fell into step beside Carmine's mount, the trio setting off from the town at a leisurely pace, the open road stretching out before them.

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About a mile away from their base, Carmine and Jaune continued their journey homeward, the rhythmic motion of their horses' steps lulling Aurora into a peaceful slumber. Jaune held the reins of the horse with one hand, his other arm wrapped protectively around Aurora to ensure she remained securely seated.

As they rode, Carmine cast a concerned glance at Jaune, her expression troubled. "Gillian isn't going to be pleased that you brought a kid back with us," she remarked, her tone tinged with apprehension.

Jaune's response was resolute, his gaze fixed ahead on the path before them. "I understand, but what choice did I have? Leave her behind to face the consequences of theft?" he countered, his voice unwavering.

Carmine shook her head, her brow furrowing in contemplation. "No, but did you consider the ramifications of bringing her along?" she pressed, her concern evident in her voice. "Our line of work isn't exactly child-friendly."

"I'm aware," Jaune replied, his tone tinged with determination. "But if we're going to make a difference in Vacuo, maybe we need to ensure that kids don't have to grow up on the streets, starving and thirsty."

Carmine's response was tinged with bitterness. "Like how I grew up," she retorted, a hint of pain in her voice.

Jaune's expression softened with empathy. "Exactly," he affirmed gently. "But that doesn't mean others have to endure the same hardships,"

Carmine nodded in acknowledgment, sighing softly as she recognized the weight of Jaune's decision. "Look, Jaune, I'll support your choice," she assured him, her tone softer. "Just be aware that this adds another layer of responsibility to your already full plate,"

Jaune accepted Carmine's words with a nod, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. He understood the gravity of the situation and the challenges that lay ahead. 'If I could help Mom and Dad raise my younger sisters, then this should be manageable, right?' Jaune thought optimistically, his determination undeterred.

After a long journey, the trio finally reached the base and hastened towards the stables nestled comfortably in the shade. Jaune and Carmine dismounted their horses, Jaune passing Aurora into Carmine's care while he began the task of unloading their belongings and removing the saddles from the horses before leading them into their respective enclosures. With gentle hands, he freed the horses from the reins.

Amidst their chores, a distant shout pierced the tranquil air, prompting both Jaune and Carmine to recognize the familiar voice.

"Oh boy..." Carmine muttered under his breath.

Approaching the barn's entrance, Gillian emerged, her gaze sharp and accusatory as it locked onto Jaune and Carmine. "You brought a child here!?" Her voice rang out with a mix of surprise and frustration.

Carmine exchanged a glance with Jaune, then attempted to defuse the situation. "Queenie-"

"It was my decision," Jaune interjected, cutting Carmine off, his tone firm.

Gillian's glare intensified as she directed her fury towards Jaune. "What were you thinking!?" Her voice echoed with disbelief.

Jaune remained silent as he hung the reins on a nearby hook, his lack of response only fueling Gillian's anger. Marching towards him, she seized his shoulder and forcibly turned him to face her.

"My room. Now," she commanded, her words laced with authority.

Jaune met Gillian's glare with a steadfast gaze, his jaw clenched as he slowly nodded in acknowledgment of her command.

Without a word, Gillian pivoted on her heel and strode out of the barn, her departure marked by a resolute silence that hung in the air, leaving Carmine, Jaune, and Aurora in its wake.

As Gillian vanished from sight, Carmine cast a sideways smirk at Jaune. "How you haven't got an arrow in your eye yet is beyond me," she quipped, her tone lightening the tension.

Jaune released a weary exhale through his nostrils. "Take Aurora and my things to my room, will you?" he requested, his voice tinged with resignation.

Carmine nodded, her smirk widening. "No problem," she assured him, her tone playful. "And try not to piss her off more, or else I'm gonna have to find a new drinking buddy," she teased.

"I'll try," Jaune replied with a wry smile, the corners of his lips twitching faintly.

With a nod of agreement, Carmine took charge of Aurora and Jaune's belongings, her steps echoing against the stable's floor as she made her way out.

Meanwhile, Jaune exited the barn and proceeded towards the heart of the base, his path leading him directly to Gillian's chambers, notable for their grandeur compared to the modest quarters of the other occupants. With each step, his mind churned with a mixture of frustration and self-recrimination. He cursed himself inwardly for failing to ascertain the identity of the Crown's benefactor, a critical piece of information that he and Theodore desperately needed.

The implications weighed heavily on Jaune's mind. If someone was clandestinely aiding the Crown, it hinted at a pattern reminiscent of the chaos orchestrated by Cinder in Vale—the Fall of Beacon, and the assault on Haven—all orchestrated by shadowy forces. The prospect that Shade, their sanctuary in Vacuo, could suffer a similar fate gnawed at Jaune's resolve.

Jaune stood outside Gillian's imposing chamber door, apprehension mounting with each passing second. He rapped his knuckles against the wood, the sound reverberating in the corridor, only to have the door swing open abruptly, revealing Gillian's furious face glaring daggers at him.

"You wanted to see me?" Jaune taunted.

Without a word, Gillian gestured for him to enter. As Jaune stepped inside, the door closed behind him with a definitive click. He turned to face Gillian, who stood before him, arms crossed, her intense gaze fixed squarely on him.

"You're right," Jaune began.

Gillian's eyebrow arched in surprise. "Excuse me?" she prompted, her skepticism evident.

"I said you're right," Jaune affirmed, his voice resolute. "I shouldn't have brought her here, instead, I should have left her to fend for herself—starve, steal, risk losing a hand, that's what I should have done," he admitted, his words heavy with criticism.

Gillian let out an exasperated scoff. "For the love of Oum! Will you quit being an ass?" she exclaimed, frustration lacing her tone. "That's not what I meant and you know it,"

Jaune met her gaze squarely. "You did mean that, because that would have been the consequence if I hadn't brought her here, Gillian," he retorted, his voice firm.

"And bringing her here was the better option!?" Gillian's incredulous expression betrayed her shock.

"No..." Jaune conceded, his voice softer now. "But she's safe here at least,"

"Safe... why do you care if she's safe? How long have you even known this girl?" Gillian's voice held a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

Jaune's gaze dropped to the ground, his expression sheepish. "I... just met her today," he admitted quietly.

Gillian's disbelief was in full effect. "Today!? Are you fucking mental!?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with incredulity.

"Look-" Jaune began, but Gillian cut him off with a sharp shake of her head.

"No, no, you don't get to have a say right now," she seethed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Jaune fell silent, waiting for Gillian's next move. Yet, she remained still, her gaze fixed on him for a long moment before she closed her eyes and released a heavy sigh. "Are you going to take care of her?" she asked, her tone softer now, tinged with concern.

Jaune met her gaze steadily. "I will," he promised earnestly.

Gillian nodded, a hint of relief coloring her features. "Will you be teaching her how to fight?" she inquired, her voice betraying a trace of apprehension.

Once again, Jaune nodded. "I have to... there's no other way for her to survive here, right?" he reasoned, seeking validation.

Gillian nodded in agreement. "Right," she affirmed. "She can stay."

Jaune's brow furrowed slightly, surprised by Gillian's relatively swift surrender. A realization dawned on him that perhaps this situation wasn't as dire as she had initially portrayed it to be. "You're not angry about this at all, or at least, this isn't the only thing stressing you out, is it?" Jaune ventured, sensing there was more beneath the surface.

Gillian's eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting Jaune's before she offered a quick nod of confirmation.

Jaune's curiosity piqued. "What else is there?" he pressed. "The meeting with the benefactor didn't go well?"

Gillian shook her head in response. "No, it went fine, Jax and Bertilak should be back soon," she assured him.

"Then if it's not that, what the hell could be stressing you out so much?" Jaune inquired.

"Nora Valkyrie," Gillian replied abruptly, her words sharp and decisive.

Jaune's heart skipped a beat, his entire body tensing at the mention of the name. "How did you get that name?" he demanded, his voice tinged with urgency.

Gillian met his gaze with a solemn expression. "She's been traversing most of the southern towns, asking for you... Who is she?" she questioned, her curiosity matching Jaune's intensity.

"She's no one," Jaune replied briefly, his tone defensive.

Gillian let out a soft chuckle, her demeanor unwavering. "She's not "no one" if she's looking for you," she countered. "Who is she, Jaune?" she pressed, her tone insistent.

Jaune clenched his jaw, his fist tightening at his side. "She's... She's my ex-teammate," he confessed, the words heavy with unresolved emotions.

Gillian's eyes widened in surprise. "She... She was a part of your team?" she echoed, her disbelief evident in her voice.

Jaune nodded, his mind racing with the weight of Gillian's revelation.

Gillian let out a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "This... this makes things complicated," she confessed, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Why?" Jaune queried, his brow furrowing in concern.

Gillian ran a hand through her hair, her expression troubled. "Because... Jax has given the orders to kill her on sight," she divulged, her words hanging heavily in the air.

Jaune recoiled in horror, his eyes widening in disbelief. "WHAT!?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with shock and disbelief.

Gillian took a step back, startled by Jaune's sudden outburst. "She's asking about us, looking for us, we can't have that," she explained, her tone firm.

"So what!? You're just gonna kill her!?" Jaune's voice cracked with a mixture of anger and desperation.

"No, we aren't," Gillian clarified, her gaze unwavering. "You are."

Jaune's eyes widened in disbelief as he staggered back, the weight of Gillian's words hitting him like a physical blow. "W... What?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gillian's expression softened with sympathy as she met Jaune's gaze. "I... I know this will be hard, but you need to get rid of her," she urged, her voice gentle yet firm. "She's looking for you, so, in our eyes, this is your problem that you need to fix."

Jaune's head shook slowly, his expression wrought with inner turmoil. "No... No, I... I can't do this," he protested, his voice heavy with uncertainty.

Gillian fixed him with a determined stare. "You can and you will," she asserted firmly. "I'll be making sure of it, since now I'll be the one going on missions with you," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"You can't-" Jaune attempted to interject, but Gillian cut him off with a resolute shake of her head.

"I will," she insisted. "This is where you prove yourself, understood?" she demanded, her gaze piercing.

Jaune's glare bore into her, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Understood?" Gillian reiterated, her tone unwavering as she raised a questioning brow.

Though his gaze remained fixed on her, Jaune slowly nodded in reluctant submission.

Gillian nodded briskly in response. "Good," she affirmed. "Now go, take care of your... daughter?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a hint of skepticism.

Without a word, Jaune brushed past her, his footsteps echoing against the floor as he exited the room, the door slamming shut behind him with a resounding thud.

Left alone, Gillian sank onto her bed with a heavy sigh. "I need a drink," she muttered to herself, the weight of the situation bearing down on her shoulders.

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I wonder what Vermillion is doing here? Wonder why he's helping fund the Crown? So mysterious! Jaune's officially adopted a child! As for why, we'll find out soon, however, now he's tasked with killing Nora!?

Oh boy... I wonder what is going to happen next?

The next chapter is going to be more focused on Jax, Gillian, and more on Jaune, and trust me, Jaune and Gillian's relationship will further!

Anyway! Stay tuned!

[runwayrunway]

No. 15 - PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines)

Thank you to @lobstersinmyhouse for requesting PSA! And, in all honesty, this is exactly my feelings too. Pack it up, post over.

...okay, no. I am going to write a post, but I make no secret of loving PSA's airplanes. After all, one is even my icon.

image: Piergiuliano Chesi

There was never an airline like it before PSA sprang up in 1949, and there has never been an airline like it since. Decades after its demise I still feel a real sense of grief about the fact that it's gone. Pacific Southwest Airlines hasn't existed for longer than its entire time in operation and it mostly only operated in a single state, but it remains one of the most beloved airlines ever to exist. I'm certainly far from immune to catching their smile. So I'm very, very excited to cover the iconic grinningbirds, one of the best-known airline liveries of all time even 40 years after the regional carrier which wore it ceased existing.

PSA officially stands for Pacific Southwest Airlines. Unofficially, it was the Poor Sailor's Airline. According to a button they put out, it was this.

image: psa-history.org

But really, it can stand for anything you want. I think it stands for Pretty Smiling Airplanes.

You see, PSA's marketing leaned into the fun and casual as much as it was possible for an airline to do. They called themselves "The World's Friendliest Airline". Their branding was all bright, colorful, delightful. One aspect of it is particularly well known.

image: Piergiuliano Chesi

The name "grinningbird" is literal. PSA's fleet was lovingly painted with massive smiles directly under their noses. Their advertisements encouraged people to "catch our smile" across the state of California.

A preserved DC-3 in original Pacific Southwest livery

PSA was started as a single leased DC-3 hopping from San Diego to Oakland. Apparently their ticket office was literally a refitted military surplus latrine where they weighed passenger baggage on a bathroom scale. When they expanded with DC-4s they painted rectangles around the windows to make them look more like DC-6s. This was in 1955. And then, by the early 60s, they were taking off.

A pre-smile PSA Electra. The L-188 Electra is, of course, my favorite jet plane. image: Jon Proctor

It was in the 60s that their planes stopped saying 'Pacific Southwest Airlines' and started just being PSA, and it was in the 60s when they caught their smiles. This was the point when PSA became PSA, transforming from just another intrastate airline in the pre-deregulation era to a turning point in aviation history.

a 1972 promotional button image: psa-history.org

While the smiley faces are the most significant historical fact about PSA, also notable is the fact that they were the first low-cost carrier in history. Although PSA's routes were limited to Southern California, they charged $9.99 for a ticket other airlines would charge $13.50 or $22.05 for - and keep in mind that in today's money that's a difference of hundreds of dollars. Free of federal fare taxes and operating frequently, PSA grew at an intense pace with its new fleet of Lockheed L-188 Electras.

I love the L-188 Electra (not to be confused with the earlier L-10 Electra best known for Amelia Earhart reasons). Although Lockheed has long since moved over to exclusively making weapons for killing people, back when they were in the civil airliner market they made the most incredible planes which somehow ended up commercially flopping time after time. The Electra, for instance, was all but killed immediately by two early crashes caused by a sneaky design flaw. These were fixed, but the type's reputation had already been sullied. (Interestingly, similar early design flaws with far less prompt responses failed to kill either the DC-6 or the DC-10, despite the latter causing the deadliest crash in history at the time and the former having had the serious potential to give us a timeline where the President of the United States was killed because his presidential transport had a design flaw which encouraged going up in flames midair.) Ironically, the Electra is actually an insanely reliable and sturdy plane, and the example pictured is still in service as an air tanker under the registration C-GZCF, still doing her thing at just 63 years young. (Another Electra in Air Spray's fleet is a similar age but also survived being bisected across the belly by her own detached propeller, and she literally flew two days ago. These planes are on a level only shared with Nokia cell phones, especially for their size.)

That paragraph became about the Lockheed L-188 Electra. I did not mean for it to be, but I am leaving it in, because I love this plane. Looks great with the smile, too. The roundness of the nose gives the distinct appearance of something like a teddy bear snout.

From this point things only grew quicker. PSA continued to be PSA, acquiring more aircraft to fly more passengers. They did expand routes eventually, and once the 1978 Deregulation Act allowed they flew to some other states and even Mexico. Despite this, they remained an icon in their home state, and are often called "the unofficial flag carrier of California".

PSA stewardesses. I can't find an original source for either of these pictures, which have been widely spread without context or credit - although significant effort has been made to archive PSA's promotional content, a lot of it is, sadly, free-floating orphaned bits.

PSA's stewardesses wore bright pink and orange uniforms of miniskirts, hot pants, and go-go boots. They were encouraged to joke around with passengers, and so were the pilots. Other airlines at the time were still only slowly losing the unapproachable aura they had cultivated of stiff, sterile luxury and gravitas. PSA would get you where you needed to go without any fuss and they'd charge you half as much for it. And they weren't sloppy, either. Despite their low fares, PSA was incredibly safe, having one fatal accident in a span of time where American Airlines had 16, and even though nostalgia is obviously a factor I've only ever heard glowingly positive accounts of PSA, its service, and its staff.

image: Bill Larkins

PSA's fleet was...eclectic. Though they operated a few very popular models, like the Boeing 727 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, a lot of their offerings were somewhat uncommon. The plane in my profile picture is one of their two L-1011 TriStars, another of Lockheed's underappreciated airliners and by far the most advanced wide-body aircraft of its time. PSA was unique in that it operated a jumbo jet, their "Mother Grinningbird", on a route that was not just domestic, but intrastate. They also apparently operated a single Bell 206 helicopter, which I can find no additional clarification on. Lastly, they flew one of the oddest airliners ever built in both function and appearance, the British Aerospace 146.

Just your regular high-wing jet. No thrust reversers necessary. Western-made but rocking the Il-76 wing anhedral. Super quiet because the powerplants are based off what you'd put on a helicopter. Seats less people than a 737-200 - six-across layout for maximum discomfort - and flies exclusively puddle jumps...yeah, I think four sounds like the right number of engines. image: Ted Quackenbush

Across all these planes, they found a livery that worked and they kept going with it. The reason this post is so long is to give context to just how important this livery is. The grinningbirds were what started low-cost carriers, paving the way for the silly names of jetBlue airplanes in a future its founders couldn't even have imagined. The shift to approachability over prestige in airline marketing was PSA's lasting gift to aviation, as were the low fares and the knowledge that a 'budget' airline didn't have to be dodgy or unpleasant - they just had to charge less than TWA and Western.

image: Piergiuliano Chesi

PSA's colorscheme was incredibly vibrant. The red and orange colors feel warm and tropical, complementing the California sunshine in which these planes spent their time. Earlier liveries also had a shocking hot pink shade above both, though it was eventually painted over due to issues with paint fading - I think the livery is vastly improved with its presence, but I suppose needs must. Despite the airline serving commuters more than vacationers it puts one in mind of things like beaches and ice cream stands - warm, high-energy things. The sorts of things one might smile about, if they like those things. I hate those things, but these planes make me like the idea of them, because they're just so darn happy to take me there!

The design of the fuselage is incredibly bold despite not using much more paint than any other airline of the day. While the striking colors definitely contribute to the overall look being more than the sum of its parts, I think there's also a few bits of clever design that really elevate the design of the plane.

The tail has a design almost like an inverse hockey-stick. Instead of following the cheatlines for maximum sleekness it chooses to diverge from it, creating a sharp angle that keeps the aerodynamic feeling while feeling fresh from similar designs of the time. By having the thin line from the tail trailing down towards the fuselage it prevents the block of empty space on a regular hockey-stick livery, where the forward portion of the empennage is fully unpainted, and creates a feeling of continuous color and excitement while keeping some staccato punch.

Similarly subtle yet effective are the stripes themselves. They aren't of an equal width - rather, the red stripe is thinner than the orange one, and in planes with the additional pink stripe this one is even wider. It feels a lot more dynamic than simple even-width stripes, feeling almost as if you can see the colors start to mix into each other. The 'mixing' feeling is helped by the fact that the cheatlines wrap under the nose instead of simply ending where they meet. The small painted white line under the main colored ones, above the unpainted metal of the underbelly, creates basically an extra two stripes for the price of one despite being so subtle many people probably didn't notice it.

On its own, the design of the bodies of PSA planes is already good, but it practically ceases to matter when you get to the face.

The way the top line of color wraps around the back of the cockpit windows makes it look almost like the plane is wearing sunglasses. And then there's the little painted black nose and, of course, the huge ear-to-ear grin. I don't really know what else to say about this because it's all been said time and time again.

I genuinely don't know how else to express it. PSA's livery was gorgeous and it was perfect for PSA. In all honesty, I don't think it's possible to improve it at all. My one slight criticism is that the actual PSA wordmark, though designed well, is a bit small and out of the way, but to be totally honest it's barely necessary. You see the smile and you know exactly who that plane is flying for.

PSA gets a PSA+.

So what happened to PSA, if they were so successful? Did an economic shift catch them off-guard? Did some demographic evolution rob them of their old customer-base? Did a change of management result in a new owner running the airline into the ground? Did it have anything to do with the fact that the one time they were involved in an accident it spent eight months as the deadliest crash in US history?

Nope. They got bought out by USAir because they wanted more routes on the West Coast.

Yeah. That's the story. Neither a bang nor a whimper. They left one morning and didn't come back. That was the end of PSA, the first-ever low-cost carrier, California's most beloved airline, and one of the best-designed liveries in airline history if not the very best.

There is, however, one final twist. USAir eventually was sucked into the gaping maw of American Airlines. With this merger American Airlines also inherited the rights to PSA's IP. In classic fashion, they created a wholly-owned subsidiary by the name of PSA Airlines, just to make sure nobody else could get the trademark.

Under the iron fist of first US Airways (USAir's eventual rebrand) and later American Airlines, we were allowed one last grinningbird - an Airbus A319-100 registered N742PS. It's strange, seeing the PSA livery on a model of airplane they never operated. It's a rare example of the design on airframes that have that rather distinct 'default' modern empennage, all sharp and tall with no t-tail or third engine. The implementation could take some notes and the colors look bizarrely plastic, but I will never stop loving her no matter how much they take from her. How could I not, with that smile?

Unfortunately, in April of this year she was re-painted to a standard American Airlines livery. Although the Allegheny and Piedmont heritage liveries were removed at the same time, I almost don't even notice their absence because of the loss of our very last holdout from a much more colorful time and place. Part of me feels a sort of ripping-the-bandaid-off relief at it. American Airlines shouldn't get to parade around the skin of a much better livery worn by a much better airline. That isn't theirs; they didn't earn it. And there's no way to rebuild PSA now that times have changed and the industry is unrecognizable from the days when a ticket from San Diego to Burbank cost $9.99. All the same, the loss of yet another smile hurts. There's no way it wouldn't. And at the end of the day it makes me feel a little dead inside just imagining the mindset of the American Airlines executive who walked by her in the hangar and instead of smiling back gave the order to paint her white. And that day, the sky got a little less colorful and a lot sadder.

Maybe, in a strange sense, the way it happened is better. Nobody ran PSA into the ground. They did not cause some sort of reputation-ruining accident through willful negligence. Their customer service did not decline until they were widely grumbled about. They didn't die infamous for poor safety and loose morals like Pan Am, or splitting at the seams and betraying their reputation like Chalk's Ocean Airways. No, I don't think an organic shriveled going-under would have held any more dignity than this. I think the ending PSA got is as graceful as the ending to something like PSA could be. There is no end to the glory days which forces itself into our memories. There is no decline. No sunset to fly off into. There is a loss to mourn, but no accompanying moment to curse. Lost at sea, ship never found, nothing to imply a terrible fate; all we know is the poor sailors aren't here anymore.

Maybe it's not universally known to people who aren't interested in subjects that bring them close to it, but to those of us who love planes PSA is truly special. Its quiet apotheosis has made it synonymous with the very best an airline could be. The joy of a time where a regular person could finally afford their first plane ticket and be greeted by colorful people who talk to them like friends, where even the planes are smiling, is encoded into the DNA of PSA's remnants, into every anecdote told by an aging former stewardess and into every Polaroid taken of one of those smiling planes parked on a sunny California tarmac. It was there, and then it was a distant echo of warm breezes and idle chatter that feels almost close enough to reach out and touch. PSA never died. One day it was flying passengers to their destinations, planes smiling their same smiles. The next day it was fond memory, already graduated to the distant sunny shores of nostalgia.

[domifucker]

Hi! My friend and I are getting into hockey and we’re kind of wondering what the vibe on Max Domi is?? I’m kind of seeing mixed messages about him so we were wondering why you like him so we can figure out what his deal is and if we should try to pay attention to him more on the leafs. Thanks!

hi anon!! just wanna say before i get going that i’m in love with this ask and you by extension for asking, and i’m sorry this took me so long!

now on to the propaganda (this is long i’m not sorry)

i’m obligated to preface this by saying i’m hugely biased as a Leafs fan who grew up in Southern Ontario. my dad has always been a pretty big Tie Domi fan, so liking Max just seemed like a natural continuation of that.

baby Max with Mats Sundin, then-captain of the Leafs. he’s just a little guy,,

born March 2nd, 1995, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one month before Tie was traded (back) to the Leafs, Max spent his childhood in Mississauga, Ontario, roughly half an hour west of Toronto. at the age of 12, following some health complications at a hockey tournament in Detroit, blood work revealed that Max had type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. 

not the end of the world, clearly, but a pretty significant shock for a kid with aspirations of greatness. of course, he was able to manage it, with time, and when i finally read his book i’ll tell y’all more about it i promise.

these pictures make me emotional,, a couple of Domis, a couple of decades apart,,, except Max looks about 200% cuntier

anyway

scored a hatty in his OHL debut (slay). won consecutive OHL championships with the London Knights in 2012 and 2013 (double slay). selected 12th overall by the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes, and signed a three year ELC (!). won gold with Team Canada at the 2015 WJC, and was named the tournament’s best forward (huge W). traded to the Montréal Canadiens in 2018, to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020, to the Carolina Hurricanes (via the Florida Panthers) at the trade deadline of March 31st 2022, to the Chicago Blackhawks in July of 2022, to the Dallas Stars in March 2023, and finally signed as a free agent to our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs on July 2nd 2023. he’s been on seven different NHL teams since he was drafted. 

sadly, as i’ve only been a hockey fan for one calendar year, i cannot provide much insight into his time with NHL teams other than the Leafs. i have ordered and am waiting for his book to come in so i can better rotate him in my mind, but i encourage anyone who knows more about his other teams’ lore to add to this post or send me what you know, so i can share it with the world. (pls i wanna know everything about him ever)

what i can say is that him and Mitch Marner were teammates on the London Knights for two seasons, (13-14 and 14-15), the second of which saw Max as captain and Mitch as an alternate captain. the season after, Mitch was named captain in Max’s stead. seeing them back together on the Leafs brings joy to my little London Knights heart.

now back to him as a Leaf. 

the current Leafs points leaders, as of December 30th, are as follows:

William Nylander - 48P (17G 31A)

Auston Matthews - 44P (29G 15A)

Mitch Marner - 38P (14G 24A)

John Tavares - 31P (11G 20A)

Morgan Rielly - 27P (4G 23A) 

Max Domi - 21P (3G 18A)

the first five of these are pretty much to be expected, but there’s my close good friend Max Domi right there too :) he’s doing his part, and even if he’s not the biggest scorer, assists are just as important and valuable :) if i have to kill y’all with positivity for this i will :) i love him dearly :)

also, he currently sits at 389 career points, and he’s nowhere near done, while Tie Domi earned 245 points in his entire career of 1020 games. nobody can say shit to me about him not living up to his dad’s legacy (Note: Tie also sits at third in NHL history for penalty minutes with 3515, but that’s a stat nobody will ever surpass. ever. the current PIM leader in the NHL is Corey Perry, and he only has 1392.)

and now i’m not about to sit here and pretend i know how to quantify the skills of an NHL player, let alone describe them in great detail. i do not. however, what i do know is that i love watching him play and make plays. in my eyes, he is a good player, and this is the Max Domi Propaganda Blog so if you want something less biased i can’t help you, sorry :’)

this love began in a preseason game against the Habs, on Oct 2nd. his first game as a Leaf in Toronto, he scores a tip-in against his former team, and he shrugs it off like NBD. for those of you who were following me at the time, you know i was not normal about it then and i am not normal about it now. i think about that celly every goddamn day. 

much to my great sorrow, they Leafed this game up and lost in OT 5-4. but either way, this was the moment that definitively kicked off the Rick eastoncowan Domishka era. 

and the only time Max ever seems to get a scoring chance, it’s either on a breakaway or from a spot that would have been absolutely NASTY if it went in. my mans only wants sexy goals, which is a stance i respect immensely. 

his first regular season goal… didn’t give him any points. it was beautiful, and a game winner, but since it happened in a shootout, it didn’t count towards his points totals. personally, i think this is bullshit, but now is neither the time nor the place for me to get into my issues with some of the NHL’s rules. (Nov 10, 2023, Flames @ Leafs)

Domishka bardownski SO winner,,, you were so beautiful and so unappreciated but i will never forget you </3

now.

Max’s first real goal as a Leaf.

for those of you who followed me at the time, you may recall this post:

a post that the Hockey Gods took to heart

and obviously i followed through. what do you think i am, some kind of quitter?

and, again, unfortunately, we Leafed that one up, too. we lost it in OT again, so still no Domi belt pic for Rick :(

now i’m not going to go back and gif all 18 of his assists, because i don’t think y’all care quite that much about Visual Proof of all of them. for your convenience, though, i did go back and track down whose goals he had assisted on, and the results aren’t super surprising IMO

Calle Järnkrok, Nick Robertson (assisted on 5 each)

Matthew Knies (assisted on 4)

William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner, Timothy Liljegren (assisted on 1 each)

anyway, now for what is quite possibly my favourite game that i didn’t actually get to watch live.

December 16, 2023, Penguins @ Leafs, a decisive 7-0 victory.

it was also a 3 point night for Max, two of which helped to complete Matthew Knies’ Gordie Howe hat trick, the first since Daniel Winnik in 2015. but a goal and an assist are only two parts of it, the third being a fight. a fight which Knies initiated against John Ludvig after he knocked out yet another of Max’s front teeth with his stick. a fight which was Knies’ first ever. i’m still mad i didn’t see this happen live, but i’ve rewatched the game in its entirety twice, and the highlights too many times to count. this game sparked my undying love for the 23-11-16 line, which is a line i still pray keefe will bring back.

and so, we have a goal and a fight, and we have an assist to finish off the hat trick, and none of it would have happened without Max :)

and speaking of fights, Max has had a couple of em himself in his time as a Leaf so far. granted, if you ask hockeyfights dot com, he didn’t win either of them, but that’s not what matters. what matters is that he looked beautiful doing it, whether it was against Ian Cole (VAN) or Sam Bennett (FLA), especially with the fun added bonus of him flexing his full head of hair at Bennett’s bald dome. as an aside, i fucking hate Sam Bennett, so Max trying to fight him was… well it made me feel things. all i’m gonna say.

max’s third goal was also gorgeous. stunning. amazing. another beautiful bardown, the sound of which lives on in my dreams.

this is getting far longer than it really needs to be, so i’ll take a step back and give you my true, honest thoughts.

Max Domi has been a very helpful player for the Leafs since he got here. he obviously has the drive to play here and to play well here, and 21 points is nothing to be ashamed of. you know who else has 21 points as of me writing this? Alex Ovechkin. and now i’m not saying they are players of the same caliber, but Max is 6th on the Leafs in points, and Ovi is tied for first on the Caps. 21 points is still 21 points, no matter where in the standings someone is. Max was born to be a Leaf, and nothing makes me happier than to see him here and thriving on the team he’s loved since he was a kid. he takes shots, blocks shots, defends his boys and is defended right back in turn. 

and i would not be Rick eastoncowan if i didn’t mention that i think he is hot. like stupid hot. especially without his teeth. fuck, the heart wants what the heart wants, and damn if my heart doesn’t want this tiny toothless idiot. 

[sororalice]

On The Blessedness Of The Fruits Of Summer

A homily for Lammas, 2024.

Dearly beloved,

A very blessed Lammas/Lughnasadh to all of those in the northern Hemisphere and a very blessed Imbolc to our siblings in the Southern Hemisphere! May all of your hopes and dreams grow into fruition over the coming year!

For us in the Northern Hemisphere, this holy day is about the ripening of the first fruits of the year. Here in my home in Northern California, we are welcoming in apples, grapes, melons, berries, and citrus of all kinds, as well as artichokes, avocados, and summer squash, and I can tell you, I am reveling in all of these wonderful foods. As such, I am moved to speak this Lammas on the blessedness of the fruits of Summer.

The fruits of Summer are special. The first fruits of the year’s harvest have ripened and our tables and homes welcome them. Our plates abound with fresh bread, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables, and we walk happily in the warm days and cool evenings as the days start shortening in earnest. And all of this was due to our hard work (if we are lucky enough to be able to grow our own food) and the hard work of farmers, pickers, washers, distributors, and other diligent workers over the course of the Spring and early Summer. While some of us might be lucky enough to live where the fruit and grain grows wildly and freely for all to take as they need, most likely the food on our tables on any given day came from the hard work of many people.

In the same way, in our spiritual lives, this time of year tends to occasion moments of fruition. As pagans, we believe in a naturalized theology, and accordingly we tend to see moments of spiritual realization coming to fruition as the natural world moves towards its own moments of fruition. This is a time where the seeds of the new selves we planted in Spring and the hard work we have done since then are bearing their first fruits, and thus it is a moment of initiation. Lammas is a feast, a celebration of the fruits of Summer, yes…but for those of us who live the spiritual life, it is also a moment where we begin to enjoy the first rewards of our spiritual work—the Great Work—that we have been doing over the course of Spring and Summer.

So celebrate yourself as you celebrate these first fruits of Summer. You have cultivated yourself and been cultivated by the Divine, and now you can enjoy some of the rewards of that cultivation. Celebrate the fruits and grains of Summer, yes, but also celebrate the person you are becoming as the Wheel Of The Year turns.

I also want to honor the blessed god Dionysos in this moment. Grapes are one of those fruits of Summer, and the Olympic performance has brought our beloved Dionysos to the fore of minds of the general public for the first time in centuries, perhaps millennia. More people are speaking the name of this great deity, who, in the Orphic tradition, is the inheritor of Olympus and the Heavens as Zagreus, than perhaps ever before in history. So in this moment let us honor great Dionysos and remember His gifts! Ιο, ιο Διόνυσος! Blessings and worship unto Thee, Great God!

And blessings to you, dear reader, and bright blessings upon your Great Work. Blessed Imbolc! And hail Dionysos!

In love,

Soror Alice

Art: Giuseppe Arcimboldo, “Summer”, (1563)

[froody]

I have a cousin named Justin who is about 15 years older than me and the first openly gay member of my family in recent history. Thank you, trailblazer. Anyway, he moved out of rural Appalachia and to Southern California as soon as he reached maturity and he has a lovely job there. Truly one of my more pleasant and successful relations. The problem is that he is referred to in my family almost exclusively in as Gay Cousin Justin from California. This is casual and not a dig at his sexuality, it is like an honorific, he is a respected and beloved member of the family who causes little to no drama in my familial sea of unrest. Still it vexes me. There is no other Cousin Justin. We have no other family member living in California. So he could be referred to simply as ‘Cousin Justin’ or ‘your cousin from California’ or even just ‘Justin’ and it would be clear who they were talking about. But no, he is Gay Cousin Justin from California. I do not understand.

[blazescompendium]

Blaze's compendium entry #7: Never deny tobacco to the Saci Pererê

The Saci painted by Newton Cavalcanti to a stamp collection, 1974

Warning: Faith and religion are important real life topics, that tackles the culture and way of life of millions of real life people. It is a cultural expression, and must be respected by all means. Here, we use a video-game ( some times) and other media series only to ignite the flame of learning about the matter, using its art when well depicted, but we do this with all due respect to the cultures we talk here, grounded by real life sources, cultures and people. And i mean this with respect. Hope you all enjoy.

I can finally talk a bit about my home country myths after a brief trip around other countries mythical creatures. The Saci is an extremely popular creature in Brazilian Folklore, and if you are Brazilian i am absolute sure you have encountered its fabulous tales already.

The Saci is (regrettably) not represented in the Megaten game series, as most of characters from my Compendium series. But i want to pop this bubble going forward, and not be exclusively tied to this games, since Mythology is a much more expansive subject, and i like to use Megaten just as a welcoming gate to more casual audiences!

The Saci Pererê is a Brazilian folkloric creature, akin to the trickster ''gnome'' archetype, not considered an evil creature by any means, but very mischievous and a prankster. Normally depicted as a black skinned toddler smoking a pipe, red cap, and some times red clothing. It's most striking feature is his only leg, which he uses to jump around in a surprisingly agile manner. His mischief deeds are many, like he would tie horse's manes, startle them, move objects inside people's homes, etc... His most known power is his control of wind currents. He can summon small sized typhoons, in which the creature can ride on to flee or use to fight if he needs to.

The Saci is hyperactive and fast, always doing something. Some people can interpret this creature as malevolent since its mischief and pranks can cause serious problems, like stealing the breaks of a carriage. However, that's not exactly the truth. The Saci is, almost always portrayed as neutral creture, and it has been since it's inception into the public consciousness. As we can see, some times it can be treated as a little devil, but it's a beloved figure nonetheless.

The name Saci Perere cames from a theorized corruption of the Tupi Guarani words: Caa Cy Perereg, which means ''Jumping Evil Eyes''. That's stated on the book ''Saci Perere: An Inquiry Result''. I was not able to verify it independently because i do not speak Tupi, and i was also unable to find online translators. But, this wording is also verified by the book ''Geography of the Brazilian Myths'' by the legendary Brazilian folklorist Camara Cascudo, so it seems legit. There will be a lot of this book in this subject, because it is such a complete work and a vital piece of research for anyone getting into the topic. [2], [1]

Cascudo does a great scholar work, going as far as giving dis-ambiguity of the Saci from other myths, and even animals that could be related to the legend.

Context: The Tupi Guarani, or just Guarani are the biggest native population living in the territory of Brazil today. They live more from the central region to the south and south-east, relatively far away form the Amazon forest in the northern regions. In general they are polytheists, and today are around 57.000,00 people. [This is sourced by the IBGE, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics]

But, even being a very popular creature in the local folklore, and even transcending the boundaries of its homeland some times, (as we will see ahead) the Saci has a relatively recent history. It's impossible to pinpoint exactly who and how this legend started. But we know it started on the southern and south-eastern most regions of the country, but there's no mention of it on the old fables from native people, which makes scholars think that the Saci is not that old as its relatives of the regional folklore.

A fact that corroborates this assertion is that, besides being a very popular folklore in Brazil, Saci is absent form any mentions to ancient sources, starting to appear more from the 18th century and above. [1]

The name Saci is not stranger to Folklore in the region though. Saci is also the name of a bird, Tapera Naevis, which has a related myth according to the Brazilian National Museum. The Saci bird is treated sometimes like a demon, that can confuse travelers with its singing. Another local legend has that this bird can suck the dead's souls. Al tough both of those claims are backed, i personally did not hear about it until researching for this topic. [1]

This particular bird its said to be seen as a bad omen to this day, in the Amazon region. This is pretty far away from where the folkloric Saci was born, but it seems that a common association with the bird is that it asks for tobacco to its pipe, just like the Saci does. This animal has the habit to sing during night times, so the legend says that it means it wants tobacco. If you actually replies to it, its said the bird will come after your promisse. [1]

This particular bird can also be connected to another folkloric tale, this time from the northern regions of Brazil, a witch called the Matinta-Pereira. This is a particular demonic witch, that can transform itself into the Saci bird, (Tapera Naevis) to get offerings from residents of villages. When her demands are not met, she causes bad things to happen. She also wears a red hat, and her name also bears the ''Perereg'' wording from before. Scholars believe that this is because this bird sometimes jumps in one leg, and has red feathers in their heads, which would also make senses with the Saci! I personally could not find any visual registry about it, but i am sure most of birds some times do this kind of stuff. [1]

The Matinta eventually became a generic name for haunting and supernatural ocurrences in the Northern regions, while the Saci became a thing in the southern regions. The Matinta became more associated with its cursed singings, as the book mentioned before says: ''It trespasses villages with its haunting screams. It will not attack or go after people, thought.'' [1] It kinda resembled me personally of the European Banshee, which also caused misfortune and disasters, and possesses a terrifying cry.

The Saci bird and the Matinta-Pereira witch. (Art i got from Wikipedia, can't find the artist ): )

But this is just one, of the whole ''Birds named as Saci''. There is also the Romococcyx Phasianellus known colloquially as ''Peixe Frito'' (Fried Fish) and inhabits most of Brazilian territory. It has myths around its singing. [1]

If you got interested in this whole rabbit hole of folkloric birds, there's a lot to go on around the world myths! Just some time ago we made an article about the Muh Shubbuu from the Buryati people!

Notably the Saci shares its notoriety and Brazilian legends Pantheon with other similar trickster spirits, like the Caipora and the Curupira. Both are protectors of the nature, both of those are tricksters, and both also asks for tobacco in some legends! Although, the Saci is not a protector of nature, his only goals are to cause mischief. In more recent times, Saci is treated like he's a friend of those two, but this has more of a childish connotation, when teaching about national folklore to children.

The Saci also has spawned some relatives in neighbor countries. In Uruguay there is the Yasi Yatere, which is kind of a gnome with a magical wand. It can shape shift, and it usually kidnaps woman. When its wand is taken, much like the brazilian Saci with its hat, its powers ceases and it becomes weak. It's described in great detail in the book ''Supersticiones y Lendas'', from Juan B Ambrosetti. [1], [3]

In Argentina the Yasi is described mixing the features of its cousins from the region. It is also a dwarf type of gnome, but it's red and also carry a magical wand that protects its powers. They also would kidnap children to play with them, but they would go insane after that. It is also described by Ambrosetti. But also mentioned in a letter of a European missionary called José Guevara. [1]. [3]

Many of these features that the Saci and the Yasi shares comes mostly from European legends, the old archetype of a monster that can be tamed by taking it's belongings. Like the Vouivre from France with its carbuncle. The Saci wears its distinct red hat, that its often taken as the source of its power, so capturing a Saci involves capturing his hat. This could have a Portuguese influence. [1] Theres myths in Portugal, like the so called ''Pesadelo'' which is a creature that when having its hat stolen, could be controlled by the assailant.[1]

-Interesting fact that i have found many sources for this Portuguese myth, and other books mentioning it, but when talking with a friend from Portugal, he could not recognize this specific legend. If you are also Portuguese, and know about it, please let me know!

The 1924 book from F.C Maytzhusen: ''Pigimeos en Leyendas de los Guarnies'' Roughly translated as ''Gnomes in Guarany legends'' tells that the own Gurani people from the region had already its own myths about small magical people living in the woods, which some scholars attribute to an ancient memory of a small stature tribe that potentially lived around. This concept probably mixed very well with the before cited European beliefs, brought by the invaders. [4]

As you can see, it's like the already established lore about native gnome myths got fused with the European equivalents, such as like: The haunting trickster spirits of the woods, small size, agile and mischievous. In the book Geography of Brazilian Myths, the author makes a lot of comparisons to Djins, Imps, Faes, Fairies, and in fact i believe the Saci can absolutely fit in any of those ''races'' of mythic creatures, specially a Djinn or Yokai.

But in that book, the author fixates on the European Kobold being it's main ''ancestry''. The Kobold is like a Goblin, gnome and other whimsical forest creatures like the Brownies, Knockers and Silkies. Kobolds are a bit more versatile than its relatives, being told to live in houses, mining sites, and even boats. The boat ones used to smoke pipe! Kobold are individuals and can be mischievous, haunting and tormenting Humans that don't do their will. Just like their possible Brazilian relatives, the Kobold encounters are not usually fatal.

Silky, Knocker, Kobold and Brownies are just some whimsical European fae that can be the common ancestor to the Saci

While some of those European Fae often smoked, the actual academic theory on why the Saci smoked pipe, it's from the native smoking rituals and culture of the Brazilian Native people, such as the Guarany. In the book before mentioned, the native people from Brazil teached the European invaders how to smoke. This was quick considered to be a sin for some European priests and got demonized by some as well, while it spread quickly between their peers. [1]

The Saci being one legged is not something original in mythology. Going back further in time to the legendary book ''Natural History'' from Pliny the Elder, (i really want to come back to this book one day) where he describes the Monopods, humanoid creatures that had just one leg and a giant feet, which they used to cast refreshing shadows on themselves when it was too hot outside. This creatures were before described in the even older book, Indika from Ctesias, and supposedly spotted in India. Just like the Saci, this creature was extremely agile even if just having one leg. They continued to be believed and continuously described well over the middle ages. [1], [5]

Monopod. A rather Silly guy from Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493

There's no consensus on its origins, but some people say that the first people from the Europe seeing Yoga practitioners in India stand in one leg, or have some kind of parasol confused. We will likely never know, but that goes to show one legged humanoid creatures were already talked about much earlier. [1]

In Chile you also had the Ketronamun from the native people there, a small gnome with just one leg, that appear in myths from almost every part of the Pacific South American coast. [1]

But there were also one legged deities around, take Tezcatlipoca from the Mexica (Aztecs) for instance. Being the god of moon and the stars, and one of the most important beings in the Mexica pantheon, he lost its leg fighting Cipactli. It was also related to the nocturnal wind, another connection with the Saci. But there is no scholar belief that the two were actually connected, they just shared a lot of similarities. [1]

T ezcatlipoca misses his leg, or foot in many depictions!

But How the Saci was actually Born?

As we discussed the Saci Pererê was not cataloged by the first European Invaders of the 16th century. In truth, there are a lot of myths and tales that were properly archived by them, but the Saci is nowhere to be seen. So, scholars deduct the Saci was not that old, being actually born and popularized around the 17th century. [1] But the Saci would just gain character and personality around the 19th century.

The legend much probably, spread by word of mouth from south to north, while it would slowly absorbing local and foreign elements during its trip. From the regional mythical creatures like the Curupira, he inherited the ability to confuse and mislead people. From Caipora he inherited the haunting whistles and its relationship with horses. Its only leg could be from the Bird myths, and also inherited from European folklore as well. Its own red hat also coming from there. [1]

The red hat sometimes its a sign of supernatural entities in Europe. The name ''The One With The Red Hat'' was an euphemism for Satan himself and other devils in Portugal. The Saci some times is treated like a devil, in the Book ''Saci: An Inquiry Result'' at the page 83, there's a tale about the Saci appearing with a sulfur scent, just like demons would normally do. [2]

The Revival and the Controversy of Monteiro Lobato

When we talk about the Saci in Brazil, the elephant in the room is always Monteiro Lobato, an author from the 20th century. Without a doubt, his work was one of the most prolific and known authors if its time, and also dedicated a lot of his work to disseminate national Folklore. There was just one big problem: He was a terrible person. Lobato was a racist, aligned with the United Statian KKK, (yes) and generally treated people, specially black people, very poorly. So, if that was a text oriented only for Brazilians, i'd completely ignore his name, and would focus on the texts. But, for the sake of education of foreign readers, i had to mention him.

In 1917, this (awful) individual published an inquiry in one of the biggest newspapers of the country, searching for personal and regional tales about the Saci, which he planned to catalog and archive. The idea was to protect the national Folklore, since he would argument that we should focus on our own mythology, rather than importing everything from other countries. While the Saci had the ancestry of European Myth, it was a 100% modern Brazilian born legend. This kind of thought is pretty impressive from a racist dipshit, but ok.

Although Lobato did had the idea of collecting tales, they were all brought from other people, regular people, which i prefer to credit. With this rather than him. They published the book ''Saci: An Inquiry Result''. This book would be very important for the Saci lore, because it ended up skyrocketing its dim popularity, making sure he would survive for more centuries.

A funny trivia about this book, is that at the time of its publishing, the newspaper asked its sponsors to make ads using the Saci. Which had some pretty weird art that i rather not show. Thank you Monteiro Lobato for creating our capitalist version of the Dictionaire Infernal, very cool.

[EDIT] Lobato is also the creator of the work ''Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo'' or roughly translated as Spot of the Yellow Woodpecker. I ended up not talking about it, but this is by far his most famous work that featured the Saci Pererê as one of the main character, as many other folkloric Brazilian entities. This work is often credited as many children's first contact with the Saci, and other folk Brazilian tales. This particular series is about a farm owned by Benta, an elderly woman that lived alone in the countryside. Her friend Nastácia lives along, and is famous for her dishes. She often gets visits of her nephew Lucia, which has the nickname Narizinho. She brings along her doll Emillia, which ends up gaining life and becomes a sort of tomboyish sidekick. They both live adventures along her friends and folkloric creatures.

Much regarded as the ''Brazilian Wizard of Oz'' this work was so popular it got adapted into several comic books and live action shows. The most popular of which aired during the 2000s from 2001 to 2007, and i as a kid often watched it. My favorite character had to be Emilia. (She will be present in the compendium, or a lesser post soon enough)

Al tough, due to Lobato awful nature as a person, the series is often pointed out as racist and problematic, being also written in the early 20th century it was filled with problems, which made a lot of people that grew up with this work depressed by those details. Luckily this is one of the rare occasions where there is an active effort from scholars and fans alike, to separate Sitio's influence on Brazilian culture and Folklore, from the awful person that was Lobato. The book is now on Public Domain, and each new iteration of the story deletes more and more problematic points, and as more decades went by, it gets more safe to consume and mixed with the Brazilian folklore, leaving the author in a sweet side note.

That said, not everybody is ok with this approach as well, and prefer to just abandon the literary work entirely. Which i honestly can't blame them for...

One of the latest iterations of Sitio do Pica Pau Amarelo is a cartoon, produced during the 2010s. Here are Emilia and Lucia.

But, as the 20th century went by and more people went in contact with the Saci tales, now widespread, the once regional myth started to gain the world, and became a symbol of the country culture. For instance, in the 70s and 80s the Saci would be featured in the Japanese anime: Akuma Kun, from the legendary author Shigeru Mizuki, which i already covered many times here. Mizuki is an old acquaintance of us theologians, because he was not only a mangaka, but also a devoted scholar of over the world mythologies. Its studies some times ended up in Brazil, and that's how he got the Saci.

You may know this author from the famous Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro series. Mizuki made some mistakes, but he was one of the most important folklorists of its time, helping to protect and disseminate the folklore of his country. According the author Michael Dylan Foster, in the book ''The book of Yokai'' Mizuki was influenced by folklorists as such Yanagita Kunio (we already mentioned him here as well, for the Obayrion post!) And thanks to Mizuki, most post war Japanese people were thinking of his works, when thinking about Yokai.

But back to the Saci, he was a recurring character in the Akuma Kun manga. The series was about a boy that could control mythical creatures from around the world. Since Akuma Kun got a lot of sequels and reboots, we are talking about Saishinban Akuma Kun, from 1988. There, the Saci makes an appearance! The looks is very faithful, but the hat isn't red, and in the animation the character would have two legs, rather than the only leg always associated with it. Still, he controlled the winds and was very mischievous just like in its home country!

The Saci in Akuma Kun Manga vs Anime

Mizuki's iteration of the Saci also just loses its powers when people take out his pipe, which differs from our regular version, where the hat does that. Besides this fact, Mizuki takes the artistic freedom to make the creature liking Football, which i particularly find funny but a bit stereotypical, and some people did not liked it. Overall, i thought it as a great representation!

Akuma Kun will get a new Anime in 2023. Lets hope that our Brazilian whimsicall friend makes an appearance.

There is much talk on how Mizuki found about the Saci Pererê, and the contact of Japanese with Brazilian folklore. I already explored that on my text on the Pokémon Whimsicott as well. However, the Brazilian Folklore in my opinion resonates very well with Japanese Folklore, so much that a lot of other Japanese artists that came in contact with it ended up using it as inspiration as well. A very known example is from the animator Ype Nakashima, that much probably had contact with Mizuki. The Saci was a character in one of Ype's most beloved works, the animation Piconze.

Although the exagerated details in the Saci, that can be seen as problematic nowadays, this depiction is a product of its time, and i do not agree with it. It's here for the purpose of education.

While the Saci is not from Japan, we can see that it would get along very well with other Yokai, which ends up making it kind of popular with Japanese audiences. Other Brazilian Mythical creatures were also explored by foreigners like the Cuca, Caipora, (which appeared in the Demi Kids series of games, by the way!) The Curupira, and many others!

The Saci vs the Halloween a National Symbol

The Saci Pererê got the status of a national symbol. And as such, it was often used as a counter point to foreign interference in Brazilian culture. Since its rebirth in the 20th century, in an attempt to retrieve its legacy, the creature is often held as a protector of Brazilian culture.

As such, in 2003 it was proposed by Brazilian politics that the Saci should have a national holiday, and it should be commemorated in October 31st, in opposition to the growing Halloween culture around Brazil. The argument was that this was a foreign holiday, not from our country, and we should celebrate the Saci as a symbol of patriotism.

But the problem is that Halloween was never a tradition nor a holiday in Brazil, and both holidays never caught too much attention. Still, the Saci vs Jack O'Lantern fight is somewhat took lightly as a funny way to protect our national Folklore.

Notoriously, the beef between the Saci and Jack O'Lantern was commemorated in a song, from the 2013 parody metal album ''Metal Folklore'', sang by the Brazilian metal singer Bruno Sutter, acting as his parody Persona the Detonator. The album was pretty well received and brought attention to the concept again, with the song called ''Saci.'' which is a critic to United States imperialism and its forced influence on Brazilian culture. Bruno brought along the famous Punk Rock singer João Gordo to this track, which is a celebrated artist in the country, who even ended up in some Nirvana gigs, back in the 1990s.

I personally got to know Bruno during a concert, and even watched him perform live. The dude is amazing, and you should give it a listen!

You can listen to this particular song on Spotify!

''October 31st is the Saci day!

Do not fool yourself my friend

Halloween is american, which is far away from Brazil

Trick or treat is your fucking mother!

Saci is the red cape warrior!

Saci is a mischievous boy!

The Pumpkin is already shitting itself

Don't fuck with Brazilian Folklore!'' -Some Lyrics from the song

This amazing artwork was provided by my great friend @atmaflare! Here we see the Saci having an argument with Jack O'Lantern, probably saying to him to stay away from his turf.

The comedic and critic nature of the song made it pretty popular at the time, and this canonically beef between the two creatures became somewhat common here. Still, both are dates are celebrated without any major incident!

Inside Brazil, Saci is also a major character of the amazing Netflix series ''Invisible City'' which is all about Brazilian Folklore, and supernatural occurrences in a life of a police officer in modern times. Give it a watch!

On Personal Notes

So, in this case the Saci comes from my home country and naturally i grew up with his tales of mischief and supernatural occurrences. In this sense, i have much more of a personal connection to my topic of study for this text, and so i can have my own verdict to it. It's natural for kids here to have contact with this mythical character. Or at least, it was when i was a kid in the early 2000s.

When i was little, the Saci was a particular mythological being that i feared. It was not that he was dangerous in a real sense of the way, but i rather not find it alone in the woods, or be bullied by him.

Still there was a grain of fascination by his figure, because there was the possibility to actually win against the Saci, taking his hat and making him do as our biding. And most of time, his mischief ended up as funny for kids.

Nowadays the Saci is still regarded as one of the most beloved folkloric tales of Brazil, inspiring newer generations of folklorists to protect and share the culture that they belong and grew up with, such as myself. For this reason, the Saci will always stay in the Brazilian collective consciousnesses, not only because of its supernatural powers, its haunting abilities surviving the current age, but also as a symbol of our own home in this planet.

As Camara Cascudo said in his book:

''Today the Devil that is inseparable from tales, from countryman conversations. Vague, haunting, unexpected, malicious, humorous (...) Now, diluted in the memory of those who does not have the spiritual age to fear it anymore.''

Sources and Bibliography:

1- Camara Cascudo: Geografia dos Mitos Brasileiros (Geography of Brazilian Myths)

2- Saci: Resultado de um Inquérito, Monteiro Lobato (Saci: An Inquiry Result)

3- Supersticiones y Lendas'', Juan B Ambrosetti.

4- Pigimeos en Leyendas de los Guarnies, F.C Maytzhusen

5- Natural History, Pliny the Elder

6- The Book of Yokai, Michael Dylan Foster (small Citation)

[frida-kahl-of-the-rocky-horror]

I saw this back when I used to use Reddit (for animal crossing and trans+ stuff mostly), and I felt so honoured that they used my Florida flag redesign in this that I screenshotted it. But when I looked to find the original poster, they had deleted the post (likely because of negative replies, vexillology Reddit is scary).

They recreated the state flags to be more about symbolism and individuality rather than about aesthetics (which is the problem I see with a lot of over simplified state flags). All while keeping the flags that actually carry deep meaning and are beloved by the residents.

I’m not the biggest fan of Nebraska’s, Virginia’s, and Wisconsin’s, but all the others are wonderful (especially Florida’s… I will not apologize for being biased lol)

The original Reddit person’s caption:

“I kept some flags which I believe are currently great. Most of them are all over State merchandise, and people of these states carry a lot of state pride for these flags. They are:

1. Alabama

2. Alaska

3. Arizona

4. Arkansas

5. California

6. Colorado

7. lowa

8. Maryland

9. Mississippi

10. Missouri

11. New Mexico

12. Ohio, my home state! [not mine, OPs]

13. Rhode Island

14. South Carolina

15. Tennessee

16. Texas

17. Utah

18. Wyoming

19. District of Columbia [I believe you mean the Douglass Commonwealth]

20. Guam

21. The Northern Mariana Islands

22. Puerto Rico

I've switched some State’s boring Seal on a Bedsheet flags into their more popular historical ones. They are:

23. Conecticut ~ New England Flag

24. Hawaii ~ Kanaka Maoli

25. Maine ~ Original State Flag

26. Vermont ~ Green Mountain Boys Flag

27. Virginia ~ Gadsden Flag

28. West Virginia ~ Original State Flag

I've made a few tweaks to some existing flags so they look more unique / are more easily recognizable. They are:

29. Indiana ~ Golden Frame

30. New Jersey ~ Added Stripes

31. North Carolina ~ Un-Tex-ified

32. Oklahoma ~ Added Stripes

33. American Samoa ~ Added Southern Cross

I designed some using the Pan Cascade colours for the Pacific Northwest (BC will have the tree one). They are:

34. Idaho

35. Oregon

36. Washington

I borrowed some other designs which I found on here which I found beautiful. I mostly looked for flags which were designed by locals from the states that they are redesigning or included state symbols on their old flags. They are:

37. Florida [omg they chose mine!!!]

38. Georgia

39. Kansas

40. Kentucky

41. Louisiana

42. Michigan

43. Montana

44. Nevada

45. New Hampshire

46. New York

47. North Dakota [I prefer my communist flag better wajajaja]

48. Pennsylvania

49. South Dakota

50. Wisconsin

51. Virgin Islands

I left the flags currently in the process of a redesign blank, for, given the recent track record, any new flags are probably going to look amazing like Utah’s and Mississippi’s. They are:

52. Illinois [this is your reminder to vote for your new state flag if you’re from this state!!!]

53. Massachusetts [this is your reminder to vote for your new state flag if you’re from this state!!!]

54. Minnesota [this is your reminder to vote for your new state flag if you’re from this state!!!]

I kept one Seal on a Bedsheet flag to honour this horrid time in American vexillological history. That is:

55. Delaware

And lastly

56. Nebraska (idk)”

While I agree with most of the OP’s opinions, I think Nebraska’s flag would look better if it looked something like this:

Better designed of course, I made this on Pic Collage in like 5 minutes

Im not sure about Wisconsin and Virginia, I just know I’m not the biggest fan of either (since Virginia’s flag has a separate meaning and Wisconsin’s is just bland.

Let me know what you think!

And if you’re the OP of this, please let me know, I like your choices!!

[moonshynecybin]

do you have any books recommendations? 🙏

okay usually i like to know a general vibe for recommendations bc this is INTIMATE!!! and im actually in a weird place in my reading journey where im trying to branch out and try a bunch of different books in a bunch of different genres bc i got lowkey sick of what i was reading all the time so this is all over the place. whatever fuck it. here are some recent ones in no particular order that ive enjoyed OR at the very least found interesting. most of these are pretty famous i'll be real im not breaking the wheel here. under the cut bc she is long

our wives under the sea by julia armfield. was this book good hmm i dont know. was it kind of fucked up and interesting. YES. some of the prose is legitimately sooo gorgeous and the portrait it paints of the central relationship is intimate and oftentimes heartrending i still think about it which is kind of what you want from a story tbh... a really slow plot (kind of nonexistent) thats frankly more about grief than anything. theres some spooky body horror here so beware

slaughterhouse five by kurt vonnegut. shes a classic for a REASON. do you ever pick up a book that is very beloved and famous. and then get genuinely and pleasantly surprised that it actually rules. happened to me. legit kind of life changing and also made me laugh out loud. if you havent read it get on it

the kingdoms by natasha pulley. read this over the summer and i vividly remember sitting in the basement at my job hiding so i could read one more page i was RIVETED!!! its historical fantasy its time travel its amnesia it is. on a boat. basically like what if fucked up gay love and also magic made france win the napoleonic wars would that be crazy or what!!! and it was!! also read some of her other stuff which is VERY similar and it was like. fine to good. but i LOVED this one

carrie by stephen king. read it around halloween and i enjoyed it more than i thought i would ! some category 5 stephen king sexism but its an interesting 200 page scifi novel with epistolary elements and some great characters i can see how it launched his career into the stratosphere... really good one to start off with reading stephen king if you wanna dip a toe in but are wary of the 1000 page doorstop novels. i say give it a try !

demon copperhead by barbara kingsolver. recent pulitzer prize winner. its a retelling of david copperfield with a distinctly southern appalachian lens which im always interested in because i am from southern appalachia and frankly the way we get treated in fiction is wild. like hillbilly cannibals who are illiterate coalminers wild. if i ever catch the guy that wrote hillbilly elegy we are throwing hands. but i liked this ! the region does have a long history of poverty and it was interesting to think about that in conversation to the social commentary with a victorian vibe from david copperfield. i mean this is decidedly unvictorian but that was floating in the back of my head at all times reading it so it made me THINK.

giovanni's room by james baldwin. another one where i was like do you see this shit?? this shit is crazy. and the shit in question is one of the most acclaimed and beloved novels of all time. anyways another life changer get on it.

even as we breathe by annette saunooke clapsaddle. another southern appalachia moment ! this one rings VERY true for me actually, despite being a historical novel... written with a lot of love for the area and made me cry a bit cause i was homesick at the time... great mystery and cool local history. also! one of the better representations of the cherokee people ive seen in fiction. which usually im hesitant to like. pin that as a THE major reason you should read it bc the story is ALSO very good but its a central theme of the novel so i thought i should mention it. plus the author is cherokee so she's coming at it with knowledge and care

in memoriam by alice winn. recommendation from a tumblr mutual so i thought id continue the tradition! read it in literally a day so im fuzzy on the details but its about rich eton style english schoolboys getting their spirits basically destroyed in the trenches of ww1... also a gay love story... lots of poetry very tragic but not overly so and certainly very readable... a competent historical gay romance if thats ur thing youll probably enjoy it

the poppy war by r f kuang. interesting bc it initially feels like a historical fantasy novel with a young protagonist going to a magic school and overcoming the odds slash beating the evil enemy story thats been done one billion times. but it is DEEPLY not that. takes the conventions of the genre and kind of refuses to make them reducible or easy to package. deals with war (read the warnings etc). deals with genocide. deals with race. wrestles with the ethics of all of its characters and comes down with some nuance. kind of a slay

and then here's some all time faves that are just GOOD and im reasonably sure anyone would have a good time with:

jane eyre. i have quoted this enough on this blog cmon. also if youre following me youre probably a fan of fucked up relationships so you should go. be with the OG. fly. like its foundational to the GENRE babyyyy

dracula. yayyyyy epistolary novelssss... another "fun" classic along with dorian gray... read em both they slap

the book thief. took me a year to read. made me cry lots.

daisy jones and the six. look at me look AWAYYY from the amazon series look at ME. this is a fun book. and if you are in a reading slump i frankly HIGHLY recommend it bc it is done in the style of like. a documentary autopsy on a fleetwood mac esque band implosion so its told in 100% dialogue as if they are being interviewed. you can read it in a DAY and its FUN and sometimes they CONTRADICT each other which i LOVE

the queens thief by meghan whalen turner. GOD!!!!! all time. all time. straight relationships in fiction that make you crazyyyyyyy and also genuinely delightful twists at the end of each book i LOVED them. i read them all in the pandemic they slayyyy

howl's moving castle. delightful. if you like a silly time in a fantasy world that makes you laugh a lot i would recommend. also the sequel its fun

any terry pratchet novel thank you goodnight

[musingsofmonica]

February 2024 Diverse Read

February 2024 Diverse Reads:

•”My Beloved Life” by Amitava Kumar, February 27, Knopf Publishing Group, Historical/Literary/World Literature/India

•”Whiskey Tender: A Memoir” by Deborah Taffa, February 27, Harper, Personal Memoirs/Women/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Native American & Aboriginal

•”I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both” by Mariah Stovall, February 13, Soft Skull, Contemporary/Coming of Age/Friendship/African American/Women

•”Private Equity: A Memoir” by Carrie Sun, February 13, Penguin Press, Personal Memoirs/Women in Business/Business/Finance/Wealth Management/Investments & Securities

•”Village in the Dark” by Iris Yamashita, February 13, Berkley Books, Mystery & Detective/Police Procedural/Thriller/Suspense/Women

•”Redwood Court” by Délana R. a. Dameron, February 06, Dial Press, Literary/Coming of Age/Women/African American/Southern

•”Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange, February 27, Knopf Publishing Group, Literary/Cultural Heritage/Native American & Aboriginal

•Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop

Hwang Bo-Reum & Shanna Tan (Translator), February 20, Bloomsbury Publishing, Contemporary/City Life/World Literature/Korea

•”Dreaming of Ramadi in Detroit: Essays

Aisha Sabatini Sloan, February 20, Graywolf, Essays/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/African American & Black/LGBT/Anthropology/Cultural & Social

•”The Things We Didn't Know” by Elba Iris Pérez, February 06, Gallery Books, Literary/Coming of Age/World Literature/Puerto Rico/20th Century

•“The Fox Maidens” by Robin Ha, February 13, Harperalley, Comics & Graphic Novels/Historical/Fairy Tales/Folklore/Legends & Mythology Fantasy/Romance/LGBT/World Literature/Korea

•”Hope Ablaze” by Sarah Mughal Rana, February 27, Wednesday Books, Magical Realism, Poetry/Religious/Muslim/Social Themes - Activism & Social Justice

•“ASAP” by Axie Oh, February 06, Harperteen, YA/Romance/Contemporary/Coming of Age/Asian American

•”Smoke and Ashes: Opium's Hidden Histories” by Amitav Ghosh, February 13, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Nonfiction/Historical/Travelogue/Memoir/Family History/Essay in History/Globalism/Capitalism

•”Fathomfolk” by Eliza Chan, February 27, Orbit, Fantasy/Action & Adventure/Dragons & Mythical Creatures/East Asian Mythology 

•”Ours” by Phillip B. Williams, February 20, Viking, Literary/Historical/African American/Magical Realism

•”Neighbors and Other Stories” by Diane Oliver, February 13, Grove Press, Short Stories/Literary/Historical/African American & Black

•”Greta & Valdin” by Rebecca K. Reilly, February 06, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, Literary/Romcom/Family Life/LGBT/Cultural Heritage/World Literature/New Zealand/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Russian-Maori-Catalonian/Indigenous/Polynesian 

•”The American Daughters” by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, February 27, One World, Historical/Civil War Era/Saga/African American/Women

•”My Side of the River: A Memoir” by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez, January 13, St. Martin's Press, Personal Memoirs/Cultural, Ethnic & Regional/Hispanic & Latino/Public Policy - Immigration

[rocknroll7575]

The Crown's Investor

Jax and Bertilak ambled through the weathered entrance of the diminutive ancient temple, its timeworn façade a testament to the passage of ages. Restored under the careful eye of its recent custodian, the temple bore signs of rejuvenation amidst its age-old architecture.

As the duo ventured further into the temple's depths, the guardians stationed within ushered them towards a secluded chamber, hidden away from prying eyes. With each step, the air grew heavy with anticipation, a palpable sense of intrigue guiding their path.

Upon crossing the threshold into the chamber, their gaze fell upon an unexpected sight: their elusive "investor" reclining in a bath, the scene juxtaposing the solemnity of the temple's surroundings with an air of casual luxury.

In the depths of the tub, reclined Vermillion Raddock, his demeanor exuding an air of serene detachment. A rouge Huntsman by trade, he had once called Mistral his home, yet now found solace amidst the shifting sands of Vacuo. Renowned as a figure of both dread and awe, his name reverberated through the annals of Southern Vacuo's history as one of unparalleled notoriety.

Throughout a decade, few could rival Vermillion's prowess in the art of death. His hands, stained crimson with the blood of countless adversaries, bore witness to the extent of his lethal capabilities. But it was not merely his physical prowess that inspired fear; it was the manifestation of his Semblance that truly set him apart.

In his undertakings, Vermillion consistently veiled himself behind the guise of a boar, concealing the essence of a seasoned 50-year-old man beneath. With a complexion weathered by years of life's trials, his brown skin bore scars, a testament to the harshness of his existence.

Atop his head, a close-cropped mane of red-greyish hair spoke of both maturity and resilience, complemented by a rugged array of facial hair. But it was his eyes, a vivid crimson reminiscent of freshly spilled blood, that captivated onlookers, while a scar etched defiantly across his nose hinted at battles fought and conquered.

Despite his age, Vermillion remained undeterred by the passing of time. As a seasoned warrior, he had weathered countless battles and witnessed the depths of human strife, rendering him an intimidating force whom none dared to challenge.

"You wanted to see us, Vermillion?" he inquired, his voice laced with authority.

Vermillion, reclining in the tub with an air of nonchalance, lifted his head at Jax's address. A sly grin danced across his lips as he met Jax's piercing stare. "Ah, the illustrious king graces us with his presence," Vermillion quipped, amusement coloring his tone. "And how fares the expansion of our forces under your esteemed leadership?"

"They are my forces," Jax corrected sharply. "You may fund me and my organization, but make no mistake—they are my people. I brought them together with a singular purpose: to defend Vacuo."

"Is that so?" Vermillion's tone was laced with disdain as he eyed Jax with a mixture of skepticism and amusement. "Do those followers of yours, who grovel and worship at your feet, realize that you're not cut from royal cloth?"

Jax's gaze hardened, his resolve unshaken by Vermillion's barbs. "I may lack the lineage of a true king, but Vacuo is in dire need of leadership if it is to withstand the looming threat," he asserted firmly.

Vermillion's expression shifted, a flicker of genuine interest dancing in his eyes amidst his lingering smirk. "Oh~? And what manner of peril do you believe threatens our beloved Vacuo?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued by Jax's proclamation.

Jax's derisive snort echoed through the chamber, a tangible manifestation of his frustration. "Even a blind man can see the writing on the wall. Someone's tearing through the kingdoms like a rabid beast," he declared with a note of urgency. "Vale's already fallen, Haven's been hit, and Atlas? They're cowering behind their walls like scared children. If we want to come out of this alive, we need to stand together under a leader worth a damn."

Vermillion regarded Jax with a quirked eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And ya fancy yourself that leader? The savior of Vacuo?" he prodded, his smirk widening.

Jax's chin lifted defiantly. "Damn right," he shot back without hesitation. "Isn't that why you threw your weight behind The Crown? Because you saw in me what Vacuo needs?"

A smile played at the corners of Vermillion's lips, though it held more cunning than agreement. "You catch on quick, kid," he conceded, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You're exactly the kind of leader Vacuo's been yearning for," he assured Jax, the truth of his intentions hidden behind a mask of false encouragement.

[nimblermortal]

Okay, so background, first I gotta crosspost this from Pillowfort, when someone asked me for "my" medieval Scandinavia rant

The biggest ones currently are about the eruption of that one volcano in El Salvador; the way you can get a sense for when a scribe had a break (or really needed one) from copying their work; and the idea of writing as a public vs private work vis-a-vis runestones.

The first and last being because I have just discovered Neil Price and I am in scholarly love. I am adding him to my harem. Perhaps a step behind Shannon entropy and the marine reservoir effect, which is its own medieval Scandinavia rant.

So let's talk about writing as a public practice, which is drawing on Price's description of literacy in Children of Ash and Elm, the chapter The Performance of Power, around page 193 in my copy, because I have a copy now, because as soon as I returned my library copy I went and asked the bookstore to order one for me.

Price is coming at the subject of literacy as an archaeologist*, and notes that we have found many thousands of runic inscriptions - wait. Back up.

Saga Thing talked some months or years ago about literacy in the viking age, and how we have a lot of runestones, but we don't have books, and this doesn't actually give us an idea of how literate people were. If they were writing on very degradable things like, say, cheese, we would have no idea. Maybe all women signed their cheese! We wouldn't know! And they also noted that one common find in viking** burials is an amulet with the runes "alu," meaning ale. Which, if that ain't the most frat boy thing. And of course it is, because the demographic of vikings was exactly the demographic of frat boys! Young men, upper teens to twenties, from rich families, away from home for the first time, showing off for each other, forming insuperable bonds...

Anyway, so there's one way to look at literacy. Price notes that we have thousands of runic inscriptions, mostly on runestones, mostly as commemorations of the dead BUT in the mid-twentieth century excavations in Bergen and Trondheim, harbor towns, discovered thousands of small wooden slips inscribed with runes that had been preserved in the water. And these were covered in writing about stupid crap. Day-to-day life - shopping lists, dick jokes, "Sigmund owns this sack," apologies for not getting one's chores done... Price concludes "Not everyone was literate, but a lot of people obviously were, perhaps even children."

So now we get a little bit into the realm of speculation. Here is a people with a largely literate populace, who are regularly encountering literate cultures that produce books. They're raiding monasteries from 793! They have seen gospels. So what stops them from writing their own?

Well... it just. Didn't suit their needs. They needed shopping lists and name tags, and big public monuments indicating how rich they are, for the sake of the dearly departed of course. They weren't people who sat down and read, which of course wasn't a thing in Europe for centuries yet - note the history of the novel in Europe and the parallel to the advent of lounging furniture - but relatively-southern Europe at least had a class of people to do it for them. When we're looking at eighth to eleventh century Scandinavia, there aren't monasteries full of monks writing prayerbooks yet.

Because a book is inherently a private thing, which one person reads at a time, even if they read it aloud to a party. A runestone is inherently a public thing, which everyone passing notices and, if they're bored from walking for the past few hours, stops to read. So it's not a big leap from writing in stone with a chisel to writing on paper with a quill, but... there's no cultural reason to do so.

Never mind all of the fascinating ways that writing can happen on a runestone, such that it's notable when there's one written left to right and up to down in a rectangular block of text. (Bro church runestone, my beloved!)

...and I picked this rant because I thought it would probably be shorter.

*he led! the team that re-sexed the Birka warrior!

**which is a profession, not an ethnicity - it's a bit of a summer job for young men, like camp counselor but more violent

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Addendum: The Bro church runestone is my beloved not because I know enough runestones to justify the opinion, but because it's the one I've translated, and I love the way it's written. (I have only read/translated the one, but it would be a fun project. It's #617, so there's enough to keep me busy for a while, but they're usually short. It was also probably chosen for my textbook for being complete and clear.)

Anyway, the picture above shows how it's laid out. There's a curling arch over the top that reads, "Ginnlaug, Holmgeir's daughter, sister of Sigurd and of Gaut and his brothers, had this bridge built and raised this stone for her husband Ozur."

The part that drives me nuts is the loop below that: "Son of Earl Hakon, he was a viking watchman with [gæti]. God help his spirit and soul now." But the fact that it's written in a loop means it starts again the instant it stops: "God help his spirit and soul now, son of Earl Hakon, he was a viking watchman..." So the format in some sense makes it an infinite prayer in a way you can't do with textbook writing.

And maybe you can with graphic design, and certainly runestones are closer to works of art than to books, but. The options this sort of freedom opens up make me a little bit crazy.

Beyond, you know, the general medieval Scandinavia special interest crazy.