#benjamin fig

[phototagebuch]

31.5.2024: Endlich regnet's!

[polarisgreenley]

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 20: "Devil's Guts"

[AO3]

Floriography: Parasite

Summary: The Keepers are *actually* teachers, and Halloween with the Helm of Urtkot.

An excerpt is under the cut as usual; the full fic is located in the AO3 link above!

Long before the sun rose, she opened the grandiose double doors to the Map Chamber. The two professors slid into their frames as if they were alerted to a visitor.

“Ah, Artemis. What a pleasant surprise,” greeted Professor Rackham.

“I presume you’re here regarding our previous discussion,” said Professor Rookwood.

Artemis nodded. Yesterday’s discoveries in Feldcroft hastened her need to learn as much as she could. It was clear they wanted her, at least partially, as a hunting dog. If the size of those drills were anything to go by, they were digging for something big.

Professor Rackham cleared his throat. “We have come to a decision. With provisions, we will teach you how to hone your ancient magic.”

Artemis’ thumb subtly rubbed her scar. “Provisions, sir?”

“Yes,” started Professor Rookwood. “First, is that we decide which questions we will answer. Not to say we won’t in time, but it will depend on your trials. Second, what is taught here is to be kept between us.”

“The sole exception would be Professor Fig. There is an importance of a guiding hand,” added Professor Rackham. “Finally, we will expand on what you already know. Until you progress further in the trials, we will not teach you anything that is wholly new. Do you accept these conditions?”

It wasn’t as much as she’d like, but she’d take it. She was patient enough.

“Yes, sir.”

The professors nodded, and she was glad portraits could not read minds. She was going to take some creative liberty in comparing their teachings, the book’s contents and Sebastian’s thoughts.

“Good. I believe we should start with seeing what you can do.”

Professor Rackham waved his hand as the floor shook. The pointillistic stars lifted from their pooled map and formed a statuesque shape. Artemis whipped out her wand and had a hand on her legside bag.

“Do not worry; it will move and attack but won’t hurt you. After all, stars are a million miles away from us.”

“Percival…” deadpanned Professor Rookwood.

Professor Rackham chuckled. “Use both ancient magic and regular spells – I’d like to see it. Begin.”

For a statue made of pointillistic stars it moved abhorrently fast. She felt the arcane coolness wash through her as she dodged the sword sings and landed more than ten feet away silently. Silvery petals flitted as she brought forth the tempest. In this arena, she could see clearly how blips of ancient magic existed in the very air that surrounded her and how they wove together at the tip of her wand as it interwove with her standard spells. The oil paintings remained silent as she flung spell after spell with practiced footing.

When the stars returned to the black pool underneath, she looked back toward the portraits. Her heartrate was elevated, but her breathing was relaxed.

“Well. I daresay that was… impressive,” said Professor Rookwood.

Professor Rackham stroked his beard. “Allow me to confirm a theory. When was the first time you saw the silvery petals?”

“When I cast Protego,” answered Artemis.

“In what circumstance?”

“Ranrok’s troll tried to crush a boy in Hogsmeade.”

“I see,” said Professor Rackham. “You mentioned my ancient magic shimmered like stars before.”

“Yes, is that tied to our individual cores?” Artemis asked.

“Niamh is going to adore you,” commented Professor Rookwood.

“Correct. To start, our magical cores are different even among wizardkind. We weren’t able to research as thoroughly as Charles would’ve liked, but people like us have a few specific requirements for our magic to manifest.” Professor Rackham counted off his fingers. “A longer gestational period, a specific mixture of blood, and a powerful catalyst. The first is because we can naturally access the foundational levels of magic – latent or active. That is why when we use the same incantations and wand movements as others, the effects are slightly different. More diverse. We surmised this ability means that it takes double the time for the magical core to develop. This allows us to, for the lack of better term, soak up ancient magic around us and channel it into our spells.”

“The second,” said Professor Rookwood as he pulled out parchment, “is a specific mixture of blood. It is a theory, mind you… this ability only seemed to surface within half-bloods. Unless you would like to provide contrasting data?”

“I – frankly I don’t know my blood status, sir,” answered Artemis honestly. “Both my parents were magical, but status never came up in discussion.”

If true, then Artemis learned something new about her own lineage. She wondered who was which… not that it mattered in the end.

Professor Rookwood tutted. “Pity. I could’ve added to my notes.”

“Charles,” admonished Professor Rackham quietly. “Now, the most important – the catalyst. The gestation period, the blood – those are just the foundations. What our core needs to activate is an emotional trigger so the foundations can take root. Something profound, and it must be before the person turns sixteen.”

Artemis raised her hand out of habit. “So, there’s a chance there have been others like me, or, like us, within the past four hundred years? Just, they didn’t experience the catalyst?”

“Potentially, yes. There are many unknowns. I won’t ask of yours, but I can tell you, my catalyst… was seeing the most profound meteor storm and being completely swept in awe.”

She sucked in a breath. She knew exactly what hers was – the one-year mark when Leto and Kierston rescued her from the depths of limbo. It felt then, truly, that it was real, that they were there to stay, and she felt completely and utterly safe for the first time in years.

“The reason the catalyst is so important is because your instinctive ancient magic is tied to that trigger. Yours is, I dare say, something protective,” analysed Professor Rackham.

“The best defence is a good offense,” said Professor Rookwood.

“That tempest was a marvel, but you must learn how to control the power levels. I suggest practising by thinking of a single lightning bolt, and tempering the intensity. You will need both discipline and patience in yourself; it will not be resolved overnight. Now, I believe we’ve given you enough to digest for today. I suggest a bi-weekly visit; you will need to concentrate on your regular schooling as well,” said Professor Rackham.

“Wait, I have one more question, sir,” called out Artemis hurriedly as the portraits made to leave. She turned to Professor Rookwood. “It’s about the memory of Feldcroft. Were you able to wield ancient magic? Or did you augment Professor Rackham’s magic?”

The portraits exchanged a glance. Professor Rookwood sighed.

“I only tell you this because you’d piece it together on your own at this rate. Those of us who cannot see ancient magic cannot cast ancient magic out of nothing. But we can wield, and augment, existing pieces.”

Not ten minutes later, she sent out a letter to Professor Fig. An hour later, she sat in her designated arm chair within Professor Fig’s office with Nocturne in her lap. She spared no detail in what she’d discovered over the past two days.

Professor Fig fiddled with his scarf. “Intriguing. The fact there’s been a consistent Loyalists presence so close is disconcerting... as is the fact that it’s becoming more and more likely they’d repurposed existing ancient magic from somewhere. You did the right thing, to not engage them with Mr. Sallow.”

Artemis sighed as she sipped the warm chai. “Do you think it’s possible they’re… mining for more ancient magic? I can’t imagine the Keepers would leave ancient magic just lying about in the open.”

“Possibly. There is the matter of how they found out in the first place. With their generally reticent demeanour, I can’t imagine the Keepers left their findings in easily accessible places –”

“– Aside from Peeves,” they said in unison.

Artemis briefly smiled before her eyebrows furrowed. “Professor, is there anything we could do for Feldcroft? I just… Anne lives there and, well –”

“Considering Minister Spavin’s response about the dragon, I do not think we should bank on the front-line aurors,” said Professor Fig. “But perhaps I can call in a favour and see if patrols can be brought to the area. How is Miss Sallow?”

“She’s… unwell, but she’s trying. She’s agreed to Leto’s check-up; I’m currently waiting on his response,” answered Artemis.

The older wizard gave a small, comforting smile as he nodded. “And what about your friend? Richard Jackdaw, was it? He is helping clear up a murder case, yes?”

The grip around her cup tightened.

“Yes, but it going at a snail’s pace. It seems the Ministry is… reluctant, to release Ms. Thisbe. Citing her long stay in Azkaban and the danger she possesses to the community,” said Artemis, repeating Ms. Thistlewood’s latest missive. Nocturne’s tail swished.

“More like Azkaban made her dangerous,” sighed Professor Fig. “You’ll unfortunately find that, though there are plenty of good people that work at the Ministry – Leto, Kierston, and George to start – there are those that are not and only care for their self-interests.”

Artemis nodded as she sighed. Richard’s bones remained in the jewellery box inside her legside bag. She never parted with it; it was the safest place to keep ‘him’ until he came back. Nocturne’s and paper tongue licked her fingers.

“By the way, did you manage to meet Lodgok?”

“Not yet, sir. Sirona suggested I meet him on Halloween considering,” trailed off Artemis as she gestured to her hair. “Though, it may be best to go alone. He doesn’t trust wizards, and even with Sirona’s recommendation, he may not meet me. Especially with another person.”

Professor Fig looked at her with those English greys, and she could visualise the mental scales as he contemplated her suggestion.

“I presume this is what you would like to undertake during independent study?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hm. Considering everything that is at stake… you will write to me if it will be longer?”

“Of course, sir,” answered Artemis.

Professor Fig gave a relieved smile. “Right. Now, I think it’s high time for breakfast. Then we can check on the lacewings for the Polyjuice.”

[anthropoetics]

readings: essays, articles & short stories pt. 2

the winter of civilisation

fruits we'll never taste, languages we'll never hear: the need for needless complexity

emily dickinson and the creative solitude of space

the lost art of looking at nature

the bowl, the ram and the folded map: navigating the complicated world

ada limón on preparing the body for a reopened world

before it was 'bittersweet', nostalgia was seen as a parasite

why alien languages could be far stranger than we imagine

the fig leaf, benjamin shane evans

cat pianos, sound-houses, and other imaginary musical instruments

of shark moves, shell shocks, and trash landings on the moon

as bright as a feather — ostriches, home dyeing, and the global plume trade

getting ahead, jonas karlsson

do these florida dolphins have a language?

the form of a demon and the heart of a person: kitagawa utamaro's prints of yamauba and kintarō (ca. 1800)

who needs ai text-generation when there's erasmus of rotterdam

when memories from fiction become part of who you are

how do transgender people remember their earlier selves?

[emisdetermined]

IT'S FINISHED! 31 CHANGELINGS - 7 DAYS LINK TO ATTACK

Find me on Artfight here! --- This was my first time doing a mass attack for ArtFight! I'm happy to have finished it after starting so late into the month. It took around probably 40 or so hours across several evenings to line and colour each of these characters.

Thank you everyone for giving me the opportunity to draw all of your little guys <3 ---

CREDITS Swann Lovell belongs to @otterboiiarts Benjamin Bates belongs to FableHound on Toyhouse Nōt belongs to @doughboirises Rida belongs to kazisaforehead on Twitter Vee belongs to k0yfish on Twitter Sachiel belongs to Ziggy_or_something on Instagram Novel Sang belongs to @anonbeadraws Mir belongs to Korrin_Belle on Twitter Viridian Fontaine belongs to @o-radiant-roses-o Fig belongs to @easytokeepquiet Cassidy "Cas" Kenton belongs to @staticsaturniid Juice belongs to @h-ollis

Dop belongs to @minart-was-taken Cres belongs to @strawskaiart Carrion belongs to @saintlethanavir Creed belongs to @jackzarts Bell belongs to @theinfinnite Voyager belongs to @cearcseaus Hiraeth Maddock belongs to @cherrychemise Nephylis belongs to bloo_the_boo on Instagram Toux belongs to REGIGIGAS on Twitter Renwick belongs to @corruptedpagearts Iren belongs to @calculus-homework Lys belongs to @anna-draws-stuff Ira belongs to chitabs on Instagram Cyanide belongs to Limabeanmaan on Twitter Mirage Mistlight belongs to mylkiiwae on Instagram Dix belongs to ReddRiftWalker on Twitter Spar belongs to shelby_ping_art on Instagram Conn the Changeling belongs to @knarroweddown Tal belongs to @emisdetermined (That's me!)

--- Individual fullbodies coming soon!

[oumaimas]

on love, fig trees, and our right to continuity

[can-i-roll-for-it]

anyone want to recommend me songs for my playlists for the bad kids?

Right now I have these:

Kristen:

Death of a hero by Alec Benjamin

Eden by Derivakat

Gotta be a reason by Alec Benjamin (This one is just here for the chorus)

Fabian:

Ship in a bottle by Fin

Fig:

Night watch by Naethan Apollo

Riz:

I don't get sleep by Naethan Apollo

[fave-starcanwreckedpulp-ship]

SO! So far we've got submitted

Brom's Babes (Tripp, Cal & Blair), sweet smoke (junior spaceclaw/mcdoon/sweet tooth), Quirrelmort, Elladius, Jazzalil, Holloduke, Attorney in a hurry, Paulkins, Lexthan, Grunt/Emberly, Father/Mother, Ja’far/Sherrezade, Bug/February, Taz/Up, Joey/Sally, Tanya/Sami, Duder/Tanya, Sami/Toby, Toby/Tanya, Alice/Deb, Steph/Pete, Steph/Grace, Ruth/Richie, Richie/Max, Grace/Max, Holloway/Webby, Bill/Paul, Ted/Paul, Ted/Tinky, Paul/Pokey, Curt/Owen, Barb/Tatiana, Tootsie/Megagirl, Linda/Gary, Linda/Becky, Tom/Becky, Linda/Gerald, McNamara/Xander, McNamara/Wilbur, Davidson/Carol, Artemis Shue-Horyn/Madison Reynolds, Desmond Brewer/Quinn Cassidy, Paul Shue-Horyn/Sybilus Silver II, Made Inevitable (Wilbur/Infected! Paul), Tarkin/Emily, Shepherd's pie (Holloway/Tinky), Narrator/Ragweed, Jim/Della, Scrooge/Belle, Bob Cratchit/Emily Cratchit, Bred/Spektr/Gruelle, Bill/Blinky, Linda/Nibbly, Ani/JJ, Tiblyn/Chorn, Frank/Barry, Ted/Charlotte, Sam/Zoey, Ted/Hidgens, Hidgens/Chad, Cole/Bethanne, Keith/Camille, Duder/Jim, Batman/Superman, Batman/Sweet Tooth, Cletus/McDoon, Scrooge/Marley, Lautskity (Stephanie/Pete/Grace NPMD), polycule solve it squad from the solve it squad !, Curtwen aka the couple ruined by a banana peel, The Informant + Barb from Spies Are Forever, Gross Polycule (the Gross Prophets trio), Holy Sinners (Mark Chasity, Karen Chasity, Charlotte Sweetly + Ted Spankoffski), RADIANT WORDS: Samuel Stratford/Margaret Cavendish (Pulp Musicals), LUNAR VISIONS: Margaret Cavendish/Sia (Pulp Musicals), PAPER STARS: Rose Stratford/John Herschel (Pulp Musicals), Amos/Elijah (Pulp Musicals Episode 3: The Ghosts of Antikythera), PRINCILDA/ROYAL BALLS: The Prince/Rancilda Ashmore (Cinderella’s Castle), TADMORE: Ella Ashmore/Tadius (Cinderella’s Castle), Jean/Max (This Could Be On Broadway)Kris/Joshua (This Could Be On Broadway), TIME IS MONEY: Barry Swift “Man In A Hurry”/Frank Pricely (Hatchetfield — Nightmare Time 2: “Daddy”), Thrash/Courtney (Hatchetfield — Nightmare Time 2: “Killer Track”), The toxic hotel staff polycule from Solve it squad, Dick and Miss Cooter from MAMD, BENJAMIN PARK x KALFU PULP MUSICALS GRGRGRGRGRG TG GRGRGRGRGRG, Rokay erm, doing a crack cross ship that goes outside the fandom aswell for shiggles, Ted Spankoffski x Charles Cholmondeley (Operation: Mincemeat, a new (broadway) musical!) And if thats not allowed I fear its ted x Boy jerry to torture my friend, Louie Metzger x EzekielAlice/Lex (Black Friday), Grace’s Dad/A Man (NPMD, that’s a repressed homosexual I know it), Ted/Jenny/Andy they could all have been in love it wouldve been beautiful trust me, Annapoe (annabel and Edgar Allan Poe from Poe Party), Figviv (fig and Vivian for the case of the Gilded Lily)

[fragrantblossoms]

Guillaume Benjamin Duchenne Du Bolougne (1806-1875). The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression [Fig. 25] / Very strong spasmodic contraction of the eyebrows, produced by the impression of a bright light: no painful expression, c.1854-56.

[thoughtlessarse]

Since the end of May, the Israeli army has killed more than 350 unarmed Gazans desperately walking or running to food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The so-called charity was founded in February. Now, massacres occur every day at GHF food stations. Israel first totally blocked, then brutally controlled all food entering Gaza. Until the end of March, there were 25 bakeries in the enclave making bread with World Food Program (WFP) flour. Until early May, there were dozens of community soup kitchens supported by the WFP and by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity, whose workers Israel has attacked twice. These soup kitchens were providing approximately half of Gaza’s population with a meager diet that just barely allowed them to survive. From March 2, Israel strangled the WFP, the WCentralK, and other aid organizations, exhausting their food stocks. Israel is using starvation as part of a policy of forced population transfer and mass murder. In mid-May, Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We must not reach a point of starvation — both as a matter of fact but also as a diplomatic issue.” A week earlier, Amit Halevi of the prime minister’s Likud party told a doctor in the Knesset, “I’m not sure you’re speaking for us when you say we want to treat every child and every woman … When fighting a group like this, the distinctions that exist in a normal world don’t exist.” The Israeli and U.S. governments transferred responsibility for food aid to the GHF in late May. The supposed charity promised to create four sites to distribute food, medicine, and soap to the Gazan population of over two million people, claiming that private security guards, not the Israeli army, would control these stations. In reality, the GHF is an excuse for shutting down organizations that actually aided the population — a fig leaf to which U.S. and European media could extend enough willful credence. At the end of May, the GHF opened two stations in the rubble of Rafah, in the extreme south, and one more in Israel’s militarized Netzarim Corridor across the center of the Strip — equivalent to promising to feed Houston with three grocery stores. This scheme forces the population to move southward. American armed guards place limited quantities of forty-pound boxes of food on the ground inside wire fences. Crowds are herded in and out, so they have to compete for their families’ survival. This has the effect of particularly starving elderly, sick, wounded, and disabled people, single mothers, and orphans.

continue reading

[18catsreading]

Fabian: they did have fun names. they did have fun names. There's Chungle-down Bim

Kristen: what? Are you having a stroke?

Fabian: no, no, no, no, no

Adaine: maybe it's an anagram. It must be an anagram.

Fabian: no, it wasn't an anagram. His name is just Chungle-down Bim. And there was also one named old young Benjamin, who was old but also young. And there was another one that jumped out that jumped out when they all found out that I didn't kill my father like I said I did. Well I did -

Adaine: you did

Fabian: yea but I didn't kill my father like they thought I did. I didn't, like, fight him in combat. And they all said that we were gonna die and they challenged James to a fight. And I said "well come on I'm Fabian Seacaster, we can beat him. And then he was walking by and I -- and I jumped out of the door and I -- I said Captain James and I stabbed him. And I stabbed him really good. And I didn't do a good job.

Adaine: so it's fine, so he's dead?

Fabian: nooooo

Gorgug: you didn't kill him?

Fabian: no!

Gorgug: did you almost kill him?

Fabian: no! I mean, I thought I did. I thought I did some good damage and I really hit him hard and then the next thing I knew, his tentacles were on my head and he was gonna eat my brain. then he told me he'd eaten my siblings brains so I guess I have brother and sisters but I didn't have enough time to process that, because by the time I escape he murdered, like, -- he murdered like all of my fa -- he murdered all of my father's followers, like all of them in one hit. It was like just went hard and then it --

Adaine: is Alister dead?

Fabian: mm mm no. The only four that survived were Chungle-Down Bim, Old you g Benjamin --

Kristen: well didn't Chungle-Down Bim help you?

Fabian: no -- [Lou is really losing it here]

Gorgug: Chungle-Down Bim probably saved you.

Fabian: No --

Riz: we should go to Chungle-Down Bim

Fabian: No --

Kristen: how did he help you in the fight? How did he help you?

Lou: incoherent

Fig: I've got a phone book here. I'm looking for Chungle-Down Bim.

Fabian: no, please don't. He told me --

Fig: he's on the line

Fabian: he told me he was gonna shit in my mouth. He told me he was gonna shit my mouth. He was gonna shit in my mouth and that I would never be a real pirate and that I was a disgrace to my father's memory.

Kristen: hug, hang up

Fabian: and then old young Benjamin is hiding somewhere. And Alistair Ash was crying as I ran away.

Gorgug: but you grabbed him as you ran away though, right?

Fabian: noo, I abandoned him like confidently cause I knew that the only way I would survive is if I ran away. So the only ones left of my followers is Chungle-Down Bim who probably works for James, old Young Benjamin who's doing a monkey thing up in the rigging and then there's, honestly, I probably have one follower who's running around. He's not even mine he's my father's like everything else I have. And I don't know. We shouldn't fight James. He's just going to murder all of you and I'm going to feel awful, and I'm just going to end up eating banana yogurt in a house that I build in memory of my father.

Kristen: I slap him

Tracker: jesus

Kristen: Fabian Aramaris Seacaster, we need you. We brought one Gilear, we made that mistake, we did not mean to bring two.

***

Fig: I'm going to cast suggestion on Gilear and tell him to believe in himself

Kristen: we need that here! [Gestures at Fabian]

Gilear: [fails his save] I'm okay with the fact that it takes mind control to make me like me.

I am looking up from the bottom and I'm seeing how close Fabian is sinking towards me and it is alarming even to me. I will not lie.

[spectator-moon]

So. I have commitment issues (read; cannot finish things) so here's some songs I see as Bad Kids (and who specifically).

If you want elaboration on how I see these playing out as animatics, let me know which one!

Captain's Call by Derivikat/Cg5

Change My Clothes by Dream/Alec Benjamin (we do not support Dream in this household but the song works really well)

Numb Little Bug by Em Beihold

-Fabian

Freaks by Jordan Clarke

4am by Derivikat

Ramblings of a Lunatic by Bears in Trees

-Riz

Tell Your Story by Derivikat

The Good Part by AJR

Overwhelmed by Ryan Mack

-Adaine

Killing Butterflies by Lewis Blissett

The Dumb Song by AJR

Injustice by Cg5

-Gorgug

Waste by Oh Wonder

Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles

Sweater Weather by Jessie Paege

-Kristen

Wow, I'm not Crazy by AJR

Rule The World!!! By Dayglow

Hot Girl Bummer by blackbear

-Fig

Duo songs

House Of Memories by panic at the Disco- Adaine and Alewyn

Karma by AJR- Adaine and Kristin

Bubblegum Bitch by MARINA-either Fig and Penelope or Fog and Kristin

Bad Kids altogether songs

Doomsday by Derivikat

Trying Too Hard by Thomas Sanders

Say my Name(bit weird but the ~vibes~)

Revenge Party (Ragh-centric)

Stray Italian Greyhound by Vienna Teng (Ayda-centric)

Dear Maria, Count me in by All Time Low (Zelda-centric)

Vibrant Eyes by Cg5 (Alewyn-centric)

If there are any other characters you want me to find songs for, put them in the replies!

Take care of yourself!

[amrv-5]

Walter Benjamin, "Fresh Figs," from "Eating," reproduced in Eating Words: A Norton Anthology of Food Writing.

[paranormaltheatrekid]

just finished case of the gilded lily

my favorite characters were fig and wilhelmina because they remind me of two of my irl best friends but I do think buster keaton and benjamin park should passionately make out and then scream about their jobs together or something idk

all of my opinions might age very poorly once I start the greater gatsby but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m glad you liked it!

[expressions-lsr]

‧͙✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧‧͙✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The Team; Introduction

‧͙✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧‧͙✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Editorial Board

Meet the Heads:

Anusurjya Borah

A third-year Psychology Hons. student who’s a hopeless romantic and whose love of life is words, this author’s sole ambition in life is to own a cottage in the mountains and have a black cat named Salem.

However, forced to be in this grind for success in life, she finds escape through dance and the culinary arts, and the worlds of Holly Black, Benjamin Sáenz, Madeline Miller, anime, and Asian drama series. In moments when she needs a reconnect to the world she inhabits in real life, the works of Murakami, Vuong, and Hosseini are what ground her back in.

A perfectionist and a procrastinator, the only thing that truly drives her at all times, anytime, is the desire to live to the fullest. Perhaps that is why the words that have been a constant in her life are: To Be, or Not To Be? That is the question after all.

[Read Anusurjya's piece here]

Shifa Neyaz

Hi!! I am Shifa, a second year English Honours student. I am one of those people who has tried every hobby in the world, but through the years only some have stayed with me, those being reading, writing, crochet and fitness.

Writing is and has been one of the biggest parts of my life and I believe that it has had a big hand in shaping me into the person that I am today. It has been my support system, creative and emotional outlet and my escape from reality all at the same time.

What got me into writing in the first place was reading. I once randomly bought a dork diaries book in 6th grade and have never turned back since. From Fantasy writers like Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, Romance writers like Lynn Painter and Emily Henry to all-time-favourites like Jane Austen and Charlotte Brönte, I have read and loved every one of these writers' works.

Enough about my hobbies (hehe), if I were to describe myself in a few words, I'd say I am the loudest person in the room, I am the biggest cat-lover, I have a smile for everybody and I absolutely love watching and reading anything and everything that comes under the category of Rom-coms.

I'm so excited to be a part of Expressions and can't wait for everything that's to come!!

[Read Shifa's piece here]

Meet the Sub-Head:

Attrija

Helllooooo! I am a second year Political Science student. I am a cat mum and I love reading classical and feminist literature. I love the book The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and I think about the fig tree analogy almost everyday! I mainly write confessional poems and I discovered my love for writing serendipitously. Writing is an inseparable part of my life. I mainly write in order to feel truly free. I love exploring and experimenting with different genres and writing styles. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed Camus, Dostoyevsky, Brontë, Austen, Fitzgerald, Dickens, Wilde, Woolf, Tolstoy and Kafka. I also love watching romcoms and F1 in my free time. You can find me talking in the reference library of lsr with my classmates about feminism, absurdism, art and politics in general. I can never leave my room without a book in my bag, it just feels incomplete!

I love expressions to the very core and I am so grateful to be a part of this beautiful society <333

[Read Attrija's piece here]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 1.16

Holidays

Beatles Day (UNESCO) [fake holiday based on erroneous story from Armenia Press]

Book Publishers Day

Certified Psychiatric Technicians Day

Chapultepec Peace Accords Anniversary Day (El Salvador)

Civil Service Day

Day of Lights (Elder Scrolls)

Day of Remembrance (Benin)

Day of Remembrance of Donetsk Airport Defenders (Ukraine)

Global Word Search Day

Groovy Fuckers Day (Jools Holland)

Gulf War Anniversary Day

Haru-No-Yabuiri (a.k.a. Day of No Work for the Overworked; Japan)

Inflatable Tire Day

Juuruku Nichi (Ryukyuan)

Kanuma Panda (a.k.a. Tusu Puja; Andhra Pradesh, India)

Laurent Kabila (Heroes’ Day; Congo)

Lead Day (French Republic)

National Boston Day

National Bouvier de Flandres Day

National Day of Peace (El Salvador)

National Day of Racial Healing

National Good Teen Day

National Nothing Day

National Startup Day (India)

National Without a Scalpel Day

National Work at Home with Your Spouse Day

Psychiatric Technician’s Day

Quit Lying Day

Religious Freedom Day

Teacher’s Day (Myanmar, Thailand)

There’s No Business Like Show Business Day

Whiskey A-Go-Go Day

Zeta Phi Beta Day

Zuuruku Nichi (Okinawa Islands, Japan)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Croquette Day (Spain)

International Hot and Spicy Food Day [also 8.19]

National Fig Newton Day

National Kava Day

National Quinoa Day

Prohibition Remembrance Day

Nature Celebrations

Appreciate A Dragon Day

Yellow Hyacinth (Win or Lose; Korean Birth Flowers)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Brazil (Declared an Empire under Price Regent of Portugal; 1816)

Flag Day (Israel)

Navotas Day (Philippines)

Tsardom of Muscovy (Established; 1547) [unrecognized]

3rd Thursday in January

Day of the Wallet Holder (Panama) [3rd Thursday]

Get To Know Your Customers Day [3rd Thursday of each Quarter]

Guys Night Out [3rd Thursday]

Theater Thursday [3rd Thursday of Each Month]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Turkey Thursday [3rd Thursday of Each Month]

Women’s Healthy Weight Day [3rd Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning January 16 (2nd Full Week of January)

None Known

Festivals Beginning January 16, 2025

Celtic Connections (Glasgow, Scotland) [thru 2.2]

Frog Leg Festival (Fellsmere, Florida) [thru 1.19]

Illiana Watermelon Association Convention (French Lick, Indiana) [thru 1.19]

NBBQA Regional Meat-Up (Ocean Springs, Mississippi) [thru 1.18]

New York Corn & Soybean Winter Expo (Syracuse, New York)

Pangisdaan Festival (Novatos, Philippines) [Every 1.16]

SC Watermelon Association Convention (Hilton Head, South Carolina) [thru 1.19]

Virginia Farm Show (Fisherville, Virginia) [thru 1.18]

Feast Days

Altar to Invite Harmony Throughout the Year Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Benjamin, Pope (Coptic)

Berard of Carbio and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Blaise (Armenian Apostolic)

Concordia (Ancient Roman Goddess of Harmonious Relations)

Day of Offerings to the Shemsu of Ra (Ancient Egypt)

Eve of Saint Anthony (observed with ritual bonfires in San Bartolomé de Pinares; Christian)

Festival of All Fairies (Shamanism)

Fursey (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Vaz (Christian; Saint)

Henry the Hermit of Cocket (Christian; Saint)

Hestia’s Day (Pagan)

Honoratus of Arles (Christian; Saint)

Lao-Tseu (Positivist; Saint)

Macarius the Elder of Egypt (Christian; Saint)

Marcellus I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Mr. McTaggart (Muppetism)

Night of the Lemur (Church of the SubGenius)

Nothingness Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Priscilla (Christian; Saint)

Riuros (The Cold Time; Celtic Book of Days)

Sacrifice to the Firegod Betoro Bromo (Indonesia; Everyday Wicca)

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Coptic Church)

Thiruvalluvar Day (India)

Titian of Oderzo (Christian; Saint)

Uzhavar Thirunal (Tamil Nadu, India)

Vasant Panchami (Hindu)

Wind Gods of the Eight Directions Festival (Ancient Greece)

Secular Saints Days

Lucas Achtschellinck (Art)

John Carpenter (Entertainment)

Dizzy Dean (Sports)

A.J. Foyt (Sports)

Anthony Hecht (Literature)

Katy Jurado (Entertainment)

Ethel Merman (Entertainment)

Lisa Milroy (Art)

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Entertainment)

Albert Pujols (Sports)

Gabrielle Reece (Sports)

Francesco Scavullo (Art)

Robert W. Service (Literature)

Susan Sontag (Literature)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Puss in Boots (Animated Film; 2015)

After the Ball (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1956)

The Bird Store (Disney Silly Symphony Cartoon; 1932)

Black Lightning (TV Series; 2018)

Boop-Oop-a-Doop (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1932)

Captain Hareblower (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Cavern Club (Liverpool, England Music Club; 1957)

Circus Daze, featuring Bosko (MGM Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1937)

The Corporation (Documentary Film; 2004)

The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, recorded by Benny Goodman (Live Concert; 1938)

Frampton Comes Alive (Live Album; 1976)

From Hopeless to Helpless, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S1, Eps. 31 & 32 1965)

Half Baked (Film; 1998)

Harper Valley P.T.A. (TV Series; 1981)

Hello, Dolly! (Broadway Musical; 1964)

Horse on Merry-Go-Round (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1938)

I Love a Mystery (Radio Series; 1939)

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got that Swing), recorded by Duke Ellington (Song; 1932)

It’s Nice to Have a Mouse Around the House (WB LT Cartoon; 1965)

Jaws, by Peter Benchley (Novel; 1974)

The Kid (Film; 1920)

The Life of Riley (Radio Series; 1944)

Lucille, recorded by Little Richard (Song; 1857)

Man in the Mirror, by Michael Jackson (Song; 1988)

My Girl, by The Temptations (Song; 1965)

Our Man Flint (Film; 1966)

Paddington (Animated Film; 2015)

PGA, a.k.a. Professional Golfers’ Association (Sports Association; 1916)

Picnics Are Fun and Dino’s Serenade (Jolly Frolics Cartoon; 1959)

Requiem in D Minor, by Gabriel Fauré (Choral & Orchestral Catholic Mass; 1888)

The Saint in New York, by Leslie Charteris (Novel; 1935) [Saint #16]

Shakin’ All Over, by The Guess Who (Album; 1965)

Slay it with Flowers (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1943)

Son of Flubber (Film; 1963)

Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series; 1995)

Sufferin’ Cats! (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1943)

Summer (Disney Silly Symphonies Cartoon; 1930)

Sunbeam Motor Company (Automobile Company; 1905)

Tokyo Godfathers (Animated Film; 2004)

Two for the Seesaw, by William Gibson (Play; 1958)

Vagabond Voyage or The Castoffs Cast Off (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 144; 1962)

The Village Smithy (Disney Cartoon; 1942)

Vincebus Eruptum, by Blue Cheer (Album; 1968)

Wailing Whale (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 143; 1962)

Wayne (TV Series; 2019)

Whiskey A-Go-Go (Nightclub; 1963) [Los Angeles]

A Zoot Suit (For My Sunday Gal), recorded by Kay Kyser (Song; `942)

Today’s Name Days

Arnold, Maurus, Romedius (Austria)

Anastazija, Mavro, Pavao, Stošija (Croatia)

Alice (Czech Republic)

Maura (Denmark)

Salve, Salvi, Sõlmi (Estonia)

Ilmari, Ilmo (Finland)

Marcel (France)

Dietwald, Marcel, Tilman, Uli (Germany)

Gusztáv (Hungary)

Marcello (Italy)

Lida, Lidija, Lija (Latvia)

Marcelis, Norgailas, Norgailė (Lithuania)

Hilmar, Hjalmar (Norway)

Marcel, Waleriusz, Włodzimierz (Poland)

Petru (Romania)

Kristína (Slovakia)

Estefanía, Fulgencio, Marcelo (Spain)

Helmer, Hjalmar (Sweden)

Aaliyah, Aleah, Aliyah, Paine, Payne, Phillis, Phyllis, Pilar, Priscilla (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 16 of 2025; 349 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of Week 3 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 26 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Ding-Chou), Day 17 (Yi-You)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Coptic: 8 Tubah 1741

Hebrew: 16 Teveth 5785

Islamic: 16 Rajab 1446

J Cal: 16 White; Twosday [16 of 30]

Julian: 3 January 2025

Moon: 92%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 16 Moses (1st Month) [Lao-Tseu]

Runic Half Month:Peorth (Womb, Dice Cup) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 27 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of January

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 26 of 30)

[starcanwreckedpulppolls]

Trans Swag Tournament Round 1D Matchups

Madison Reynolds Vs The Mayor's Handler

Ryan Reynolds Vs Rebecca

Garmin Patrick Saget Vs Wallis Gale

Dr. Henry Edwards Vs Ed Puppetman

Vern Marrow Vs Corey L.'s WWG Character

Dash Gunfire Vs Fig Wineshine

George Eliot Vs Edgar Allan Poe

Black Phillip Vs Lenore

Icabod Crane Vs Brom Bones

Matilda Bishop Vs Trevor Trinkets

Diedrich Kickerbocker Vs Tripp

Lex Punchwhistle Vs Rex Punchwhistle

Rose Stratford Vs Benjamin Park

Morgan Reese Vs Victor Walton

Alex Walcott Vs Malfalia

Professor Birthday Vs Fritz

Brace Vs Doug