#butterflies of Cuba

[secretsinthedarkthepodcast]

NaPoWriMo (2024) Day 15: A butterfly flaps its wings in Cuba

This is a poem about butterflies on the stamp of Cuba in the 1960s. I place myself in the shoes of the person who thought about the implications of this and thought of this metaphor. #napowrimo #coldwar #cubanmissilecrisis

Today’s prompt was to look through the Stamps Bot and find something interesting. And while the Swedish Optical Illusion stamps were so fascinating, I thought of the Cuban stamp 1961-62 while writing this one. Look below for reference. A butterfly flaps its wings in CubaAnd Guerin watched it flyIn 1829 at Cuba; an analysis clarifiedThat it relates itself as a sisterOf a group far away- the…

[olsonbaker]

Carl Hansen’s MG501 Cuba Chair – A Review Beyond The Fold

Discover the elegance of the MG501 Cuba Chair through our in-depth review. Explore its Scandinavian design, ergonomic comfort, and timeless appeal as we delve into the craftsmanship behind Morten Gøttler's iconic creation. https://wordpress-598981-4046106.cloudwaysapps.com/carl-hansens-mg501-cuba-chair-a-review-beyond-the-fold/

[threadsoflacee]

i like to think will’s bisexual awakening happens on a random ass summer day at the beach with hannibal. it doesn’t happen while they’re hunting under the moonlight, both drenched in blood and shaking from the adrenaline of a fresh shared kill, the sinful indulgence of filling a starving stomach — it happens when will sees him shirtless. they’re both sitting at the beach when hannibal goes for a swim and comes back a few minutes later panting and wet and a little chilled from the cold ocean water. will watches him walking back to their spot and his skin is tanned from the cuba sun and pearls of water are trickling down his shoulders and his hair is ruffled from when he shook it dry and …..man pecs ….. tummy hair ….. thick biceps …… and will suddenly gets butterflies in his stomach and a little dizzy and stutters when hannibal tells him he should join him in the water. doesn’t dare look at him in the eyes again all afternoon. lays in bed that night and remembers strong flexing calves instead of soft feminine hips and practically bonks himself over the head with how hard he shakes it to get the gay yearning thoughts out

[kenzirr]

part 2 to the spencer imagine

@levi-of-starz

The BAU office was bustling as usual, agents hurrying about with case files and paperwork. Spencer Reid sat at his desk, engrossed in a book, when he suddenly looked up, a thought clearly lighting up his face.

"Did you know that the world's smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, weighs less than a penny?" Spencer announced to the room. "It's native to Cuba and measures just 2.25 inches from beak to tail."

Morgan, who was passing by, stopped and raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty cool, Reid. What got you thinking about hummingbirds?"

Spencer smiled. "It’s one of the facts Y/N shared with me the other night. We've been trading trivia back and forth, and it got me thinking. I want you all to meet her."

Garcia's eyes lit up as she walked over. "Oh, that sounds fantastic! When do we get to meet her?"

Spencer thought for a moment. "How about we arrange a dinner? I could invite Y/N, and we can all get together. I think she’d love to meet all of you."

JJ nodded enthusiastically. "I think that's a great idea. A nice team dinner would be perfect."

Hotch looked up from his desk, considering. "Sounds like a plan. I'll bring Jack along since I can't leave him alone."

Spencer smiled, feeling a wave of excitement and nervousness. "Great. I'll talk to Y/N and set everything up."

---

A few days later, the team gathered at Rossi's mansion, which he had graciously offered for the dinner. The dining room was elegantly set with a long mahogany table covered in a pristine white tablecloth. Crystal wine glasses sparkled under the chandelier's soft light, and the aroma of Italian cuisine filled the air as Rossi finished preparing the meal.

The centerpiece was an arrangement of fresh flowers, and each place setting had a small, handwritten name card. Spencer had even placed a few fun facts under each plate as conversation starters.

Y/N arrived a little after Spencer, looking both excited and a bit nervous. Spencer introduced her to everyone, and the team welcomed her warmly.

"Y/N, this is Derek Morgan," Spencer started, gesturing to Morgan.

"Nice to meet you, Y/N," Morgan said with a grin. "Spencer’s told us a lot about you."

"And this is Penelope Garcia," Spencer continued.

Garcia gave Y/N a big hug. "So nice to finally meet you, lovely! You look even more wonderful than Spencer described."

Spencer then introduced JJ, Rossi, and finally Hotch and his son Jack. Jack, clutching a small toy car, smiled shyly at Y/N.

"Hi, Jack," Y/N said, crouching down to his level. "What’s your toy’s name?"

Jack beamed. "This is Lightning McQueen. He’s really fast."

"Nice to meet you, Lightning," Y/N said, shaking the toy car's "hand."

They all sat down at the table, and Rossi brought out the first course: bruschetta topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

"Y/N, I hope you like Italian food," Rossi said, smiling. "I made some of my favorite dishes tonight."

Y/N took a bite of the bruschetta and her eyes lit up. "This is amazing, Rossi. Thank you so much for having me."

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily. Spencer couldn't resist sharing another fact. "Did you know that tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous? In the 18th century, people called them 'poison apples' because they believed the aristocracy got sick and died after eating them, but it was actually the lead in their pewter plates reacting with the tomato acid."

JJ laughed. "That's fascinating, Spencer. I never knew that."

Y/N joined in, sharing one of her own facts. "Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet? They have taste sensors on their legs and feet to help them find food."

Garcia's eyes widened. "That's amazing! I love butterflies, and I had no idea."

The main course was served: homemade lasagna, rich with layers of cheese, meat, and sauce. As they dug in, Hotch shared a story about a recent camping trip with Jack, and Jack excitedly talked about the wildlife they saw.

"Y/N," Garcia said, "how did you and Spencer meet?"

Y/N smiled, glancing at Spencer. "We met at a bookstore, actually. We were both reaching for the same book – a biography of Alan Turing."

Morgan chuckled. "Of course you were. That sounds like a perfect Reid story."

As they moved on to dessert – a decadent tiramisu – Rossi raised his glass. "To a wonderful evening."

Everyone clinked their glasses, and Spencer felt a warmth spread through him. The night had gone perfectly, and he couldn't have been happier.

After dinner, as Spencer walked Y/N to her car, she turned to him with a smile. "Your team is wonderful, Spencer. I had a great time tonight."

"Me too," Spencer replied, his heart racing. "Thank you for coming. It meant a lot to me."

Y/N leaned in, and Spencer met her halfway, their lips touching in a kiss that was soft and sweet. As the kiss deepened, Spencer felt a surge of warmth and happiness, losing himself in the moment.

Unbeknownst to them, the team had gathered near the window, watching the scene unfold. Garcia was the first to giggle, followed by a series of playful whispers and chuckles from the rest of the group.

Morgan couldn't resist. He opened the door slightly and called out, "Get a room, you two!"

Spencer and Y/N broke apart, both blushing furiously as they turned to see the team grinning at them from the doorway.

Garcia added, "We just wanted to make sure you didn't forget to say goodnight!"

Spencer, still flustered, managed a sheepish smile. "Thanks, guys."

Y/N squeezed his hand, looking equally embarrassed but happy. "Goodnight, everyone. Thanks for a wonderful evening."

As she drove away, Spencer turned back to his team, who were still chuckling and exchanging knowing looks.

Hotch clapped Spencer on the shoulder. "I think she’s a keeper, Reid."

Spencer nodded, his heart full. "Yeah, I think so too."

[danceylancey]

Lance Tattoo ideas: (CW: fair bit of angst)

Ocean waves or horizon : across one should and or arm, across back

Octopus : going up thigh or wrapped around bicep

Spine bone: across spine (obviously) (reasoning: Someone once called him spineless, maybe a teammate, so he got one tattooed as a way to be like ‘fuck you whats this then’)

Heart: a little heart shape on his thumb for his mother, maybe with her initials in it

Fool tarrot card or jester: for he is the fool and the role of the fool is to fill those around him, though maybe he doesn’t realise that when he gets it.

“Give me breed and call me a fool.” A Spanish saying meaning it doesn’t matter what others think of you if you’re still getting what you want.

Bullets raining down/gun fire : across shoulder going down

Tear drop: maybe for blue or it was just a stick and poke he did himself when thinking about his loneliness

Voltron symbol : blue behind back, ear or ankle or all lion colours in respective places

Sunflower: maybe it reminds him of his mum or his home in Cuba

“Al Mal Tiempo, Buena cara.” Translated: “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” : maybe along his ribs or over his heart

Half a butterfly: for his twin, with her having the opposing half, maybe on his wrist or forearm so they can line them up

A target or cross hair: for his sniping love and skills, maybe on his tiger finger or over his heart

A little orange heart: for Coran, probably on his wrist so he can see it easily

Any kind of flower for the Frida Kahlo quote “I paint flowers so they will not die”

A turtle: for Hunk. It means family to Islanders and that’s what Hunk is to him

[randomficrecss]

Klance Fic Rec

been so busy guys but trying to catch up i promise!!

I dreamed you were a cosmonaut (of the space between our chairs) by iybms

T | 11K | 1/1 | getting together, flirting, kissing, near death experiences, mutual pining, canon compliant

"You know, you can be a pretty hard guy to find," Lance says, and his steps end at Keith's side, overlooking Orla'an canyon.

"Funny you always say that," Keith remarks, "since you find me, regardless. And," he finally glances at Lance, "…always wearing something weird."

---

Lance comes to Keith when he needs someone to pry him open.

Nameless by AveryScribbles

E | 97.8K | 22/22 | AU college, vampires, soulmates, major character injury, angst with a happy ending, blood drinking, slowburn

Lance McClain was not pale. He enjoyed the sun as much as any other, and though he was often run down or fatigued, this was due to his amounting college work, not his need to sleep upside down. He was everything a vampire wasn't. Oh, except for his constant cravings for blood, and the name in cursive imprinted on his wrist.

Since the name had appeared on Lance's thirteenth birthday, he'd been desperately waiting for the day he'd finally meet his soulmate. And then it finally arrives, delivering a boy that causes everything Lance had fantasized to come crashing down around him. Not only is his mate a human, but he's the kind of human that despises vampires. A hunter named Keith.

But matters of the heart aren't the only thing standing in Lance's way, for a much greater enemy is on the horizon, posing a threat not only to Lance and his family, but to Keith, too. The nameless are coming for them, and soon.

just come to me once by laallomri (absolute fav fic ever)

T | 94.5K | 3/3 | fluff, angst, pining, canon typical violence, post season 6

Lance’s smile widens. He leans forward, and the prickling in Keith’s chest gives way to butterflies, fluttering wildly in his stomach, and oh wow has Lance always had this many freckles, has he always had eyelashes that long, has he—

Lance pokes his cheek, right over the Galra mark. Keith blinks.

“I can’t believe you and your mom have matching face tattoos now,” he says, and it’s so fucking dumb, but it’s exactly the kind of dumb thing Keith has longed to hear, and before he knows what he’s doing he’s surging forward, almost knocking Lance back against Red’s paw, and throwing his arms around him.

In which Keith lives on a space whale, goes on a road trip, and (eventually) gets a boyfriend.

Like the Night Falling by iybms

E | 51.9K | 1/1 | rivals to friends to lovers, slow burn, astrophysics, sexual content

Keith reluctantly takes a lead role in an outreach program that forces him outside his comfort zone of solitary work. It would be a lot easier if he and his partner in the endeavor had anything in common.

Catch Feels, Not Covid-19 by Jenanigans1207

G | 20.2K | 7/7 | quarantine AU, covid 19, falling in love, confessions, artist keith

“Well, there’s really only one option, then.” Lance says as he steps further into the room. At least he looks equally as uncomfortable as Keith feels. At least he seems to know he’s broken their boundaries.

“Really?” Keith grinds out, but his anger is deflating. The stress of the situation is starting to wear on him and he just wants it to be over. “Because as far as I can tell, there are no options.”

“You’ll just have to come home with me.” Lance says and Keith balks. He physically feels the color drain from his face as he whips his head around to meet Lance’s blue eyes. He doesn’t even get the incredulous question off of his tongue before Lance is rushing on to explain. “My family visits Cuba every year at this time and since they closed the borders, they’re stuck there until this is over. So my home is completely empty which means there will be tons of room for you, too! And it’s only a couple of hours away, so we won’t risk getting caught anywhere in the middle. And it’s free.”

-- Or:

The coronavirus shuts down Keith and Lance's college and Keith has no choice but to go into quarantine with Lance.

At the Bottom of the Ramp by iybms

T | 12.2K | 1/1 | aggressive rollerblading, strong language, minor violence, getting together, rivals to friends to lovers

Lance is usually the first person to befriend new rollerbladers at the skatepark; it's a small community, and he's a friendly guy.

But not this time. This new guy looks the epitome of edgy and unapproachable, and he's stealing all of Shiro's attention.

[llovelymoonn]

favourite poems of october

joseph brodsky collected poems in english, 1972-1999: “the hawk’s cry in autumn”

natalie diaz it was the animals

ruth stone as real as life

muriel rukeyser the collected poems of muriel rukeyser: “käthe kollwitz”

naomi shihab nye grape leaves: a century of arab american poetry: “making a fist”

larry levis elegy: “elegy with a chimneysweep falling inside it”

emily berry arlene and esme

erika meitner copia: “yizker bukh”

aracelic girmay sister was the wolf

joshua beckham take it: “[dark mornings shown thy mask]”

dana levin you will never get death / out of your system

delmore schwartz summer knowledge: selected poems (1938-1958): “darkling summer, ominous dusk, rumorous rain”

matthew olzmann mountain dew commercial disguised as a love poem

ghazal (@dobaara) my anger and loneliness are lovers

nikki allen search party: names for my mother

ellora sutton (newborn)

emily skaja letter to s, hospital

benjamín naka-hasebe kingsley born year of the uma

hieu minh nguyen litany for the animals who run from me

brandy nālani mcdougall he mele aloha no ka niu

ai vice: new and selected poems: “cuba, 1962″

gig ryan civil twilight

troy osaki o heat we protest

nick carbó andalusian dawn: “directions to my imaginary childhood”

chen chen i’m not a religious person but

sally wen mao oculus: “anna may wong stars as cyborg #86″

srikanth reddy voyager: “book three: 19″

golden & when they come for me (reprise)

natalie scenters-zapico notes on my present: a contrapuntal

evan knoll blood makes the blade holy

jesús papolete meléndez hey yo! yo soy!: 40 years of nuyorician street poetry a bilinguial edition: “of a butterfly in el barrio or a stranger in paradise”

kofi

[asunsetgrace16]

♤ ⚓︎ ｉｓｌａ ｒｏｄｒｉｇｕｅｚ ‣ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒

main masterlist ⎥ au masterlist⎥ navigation

[𝟶𝟷]  ___  𝙱𝙰𝚂𝙸𝙲𝚂

Name(s): Isla Elizabeth Rodriguez

Nickname(s): Lala, Ronnie

Age: 17

Birthday: July 13, 2006

Birthplace: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Allergies: Lactose

Conditions/Illnesses: Lactose intolerant

Occupation: wants to be a professor

Education: High school diploma, taking her Bachelor of History

Current Residence: San Jose, California

Hobbies: Surfing, swimming, reading, painting, History-related things

Family: Mom - Alissa, Dad - Carlos, Brothers - Carlos Jr (CJ), Marco, and Evan, Sisters - Monica and Summer

Pets: Cat - Soso

Sports: School swim team, part of a surf club

Past Relationships:

[𝟶𝟸]  ___  𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙴𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴

Height: 5'7

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Dark Brown

Birthmarks: Small one on her ribcage

Scars: One on her temple going into her hair from a surfing lesson gone sideways

Tattoos: Sailboat behind her ear

Style: Coastal Cali girl, blue and cream, bikini top and denim shorts, Macklin's white button-up shirts, simple gold jewelry, beach waves, Birkenstocks and oversized t-shirts

Piercings/Accessories: 2 ear lobe piercings on each ear, conch on one ear, helix on the other

[𝟶𝟹]  ___  𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚈

Introvert or Extrovert: Definitely extroverted. She is half Cuban with five siblings, so their house was never quiet. Her family is big and loud and loving. She is a social butterfly and loves kids, she has taught a junior surf program every summer for three years

Mood/Temper: Isla is very passionate and stubborn, she is independent and protective of the people she loves

Dreams/Goals: get her PhD and be a History professor, keep teaching kids how to surf, and have a family

Strengths: good work ethic, open-minded, caring and generous and selfless

Weaknesses: puts everyone before herself too much, forgets that she deserves to be taken care of

Quirks: is always drawing a little boat on things, very much a homebody

Habits: has a cup of coffee and a muffin with her dad every morning, always knocks on the door in the same pattern; short-short, long

Fears: being upside down, throwing up

[𝟶𝟺]  ___  𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴𝚂 & 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴𝚂

Likes: seafood, soft sweaters, animals, snorkelling, card games, funny socks, being outside

Dislikes: slow walkers, rude people, her brothers (in a sibling way), math, homework, carnival rides

[todaysbug]

November 3rd, 2023

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)

Distribution: Found across the United States, up to southern Canada and down to Mexico, Jamaica and Cuba.

Habitat: Mainly found in deciduous forests and citrus orchards.

Diet: Adults feed on nectar and the liquid from animal waste; plants fed on include lantana, azalea, bougainvillea, soapwort, dame's rocket, goldenrod, Japanese honeysuckle and milkweed. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of plants in the citrus family.

Description: The giant swallowtail's larva is also called the orange puppy due to the fact that it's a pest of citrus trees, including orange trees. In order to protect itself from predators, the caterpillar camouflages itself by imitating the appearance of bird or lizard poop. If this doesn't fool a predator, it has a trick up its sleeve—or more accurately, its head; it can deploy an osmeteria, which is a brightly-colored Y-shaped growth, whose appearance is often accompanied by a strong, foul odour. This only really works to startle smaller predators, though, such as lizards and other insects.

Due to global warming, the giant swallowtail's range has gradually expanded northward. However, they're still only able to overwinter in areas of the deep south. They can be spotted fairly easily—adults have a wingspan of up to 19 centimetres, making the giant swallowtail the largest butterfly in North America!

(Pictures by D. Gordon E. Robertson and Lanare Sevi)

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Mexican Fritillary - Euptoieta hegesia

I'm absolutely overjoyed to share these beautiful Butterfly pictures! Not only is the insect in question a real stunner, but these images also represent the first close-ups of the ornate and elegant Fritillary Butterflies (Tribe Argynnini) on this blog. In general and from my own experience, Fritillaries are incredibly quick to flee if they sense danger approaching! They only ever seem to land when they investigate flowers, but otherwise keep their distance. In fact, the genus "Euptoieta" name originates from a Greek word meaning 'easily scared'. Prior to this, I've only been able to share one image of my own photography from High Park, and even then it was taken from far away and merely included as a comparison photo to Fritillary pictures shared with me by a dear friend on her yearlong Asia trip (who was available to get much closer than I did). With these pictures from a very dear friend enjoying a Mexico vacation (for which I'm very thankful for), the beauty and detail of these royal and gilded Butterflies can be observed gloriously. The sole exception here being the legs which are concealed by the wings. Just keep in mind that as a Brush-Footed Butterfly (family Nymphalidae)* it only has 4 legs in use for walking and landing.

As this Butterfly's common name suggests, its range includes Mexico where it can be seen year-round due to the favorably warm weather. It can also apparently be found in the states of Texas and Arizona (and occasionally Florida) in the latter half of the year and has made its way to other tropical areas such as Cuba. When you see a Fritillary Butterfly flying around, no matter where you find it you'll recognize every future Fritillary as soon as you see one. These gorgeous Butterflies are easily recognized by their marvelous wings, the tops of which are laced with orange scales and accented with dark striped patterns and spots; the undersides tend to have large white or silvery spots. The Mexican Fritillary is a slight exception to this rule as the underside of its wings (not seen here) have a mostly mottled appearance similar to autumn leaves with a small section of vibrant orange featuring white patches on the forewing. Moreover, this Butterfly has a bare, pure orange area on the distal section of its hindwings (where the wings meet the body). Keep an eye out for this bare section of bright orange scales: it is key for identifying this specie if you spot a Fritillary in the south-US/Mexico area. The similar looking Variegated Fritillary (E. claudia) has a completed marking pattern across its hindwings and tends to be a more golden orange rather than the saturated orange of E. hegesia. The two species are much easier to tell apart in adulthood than when enjoying leaves as Caterpillars!

*Note: In the classification hierarchy of taxonomy, remember that Family is ordered before Tribe (which itself comes before Genus). As such, all Fritillaries are Brush-Footed. Their wings are among the most magnificent of all Brush-Footed Butterflies, wouldn't you say? Although...the Monarch is still the most iconic of all.

Pictures were taken on February 11, 2024 in Mexico with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

[cyborg-franky]

Hi Franky,

May I please have for a Rum and Coke with a wedge of lime and cocktail umbrella with Jabra?

Thanks,

Bookwyrm

P.S. Rum and Coke with lime is a Cuba Libre and they're a realy good simple cocktail

I knew there wa a cocktail like this but my brain kept going 'haha no just rum and coke' I clearly need to drink more haha.

Jabra X GN Reader SFW wish some hints of N/SFW [suggestive I guess] WC: 500

You’d never been to a club like this before, something a friend had told you about and it tickled your interest enough to pay the price at the door and slink in with your friend who was now nowhere to be seen, off in the shadows hitting on men you guessed.

That was fine, after all, that’s what this sort of place was for. You would never have considered stepping foot somewhere like this once upon a time but you’d been single longer than you’d have liked and there came certain itches when it came to being single.

Such as company being hit on, flirted with, all those butterfly-inducing feelings that made things tingle and buzz made your palms sweaty, and the little hairs on the back of your neck prickle in the best way—the excitement of the chase.

You stood at the bar sipping your rum and coke, looking around the place. Not what you'd have expected, you would have thought it would be dirty and smelly in a club like this one but it wasn’t. Everything looked like an upscale nightclub. 

Silvers, blacks, and a deep red all around you. You took another sip of your drink, eyes roaming the walls, the various decor catching your eye before you saw a man with a wolfish smirk on his face meet your eye. He quirked a brow and without any signal, he sauntered over, hands in his pockets as he sized you up.

You felt like he was going to eat you and with a tinge of shame in the back of your mind, that thought excited you. Trying to play it cool as the man leaned next to you at the bar you nodded a greeting to him.

“Looking for some company?” He asked, the grin growing larger, showing off more teeth as he stared down that handsome nose at you. You liked he was taller, even with the slouch in his posture.

“Maybe, I’m just looking around, getting a feel of the place.” “Ah first time, I get you, I get you. I managed to drag my friend out tonight too.” Jabra jerked his chin toward another handsome man, tall, lean, straight black hair.

Your eyes widened when you noticed he’d been watching the interaction between you and Jabra. He walked over, far less cocky in his swagger than the man with his arm around your shoulder now. 

“This is Lucci and I’m Jabra, this is his first time here too, maybe we could all have some fun huh?” 

Well, this wasn’t expected nor hated… you’d wanted to get someone halfway cutes attention and now you were being offered all sorts of fun situations by not one but TWO handsome men. You downed your drink and set the empty glass down.

“Maybe after another drink hmm?” You batted your eyelashes and Jabra chuckled, clicking his fingers to get the bartender's attention.

This was going to be one hell of a night to talk about with your friends...

[thehollowwriter]

6. and 46. for Finn!!

Thanks, Cyn! (Not autocorrect changing your name to Cuba 💀)

6. What’s their favourite [insert anything] that they’ve never recommended to anyone before?

Ohh. Finn doesn't have a fixed favourite of anything, really, but for the sake of the question, he really likes ABBA (twst ABBA??? BABBA? Lol). I love giving characters favourite things that nobody would guess lmao.

46. Are they a listener or a talker? If they’re a listener, what makes them talk? If they’re a talker, what makes them listen?

He's a listener. The topic of his paintings, the music he likes, or the animal facts he learned never fails to get him chatting, though, at least to those close to. He's going to talk your ear off about how butterflies suck blood and how they've brilliantly fooled everyone into thinking they're cute, innocent creatures. Good luck.

Tagging:.@distant-velleity @cyanide-latte @theleechyskrunkly @boopshoops @officialdaydreamer00 @kitwasnothere @the-banana-0verlord @krenenbaker @oya-oya-okay

[ozma914]

Old Olympics Events Leave Fans Confused

Here's a look at some past Olympic sports that are no longer in the games.

Several years ago, baseball and softball were pulled from competition. The American women dominated in softball, while in baseball Americans … well, they only got three medals in five tries. The Cuban team grabbed the gold. There’s not much else to do in Cuba, except play baseball and stare longingly toward Florida, where senior citizens have high speed internet and all-you-can-eat buffets.

In lacrosse, a medal event in 1904 and 1908, people in face masks hit their balls with big fly swatters. It died out in the early 1900’s because only the Canadians, British, and Americans were willing to take the punishment. Former lacrosse players are now employed as dog catchers and butterfly collectors.

Basque pelota was only a medal event in 1900, because nobody could figure out how to pronounce it. It’s played on a court with a ball, sometimes using a racket, but sometimes not.

In other words, it’s handball. If they’d called it that, basque pelota-ites would be on Wheaties boxes.

Downhill skiing initially fared poorly, with over a dozen cases of heat stroke before it was moved to the WINTER games.

Tandem cycling was popular in the Olympics, from 1920-72. It’s being considered again with more interesting rules: The guy in front steers, while the guy in back can lash out at other competitors with lacrosse sticks. It’s now a favorite of retired hockey players.

In 1948 winter pentathlon was put on as a demonstration sport, and consisted of downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, shooting, fencing, and horse riding.

All together. In the same event.

Cat Pool proved particularly popular with pooch preference people.

Sweden, which remained more or less neutral through World War II, had a whole army of young men just itching to shoot something: They swept all the winter pentathlon medals. However, the sport was discontinued after ski-clad Swedes on horseback shot all the competitors’ horses while jumping over the fencing.

Motorboarding--I initially thought this was something altogether different--was tried in 1908. It ended with only one boat finishing in each of three races. It turns out the Swedes used their winter pentathlon rifles to shoot up the other boat engines, leading officials to change to rowing.

Polo was a favorite Olympic event in the early 1900’s, but it was canceled after the Swedes sent in their entry forms.

The Olympics also tried an obstacle course … for swimmers. Competitors had to climb over a pole, go over a row of boats, and then swim under another row of boats. Luckily they had an excess of boats left over from the motorboat races.

Speaking of swimming, in 1984 they tried solo synchronized swimming.

Think about it.

Synchronized Ball Inflation preceeded most Olympic sports that included balls, but failed badly after the tennis event caused several aneurysms.

Then there’s the one Olympic sport I actually participated in: Tug of war. Not in the Olympics, but we won, and didn’t have to borrow Swedish rifles to do it. Between 1900 and 1920 the sport was dominated by Great Britain, which sent teams of police officers. And remember, their cops were unarmed. Good thing the Swedes didn’t have a team.

Distance plunging would have been interesting … or not. Athletes would dive into the pool and coast underwater, without moving.

That’s it. The winner is the one who drifted the longest in sixty seconds, or when they floated to the surface, whichever came first. An American won the gold, although it should be noted that this competition happened only once, in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. It should also be noted that only Americans competed.

I’m not sure how they could tell whether the athlete was winning, or drowning.

Groundhog Racing was halted after a series of crashes--and rabies.

Also at St. Louis, another US competitor did an impressive job winning gold in a sport that still gives old gym class haters nightmares: the rope climb. Why was George Eyser so impressive? Because he had a wooden leg.

In 1906 they tried the sport of pistol dueling. No, it wasn’t won by a Swede. It wasn’t really dueling, either: Competitors shot at a dummy dressed in a frock coat, and by dummy I don’t mean the guy who planned the Sochi games. It’s a good thing, because it could have been the one sport where the silver and bronze medals were awarded posthumously.

Finally, here’s a sport they tried just once, at the 1900 Paris Olympics:

Live pigeon shooting.

When the feathers cleared, a Belgian named Leon de Lunden got the gold for downing 21 birds, none of which had a say in the matter. Then he celebrated with a steak dinner.

Once the onlookers got a look at the mess left behind, they decided the Swedes weren’t so bad.

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Remember, books can make your brain strong enough to win a Reading Gold.

[envythemouse]

All-time Will/Hannibal recs (Part 3)

Satyr by sourweather

Summary: Will's anxiety suddenly spikes during sex and Hannibal takes care of him.

Envy’s notes: Another subdrop fic written from Will’s point of view.

Our Place in Time by inameitlater

Envy’s notes: A 217k series with both Will and Hannibal time hopping separately. It’s definitely worth reading at least once.

Atavism by RubyBakeneko

Summary: Will and Hannibal have prolific amounts of sex, but Will refuses to accept tenderness or affection. When Hannibal objects, Will thinks it’s with the aim of controlling him and fostering further dependency. He roleplays as his former self to try and prove his point, steadfastly ignoring his own underlying feelings and motivations. The results are predictably messy.

Envy’s notes: Will doesn’t believe he’s worthy of love after his becoming, Hannibal disagrees.

One Devotes Oneself Wholeheartedly by berlynn_wohl

Summary: “Is this one of those collusions between a corporation and the medical community? Are you being paid by the Sex Council to endorse their product?”

(Hannibal just wants to show Will a good time. Will is a sassy little muffin about it, but ends up crying anyway.)

Envy’s notes: Will prefers toys over sex, Hannibal changes his mind.

Butterfly by multifandom_fanfic_writer

Summary: A butterfly flaps its wings. Will Graham does not survive his stay at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

Hannibal Lecter… does not handle this well.

Envy’s notes: Will kills himself in prison. Hannibal confesses his love too late and then lashes out.

Nothing For It... by Phenobarbital

Summary: ‘I started pretending to dirty talk to you an hour ago and it stopped being pretending 58 minutes ago.’

Envy’s notes: Will wants to piss off some homophobic people by pretending like he’s having sex with Hannibal in their motel room. At some point, it becomes more than just pretending.

On the Lam by Shotgun_sinner

Summary: While on the lam in Cuba, Will reads every article he can find on himself and Hannibal.

After Freddie Lounds writes a puff piece on them, Will starts finding erotic fiction written about he and Hannibal that makes him question everything he's ever known about himself.

Like some of the tags say, he's discovering he might be Hannisexual after all.

Envy’s notes: Will finds out about Hannigram fanfiction and becomes a porn addict. Meanwhile Hannibal thinks Will is cheating, until he uses Will’s computer. Very humorous fic.

An Affair To Remember by chronicopheliac

Summary: Will has been sneaking out at odd hours of the night for some time. Hannibal finally decides to find out why.

Envy’s notes: Very much Dark!Will, you will not believe what he’s done behind Hannibal’s back.

Ready, Set, Action! By IWillBeYourPet

Summary: Hannibal is a well-known and popular porn star, and is instantly smitten with his new scene partner, Will.

Will seems reluctant, clearly pushed into this by his boyfriend Mason, but there are sparks between them instantly. Will is sweet and submissive and desperately in need for someone to save him. And Hannibal is more than game.

Gideon would just like them to make the movie.

Envy’s notes: Porn star!AU but I promise it has plot!

Hypnotized by Rolycraven

Summary: Hannibal wants to help Will destroy the forts in his mind that no longer serve him and build a mind palace of his own. When he hypnotizes Will, rather than revisit the past, Will sees visions of the future which lead to deadly consequences.

Envy’s notes: This is a Hannigram fic where Will has visions of the past and future through hypnosis. I know this is a Will/Hannibal rec list but damn, do I ship Francis and Will in this. The guy worships him.

“And you…” Dolarhyde looked at Hannibal, “You should hear the way he speaks of you. He has chosen you.” Tears stung in Dolarhyde’s eyes. Hatred burned within. “I cannot wait to bite you. Had I met him first, he and I would have been unstoppable. I never would have hurt him the way you have. I would have worshipped him. You will never deserve his love.”

Lastly I want to recommend you guys to read these two reaction fics by the same author, if you haven’t already. They’re pretty popular fics.

When the teacup shatters and Scattering of Memory by SolusMormont

[andromachism]

why my favorite books are my favorite books

the master and margarita, bulgakov.

This was the first book I read when the pandemic started. I picked it up because of the person I liked at the time. I don't like that person anymore, but I love the book. It's a political satire with religious and supernatural fantasy elements. It’s a love story. It’s a love letter to literature. It’s the author's testimony and cry for help due to the censorship he faced. This book is everything. It brought back my pleasure for reading after doing it solely out of obligation for 3 years and for that alone it will always hold a special place in my heart. Also, the demonic black cat is really cool!

death with interruptions, saramago.

Saramago is my all-time favorite writer, and this is not my favorite book of his (that's Cain), but it is the first one I read, and I think it was the perfect introduction. It’s such a funny, beautiful, and sensitive story—unexpectedly romantic without losing Saramago’s usual sarcastic political criticism. It also incorporates some supernatural fantasy elements, as it is about Death taking a vacation. I like to read it when I want something with his style but lighter and quicker than his usual pace. I called it a perfect introduction to Saramago, but honestly, I think it’s just perfect.

(By the way, it’s quite interesting that when Saramago writes about everyone going blind or everyone stopping voting, something extremely tragic and almost dystopian happens, but when people stop dying, he decides to write a romance.)

posthumous memoirs of bras cubas, machado de assis.

Machado is everything to me. I was reading his books before I could properly understand his Portuguese, and much less what he was talking about. But as I grew up and fully understood him, this particular one got me in a chokehold. It's another story about death, but in this case, the deceased main character decides to write his memoir. It's satirical and obviously with supernatural elements. I love how Machado ridicules the elite society of his time while masking it with a likable protagonist who is actually an awful person and a completely mediocre human. So many parts of this story were crucial in my development as an adult, like when the protagonist memorizes quotes from famous authors to appear intellectual (something to be said about those annoyingly pretentious people writing essays about how bad everything popular is and quoting the same authors left and right). (Besides all of that, there is a chapter where a black butterfly flies into Bras' bedroom and lands on his father's portrait. A few chapters later, his father dies. A day before my grandfather died, a black butterfly flew into my room, and then his requiem mass happened on the day of Saint Blaise of Sebaste, who is called ‘Brás’ in Portuguese. This coincidence shook me to a point that will always make this book extremely personal to me.)

frankenstein, mary shelley.

As brilliant as Shelley is, this one is one of my favorites because it shaped me as a human being. When I first read it, I was 16 years old, struggling with my gender identity, sexuality, and body. Because of that, my relationship with my father fluctuated between non-existent and hateful. I was different, that was clear to everyone, and he hated it. So, reading about that creature was an enlightening experience about myself. I, too, felt like a creature—hateful and constructed with someone else’s parts, with none of it ever feeling truly mine. Frankenstein was to me what Paradise Lost was to the creature. I feel like a creation, wretched, helpless, and alone.

a storm of swords, grrm.

I list 'Death with Interruptions' as one of my favorites because of the author, and this one because of the genre. I love fantasy in all its forms, from small elements of it used as plot devices to high fantasy with extensive world-building and fictional beasts. A Song of Ice and Fire is my all-time favorite fantasy series, and A Storm of Swords is my favorite book in it, so it makes sense that this is the high fantasy representative on my list. Robb’s struggles and ultimate downfall will always be ingrained in my mind. The absolute dreadful feeling I got when I read, 'No one sang the words, but Catelyn knew “The Rains of Castamere” when she heard it,' cannot be replicated by any other work of fiction, I believe.

[1787americanrevnerd]

Family Is What You Make It

Part 1 Previous Next

Erik couldn't believe he was back in this kitchen, hell that he was back in this house. He thought that Charles would kick him to the curb, or maybe he was just being nice because of the children. Erik and Charles hadn't talked about Cuba yet, even though it had been nine years since he had left Charles to die.

Once he and the professor were outside the children's range of hearing Charles spun around. "Erik," Erik hated how his stomach still filled with butterflies whenever Charles spoke his name, "we haven't seen each other in a decade, and now you come with two children tow? Erik, what is going on? Where did you find them? Are they yours? Did you kidnap them? I mean-"

"Charles!" Erik interrupted, "I don't know who they are. I found them at a hidden Nazi base. I couldn't leave them there and I didn't know who else to go to. If you don't want me here, say the word and I'll leave."

Charles huffed a laugh, "God, it's been nine years, and I still... you know I could never ask you to leave."

Erik hated Charles, he hated that Charles wasn't angry at him. Charles should yell at him to leave, to never darken his doorstep again. Charles should kill Erik for putting that bullet through his spine, for stealing his sister, for abandoning him, and for killing Shaw. Erik hated Charles. He hated this place, this mansion, that he used to reveal his darkest secrets. He hated the children in the mansion, they were living a life that his ideology could never give them. Most of all, Erik hated himself. He hated how he would still melt at the sight of Charles. He hated how he would do anything Charles asked of him. He hated how he kept crawling back knowing full well that his heart would be broken again, and again, and again.

That's love though, at least according to him. Love is when you would do anything in the world to make someone happy or to see their dreams come true, even if you aren't a part of it. Love can make you feel joy, sorrow, hatred, and contentment all at once. Love is a feeling that Erik doubted he would ever feel again, then he met Charles. Charles, who opened up so many doors for him, showed Erik that he could be more than hatred. Erik had loved before, but Magda and Anya were different kinds of love. He loved Magda and valued her as a human being but they drifted apart near the end. However, there was no getting over Charles. 

"You look just as you did the last time I saw you," Erik told Charles, he turned away.

"We cannot start this again, old friend."

"Why not, Liebster?"

"We both know how this is going to end. Why start the pain all over again?"

"Because, even if it's pain, we are feeling something. One more try, please?"

"There have been so many nights that I spent awake trying to find you. How do I know you mean it this time?"

"I'm planning to use that house on the edge of the property to raise those two kids."

"The old servants' quarters? Why?"

"I was in their position, once upon a time. I feel that they need someone to be there for them."

Charles huffed, "Before we do that, I think we should find out if they have parents."

Erik nodded, and with that, they walked back into the kitchen. The two children were leaving against each other as they stared at their empty soup bowls. Erik always loved those soup bowls, they had small flower-like patterns drawn around the inside and outside of the bowl.

"Hello children, we want to ask you a few questions," Erik told them. Both of the children sat up and nodded.

"What were your parents' names?" Erik asks. 

"Our birth mother's name was Magda Eisenhardt and our adoptive parents were Marya and Django Maximoff," Pietro answered.

Erik paled, Magda Eisenhardt? As in his wife Magda Eisenhardt? The woman who he hadn't talked to in over ten years? Had she truly found someone else so quickly? Then again, Erik wasn't in charge of Magda, he didn't own her. She was an adult and if she had kids after being with him that was okay. After all, Erik had fallen in love with Charles after he left, so he couldn't speak about fidelity. It still hurt though, thinking about what their relationship meant if Magda had kids so soon after Erik and her parted ways.

A pat from Charles drew Erik out of his reverie, "Can you ask the children how old they are and when their birthdays are?"

Erik asked the children Charles' question and they took a moment to count.

"I do not know how old we are, they didn't have many calendars at the base. Our birthday is August 17th, 1957."

Erik did the math in his head, the twins would be fourteen now. Erik tried to count back, to nine months the August of 1957... oh. How could he forget what happened that November? That year was the worst year of his life. He was consumed by his anger and need for vengeance, and it all started in the November of 1956. That November forever changed his outlook on life. That November was the last few weeks of Anya Lehnsherr. That August kick-started the ruthless killer that he is today. That November was the reason that he never wants to have children, a family, or a partner ever again.

It stung more to know that Magda had gotten pregnant soon after their daughter had died. People have different ways of coping, Erik thought, mine was hunting down Nazis and closing myself off from the world. Erik was happy that there was still a bit of Magda left in the world, the fact that the twins were adopted didn't escape him. Erik continued to ask them more questions. He asked them things such as what happened to their guardians, how did HYDRA find them, do you have any family that would want to see them, and if their family cannot be found would you like to live with him?

That was the scariest question, wasn't it? The question meant much more than was explicitly stated. It was a way of showing that Erik was able to open his heart to others still. It was a plea to these children, who were put in an awful situation, to give him a chance to look after them. Most of all it was a way of moving on, a small step to having a family again. Erik liked having people he loved around him but, lately, he had been so afraid of loss that he had forgotten to love. As Erik looked at the malnourished children before him, smiling wide at the idea of a family, Erik could tell that opening his heart to others would be worth it.