#cornucopia legacy challenge

[spacecadet-sims]

Corrigan got 3 A's and a D on his finals.

[justforbooks]

The Oxford Companion to Italian Food by Gillian Riley

Bella Italia! From dumplings to balsamic vinegar, The Oxford Companion to Italian Food by Gillian Riley covers Italy from top to toe.

The variety of Italian food is giddying. No other national cuisine incorporates dishes as diverse as the canederli (dumplings) of the mountainous Trentino region and the couscous of western Sicily, or the wine-infused brasato (pot roast) of Piedmont and the balsamic vinegar of Modena, or the piadina (flatbread) of Romagna and the pane carasau (something like a poppadom) of Sardinia. And despite all the talk of how traditional Italian food is, the great gastronomic mosaic that is Italy continues to shift as it has throughout history; novelties continue to appear: ciabatta was invented by a baking entrepreneur from near Rovigo in the early 1980s.

As if comprehending this cornucopia were not already a daunting enough challenge for the food lover, Italians have made the task even tougher by disseminating endless myths and misconceptions. Everywhere one goes, the people in one small town will swear blind that their salami, their cheese, their nougat is a distinct and altogether more delicious creation than the identical version available across the valley. Then of course there is the peninsula's babel of dialects. There are few uniform terms for even the simplest things. A "World Directory of Pasta Shapes and Names" recently compiled by Italian manufacturers lists 142 different labels for types of pasta - and that's just the ones beginning with C.

For all of these reasons, anyone setting out to write an encyclopedic guide to the thousand cuisines of Italy needs to be brave, brilliant, learned and almost certainly a little unhinged. To judge by her marvellous Oxford Companion to Italian Food, Gillian Riley is all of these things.

Her book is a grand buffet of curious delights. Riley writes to entertain as well as to inform, and never holds back when there is a choice anecdote to relate. We are told how to create a table-top rocket by applying a match to the rolled wrapper of an amaretto biscuit, and how the fettuccine Alfredo that appear on every Italian restaurant menu in the US were invented to charm Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford on their Roman honeymoon.

Understandably, there are also times when Riley seems to get lost in her own erudition. The notion of tipicità, literally "typicality", is fundamental to the way Italians think about their food: it means the way a dish typifies or embodies its place of origin. Riley uses it, in Italian, without explanation and without an entry of its own. She also refers constantly to the great cookery writers of earlier eras. Figures such as Platina, Scappi, Corrado and Artusi have fascinating stories of their own, and they are hugely important in the long history of Italian food. But repeated cross-referencing to these and other names will probably become tiresome for the uninitiated. The occasional entry, like the one on "Apician flavour", is plain baffling, giving the impression of the author muttering to herself. As someone who has spent years trying to get the measure of Italian cuisine, I can only sympathise.

Riley's prevailing tone echoes that of a highbrow tourist bible from an earlier era - a Baedeker or a Blue Guide. So when she writes on the Italian regions, for example, she tends to see the landscape, the legacy of ancient Greece and Rome, and the Renaissance. For my taste at least, The Oxford Companion to Italian Food cites far too many paintings by old masters - on no stronger grounds than that they portray some vegetable or other. Riley has written beautifully on food in art before, but her entry on "Artists" here amounts to an attempt to justify alluding to every artichoke and cauliflower in the Uffizi gallery. On more recent history and culture, Riley is often breezy and unconvincing. The "economic miracle", from 1958-63, is described as a "wave of easy living". Yet, for good and ill, the kind of historical forces that were at work during the miracle - mass migration, industrialism, urbanisation, modern transport, women's entry into the labour market - have shaped the way Italians eat in far more important and fascinating ways than have Virgil or Caravaggio.

The book is at its best when it distils the experience of countless cooks, and blends its learning skilfully with a mouth-watering sense of texture and flavour. Try the page on "Panzanella" for starters, followed by "Salmoriglio" and "Snail", and finished off with "Parmesan" and "Crumiri". Delicious. Riley is never reluctant to express a personal opinion, or intrusive when she does so. Her scepticism about the recent nostalgia for cucina povera ("poor cuisine") is sane and refreshing. She is also good at poking fun at how we garble the grammar of Italian eating. In Italy, nobody "drizzles" olive oil, or puts out a dish of it to dip bread in at the start of a meal.

The Oxford Companion to Italian Food may be eccentric at times, but it is essential browsing for the serious Italo-foodie.

🔴 Be warned: it will also make your copy of Jamie's Italy seem embarrassingly lightweight.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[aurorangen]

As a "sim parent" (sim maker) we shouldn't have favorites - but we do. Post your favorite sim baby (the golden child) and least fav. Pass it on!

hi kyra! ty for the ask! i'm picking from sims i have created from scratch, too hard to pick from postcard legacy, they're all my faves <3

oscar my love! look at his handsome face! tjol legacy is still on hiatus. since i never really started it, i want to refresh this story and replace the posts with my current gshade (for consistency👍). i played a bit when i had no inspiration to do renee's story, just enjoy snowy escape gameplay. it will be back one day, when i have more time of course!

i'm sorry harlow! this sim i created to start the cornucopia legacy challenge (can't find the rules anymore the creator deleted it) in 2021/22. the first gen was pumpkin and i made him look like one. my preference now is gameplay to be more realistic, i think he's cute but i can't get around the fact he looks like a pumpkin! i never started it cuz i found the postcard legacy challenge and it was more interesting.

[sutterbuttes]

The Art of Gifting with Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co.: Elevate Every Occasion with Exquisite Food Gifts

In a world where gifts are often predictable and generic, finding something truly unique and thoughtful can be a delightful challenge. Enter the realm of food gifts, a timeless and universally appreciated gesture. At Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co., we believe that the art of gifting should be an experience that tantalises the taste buds, excites the senses, and leaves a lasting impression.

The Joy of Giving: Why Food Gifts?

Food gifts have an innate ability to bring people together. They are more than just items; they are experiences, conversations, and memories waiting to happen. When you choose a food gift from Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co., you are not merely giving a product; you are offering a taste of tradition, quality, and craftsmanship.

Celebrating Special Moments

From birthdays to anniversaries, housewarmings to holidays, our curated selection of gourmet food gifts caters to every occasion. Imagine the delight of your loved ones as they unwrap a beautifully packaged gift box, revealing an assortment of our finest olive oils, vinegars, and artisanal treats. Each product is carefully crafted to ensure that every drop and bite is a testament to our commitment to excellence.

Personal Touch and Thoughtfulness

What sets food gifts apart is the personal touch they carry. A bottle of our award-winning olive oil or a jar of our decadent fruit preserves speaks volumes about your thoughtfulness. It's a way of saying, "I care about your well-being and culinary adventures." With Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co., you can tailor your gift to suit the recipient's tastes and preferences, making it a truly bespoke offering.

Our Signature Food Gifts

Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Collections

Our signature collections are the heart of Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Each set is a harmonious blend of flavours, perfect for enhancing any dish. Whether it's our classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, infused varieties, or our rich, aged Balsamic Vinegars, these collections are designed to elevate everyday cooking to gourmet heights.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

Our gourmet gift baskets are a cornucopia of delights, featuring a curated selection of our finest products. From savoury snacks to sweet indulgences, each basket is a journey of flavours. Perfect for corporate gifts or as a luxurious treat for someone special, these baskets showcase the best of what we have to offer.

Customised Gifts

For those who wish to add a personal touch, our customised gifts are the perfect choice. Choose from our wide range of products and create a unique combination that reflects the recipient's preferences. Whether it's a mix of spicy oils and tangy vinegars or a sweet selection of fruit butters and honey, the possibilities are endless.

The Sutter Buttes Experience

At Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co., we are passionate about creating products that embody the essence of quality and tradition. Our commitment to sustainable practices and sourcing the finest ingredients ensures that every gift you give is not only delicious but also ethically produced.

A Legacy of Quality

Our journey began with a simple vision: to create premium olive oil that honours traditional methods while embracing innovation. Over the years, we have expanded our range to include a variety of gourmet products, each crafted with the same dedication to excellence. Our legacy is built on a foundation of quality, and this is evident in every product we offer.

Ethical and Sustainable Practices

We believe in giving back to the community and the environment. Our sustainable farming practices and eco-friendly packaging are a testament to our commitment to a better future. When you choose a food gift from Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co., you are supporting a company that values integrity and sustainability.

Conclusion:

In a world where material gifts often lose their charm, food gifts from Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. stand out as a timeless and thoughtful choice. They are a celebration of flavours, an expression of care, and a testament to quality. The next time you are looking for the perfect gift, remember that the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, and there is no better way to make an impression than with a gourmet food gift from Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co.

[natolesims]

Autumn is when these three are at their best :D

I blame it on the pumpkin season. It charges them up fully with spice, crispy and cozy vibes.

[whimsicalsimmies]

🥺🤧

[happysunnyflower]

Hi, guys! I'm back for a while! I've been playing casual games for many days but I didn't feel the inspiration or desire to share here. Recently I decided to start a new generational challenge and it is a Legacy challenge that I started some time ago with another sim but I could not continue it because I did not feel that I was doing well.

I present my Gemstone Legacy. For this challenge I chose Alana Cornucopia, remember her? I leave a photo below. She is the daughter of Etham Cornucopia one of the Sims with whom I made my Globetroter Challenge. I hope you like it, and I hope to finish it! 😅 Here's the summary:

Alana has to complete

The Beach Life Aspiration

Start in a empty lot with 100 simoleons (I started in a furnished starter home)

Work in Od Jobs

Marry the first adult sim to rate you 5 stars in Od Jobs

Max the fishing and fabrications skills

Your only friend is Your spouse

For this Legacy Challenge I will be using the ratsave 1.2 by @ratboysims

More information about the challenge in the photo 👆

A photo of Alana as a baby

[adanaysim]

Olympus Legacy Challenge

Sul, sul amici!  Visto che mi piacciono particolarmente le sfide, ma avevo voglia di qualcosa di “nuovo”, ho deciso di collaborare con Rebel_Dayream a una nuova #legacy

Vi piacciono gli Dei dell’Olimpo? Allora questa legacy fa proprio al caso vostro.  A seguire tutte le regole:

REGOLE GENERALI

Si parte con un sim giovane adulto femmina. 

Non si possono utilizzare trucchi o mod per i soldi.

Si parte con 1800 simoleon (se vuoi azzardare puoi partire da zero inserendo nella barra dei trucchi la cheats: money 0 o money 1800 se si parte da quella somma)

Sono ammessi CC

Sono ammessi le mod (ma non vanno sfruttate per guadagnare più simoleon)

Tratti acquistabili vietati:

pozione della giovinezza

frugale

imprenditoriale

servizi gratuiti

contatti

albero del denaro

indipendente

autosufficiente

Impostare la lunghezza della vita su normale. Se si utilizza la MCC command center non impostare una vita più lunga dei seguenti parametri:

bebè 3 giorni

Toddler 10 giorni

Bambino 15 giorni

Adolescente 15 giorni

Giovane adulto 30 giorni

Adulto 30 giorni

Anziano 15 giorni

GENERAZIONE 1

DEMETRA

Si parte con una sim DONNA, giovane adulta. COLORE PREFERITO: Verde

Descrizione: Dea dei cereali, della flora, dell'agricoltura, del raccolto, della crescita e della nutrizione. Era una delle divinità maggiori dei misteri eleusini, dove il suo potere sul ciclo della vita delle piante simboleggia il passaggio dell'anima umana dalla vita all'oltretomba. Era rappresentata come una donna matura, spesso con una corona, un fascio di graminacee e una torcia. I suoi simboli sono la cornucopia, la spiga, il serpente alato, e il loto con il fusto. Gli animali a lei sacri sono i maiali e i serpenti. 

Per chi NON possiede vita in campagna

Tratti:

ama l’aria aperta

Corretta

Fanatico del verde

Tratti premio da acquisire:

pollice verdissimo

Scenario in cui vivere: Windenburg

Aspirazioni: Natura - Fanatico dell’aria aperta

Carriera: nessuna

Tratti lotto: terreno ottimo (gli altri a scelta)

Obiettivi della generazione:

deve avere almeno un figlio maschio e una figlia femmina. (continuare a fare figli finché non escono entrambi i sessi). Se si ha avuto da subito gemelli un maschio e una femmina, è possibile decidere se far avere altri figli o meno.

non può avere una carriera canonica, può solo registrarsi in municipio come agricoltore e vivere dei frutti della terra (frutta, fiori, verdure ed erbe aromatiche) che dovrà coltivare lei stessa (è vietato assumere giardinieri).

Può fare composizioni floreali e venderle.

Raggiungere il livello 10 nell’abilità di giardinaggio.

Raggiungere il livello 10 nell’abilità di composizione floreale.

Raggiungere il livello 10 in erboristeria.

Celebrare ogni stagione con decorazioni e/o eventi (festività invernale, giorno del raccolto, giorno dell’amore, e crea una festività come ferragosto per l’estate).

Deve sposarsi solo raggiunta l’età adulta. Non è obbligatorio che sposi il padre dei figli.

Deve avere almeno un cane e quando muore, deve adottarne un altro.

Per chi possiede vita in campagna

Corretta

Appassionata di animali

Ama l’aria aperta

Tratti premio da acquisire:

pollice verdissimo

Scenario in cui vivere: Henford-on-Bagley

Aspirazioni: Custode di campagna

Carriera: nessuna

Tratti lotto: terreno ottimo (gli altri a scelta) 

Sfida del lotto: Vita semplice | Lotto per volpi

Obiettivi della generazione:

deve avere almeno un figlio maschio e una figlia femmina. (continuare a fare figli finché non escono entrambi i sessi). Se si ha avuto da subito gemelli un maschio e una femmina, è possibile decidere se far avere altri figli o meno.

Raggiungere il livello 10 nell’abilità di giardinaggio.

Raggiungere il livello 10 in punto croce.

Celebrare ogni stagione con decorazioni e/o eventi (festività invernale, giorno del raccolto, giorno dell’amore, e crea una festività come ferragosto per l’estate).

Deve sposarsi solo raggiunta l’età adulta. Non è obbligatorio che sposi il padre dei figli.

Deve partecipare ad ogni contest (torta, ortaggi e animale) e vincerne almeno 1

Il figlio maschio durante l’infanzia e l’adolescenza  dovrà acquisire il tratto speciale: irresponsabile e polemico

Il figlio maschio (erede) e la figlia femmina devono avere un brutto rapporto.

FACOLTATIVO: La founder può essere incantatore (l’erede della prossima generazione deve essere umano)

GENERAZIONE 2

ARES

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere MASCHIO- COLORE PREFERITO: Arancione

Descrizione:

Dio della guerra, dello spargimento di sangue e della violenza. Le leggende lo rappresentano come un dio dalla forza bruta e impulsiva. Era molto fortunato in amore. Tutti i suoi figli presero il temperamento bellicoso del padre. Omero lo descrive come inaffidabile, umorale, sanguigno.

Tratti:

Testa calda

Sicuro di sé

Perfido

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Senza vergogna

Scenario in cui vivere: Strangerville

Tratti lotto: Atmosfera perfida

Aspirazione: Luogo - Mistero di Strangerville

Aspirazione per chi non ha il pacchetto: Devianza - modello di malizia

Carriera: Criminale - ramo boss

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve farsi almeno 5 nemici in tutta la sua vita.

Raggiungere il livello 10 nella carriera.

Prima di sposarsi deve avere almeno 2 relazioni con simme che non saranno la moglie.

Una volta sposato dovrà avere e mantenere una relazione extraconiugale (a discrezione può avere anche altre avventure).

Raggiungere il livello 10 di malizia

Raggiungere il livello 10 nell’attività fisica

Deve avere 3 figli da 3 simme diverse (obbligatorio avere almeno una femmina). 

Deve creare un club e fare un raduno almeno una volta a settimana le cui attività dovranno essere: arraffare oggetti, hackerare, sabotare oggetti e usare interazioni maliziose.

Lui non sarà un buon padre, troppo preso dai suoi loschi affari e dal suo caratteraccio. Pertanto si curerà poco della prole lasciando il compito alla compagna.

I figli che genererà, dovranno trasferirsi nel lotto familiare.

GENERAZIONE 3

AFRODITE

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere FEMMINA. COLORE PREFERITO: Rosa

Descrizione:

Dea dell'amore, della bellezza, del desiderio, della fertilità e del piacere carnale. Secondo Omero, Afrodite, per volere di Zeus sposò Efesto, che tradì ripetutamente con Ares, da cui ebbe molti figli.

Tratti:

Romantica

Egocentrica

Estroversa

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Allettante

Abile a baciare

Scenario in cui vivere: Del Sol Valley

Tratti lotto: Aura romantica, Casa di celebrità (arrivati al livello massimo di celebrità)

Aspirazione: Amore - romantico seriale

Carriera: Attrice

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve intraprendere la carriera e vincere almeno un premio per la recitazione

Deve sposarsi in età di giovane adulta con un sim poco piacevole di aspetto

Non deve mai fare figli con il marito.

Dovrà avere diversi amanti e avere figli da loro (senza essere beccata, il marito deve crederli figli suoi). 

Il numero di figli è a libera scelta, ma deve avere almeno un maschio.

Deve fare almeno una volta la maratona di streaming

Deve andare alla SPA almeno una volta a settimana 

Raggiungere il livello 10 di benessere

Raggiungere il livello 10 di carisma

Raggiungere il livello 5 di fama prima che diventi anziana.

Raggiungere il livello 10 della carriera.

Dopo essere stata ignorata dal padre per tutta l’infanzia, adesso lei vuole essere per i suoi una brava madre. Deve avere un buon rapporto con tutti i suoi figli.

GENERAZIONE 4

POSEIDONE

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere MASCHIO. COLORE PREFERITO: AZZURRO

Descrizione:

Dio del mare, dei fiumi, dei laghi, delle alluvioni, dei maremoti e dei terremoti. Aveva il potere di suscitare le più violente tempeste e di instaurare la pace più completa. Gli animali a lui sacri sono il cavallo e il delfino.

Tratti:

Figlio del mare

Buono

Solitario

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Cacciatore di tempeste

Tratto del lotto: zona sismica, Fuori dalla rete

Scenario in cui vivere: Sulani

Aspirazione: Vita da spiaggia - una volta completata scegliere Progenie di successo

Carriera: Ambientalista - biologo marino

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve andare a fare volontariato almeno una volta a stagione.

Deve ripulire la spiaggia e portare Sulani al livello massimo, togliendo l’inquinamento.

Raggiungere il livello 10 di pesca

Raggiungere il livello 10 di sommozzatore

Deve innamorarsi di una simma e corteggiarla. Potrà però sposarla e andarci a convivere solo in età adulta.

Deve essere sempre fedele alla compagna.

Deve raggiungere il livello 10 della sua carriera prima di diventare anziano.

Deve avere almeno 4 figli.

Deve avere almeno 4 amici fuori dalla propria unità familiare.

Completare la collezione di conchiglie.

L’erede della prossima generazione deve guadagnare il tratto responsabile e risoluzione dei conflitti e andare bene a scuola.

Deve far amicizia con un delfino

FACOLTATIVO: Per chi lo desidera, puoi rendere il sim un tritone e se vuoi, puoi trasformare in sirena anche la moglie. L’erede della prossima generazione, tuttavia, deve obbligatoriamente essere una creatura umana.

GENERAZIONE 5

ATENA

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere FEMMINA. COLORE PREFERITO: Grigio

Descrizione:

Dea vergine dell'intelligenza, della pace, delle arti manuali, della strategia militare, dei manufatti e della saggezza. Nacque dal cervello di Zeus, già adulta con in mano una lancia e uno scudo. Protesse sempre la giustizia e la conoscenza, fu la fautrice del lavoro operoso.

Tratti:

Genio

Perfezionista

Ambiziosa

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Lettrice veloce

mentore e sapiente

Tratto del lotto: pace e tranquillità, covo scientifico, buone scuole

Scenario in cui vivere: Oasis Spring

Aspirazione: Sim rinascimentale o a scelta prima Accademico e dopo Sim rinascimentale

Carriera: A scelta tra Legge - procuratore privato oppure Scienziata

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve avere un fidanzato da adolscente e sposarlo raggiunta l’età di giovane adulta.

Il matrimonio non va bene e i due divorziano. 

Potrà avere un’altra relazione stabile, ma potrà sposarsi solo da adulta.

Raggiungere il livello 10 di logica

Raggiungere il livello 10 di missilistica

Raggiungere il livello massimo di ricerca e dibattito

Raggiungere il livello 10 nella sua carriera

Deve avere un solo figlio (deve mangiare le mele per far sì che sia maschio, per questo sono ammessi anche trucchi e mod per decidere il sesso del nascituro).

Deve completare la collezione dei minerali

Deve leggere un libro almeno una volta a settimana.

Sarà un genitore attento e severo. Tiene particolarmente all’istruzione di suo figlio e perciò lo aiuta a fare i compiti. 

Atene dovrà morire prima di arrivare all’età anziana (sono permessi trucchi).

GENERAZIONE 6

DIONISO

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere MASCHIO. COLORE PREFERITO: Giallo

Descrizione:

Dio del vino, delle feste, della follia, del caos, dell'ubriachezza, delle droghe e dell'estasi. Nacque a Tebe dall’amore di Zeus e di Semele. Rimase senza madre perché questa volle vedere il marito in tutta la sua maestà e ne fu folgorata. 

Tratti:

Buongustaio

Buffo

Amicone

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Animale notturno

incredibilmente amichevole

Tratto del lotto: Ambiente da festa, conviviale, accogliente

Scenario in cui vivere: San Myshuno

Aspirazione: Animale da festa

Carriera: Chef - mixologo

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve avere almeno 3 relazioni prima di sistemarsi.

Il sim può convivere, ma non deve sposarsi mai.

Deve organizzare almeno 4 party in cui guadagnare la medaglia d’oro (gli eventi sono a vostra scelta).

Deve recarsi in un lotto comunitario notturno almeno una volta a settimana.

Deve partecipare ad ogni festival di San Myshuno almeno una volta per ogni tipo.

Raggiungere il livello 10 in comicità.

Raggiungere il livello 10 di mixologia.

Raggiungere il livello 10 nella carriera.

Raggiunto il livello 10 nella carriera di mixologo deve licenziarsi e trovare un nuovo lavoro o come Intrattenimento - comico oppure Social Media - pubbliche relazioni

Quando si reca nei locali notturni può guadagnare simoleon esibendosi come DJ

Può avere un numero di figli a scelta, obbligatorio una figlia femmina.

GENERAZIONE 7

ARTEMIDE

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere FEMMINA. COLORE PREFERITO: Marrone

Descrizione:

Dea vergine della caccia, del selvaggio, degli animali, della foresta, e della luna, protettrice delle fanciulle, delle vergini e del parto senza dolore. Possedeva una bellezza austera e fredda, come si addiceva a una dea simbolo di castità. Infatti non volle esser toccata da amorose passioni ma vivere nei boschi, inseguendo gli animali che cacciava con il suo infallibile arco. Dotata di uno spirito vendicativo pari a quello del fratello (Apollo), Artemide uccideva chiunque suscitasse la sua ira. Gli animali a lei sacri, oltre al cervo, comprendono orsi, cinghiali, cani e altri animali di bosco.

Tratti:

Non flirtante

Amante dei cani

Pessimista

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Sim mattiniero

Tratto del lotto: Ritrovo per cani e gatti

Scenario in cui vivere: Brindleton Bay

Aspirazione: Amico degli animali

Carriera: Clinica veterinaria oppure Medico

Obiettivi della generazione:

Non ama essere toccata, per questo ha avuto solo storie platoniche. La simma deve arrivare al matrimonio senza aver mai fatto fiki fiki.

La sua vita è  dedicata alla conoscenza e alla carriera.

Fino all’età adulta la sua unità familiare dovrà essere composta solo dai animali in special modo i cani 

Dovrà adottare una volpe e almeno un altro cane.

Incontrerà l’amore della sua vita solo nell’età adulta e si sposeranno in privato senza invitati. 

Deve avere almeno due figli di cui un maschio.

Raggiungere il massimo valore della clinica veterinaria (se si è scelta questa carriera) o raggiungere il livello 10 di medico.

Raggiungere il livello 10 di addestramento

Deve avere una migliore amicizia.

Deve far acquisire al figlio il tratto educato.

GENERAZIONE 8

ERMES

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere MASCHIO. COLORE PREFERITO: Bianco

Descrizione:

Dio dei confini, dei viaggi, delle comunicazioni, degli scambi commerciali, dei linguaggi e della scrittura, protettore dei viandanti, dei vagabondi e viaggiatori. Figlio di Zeus e Maia, era il messaggero degli dèi e uno psicopompo che accompagnava le anime dei trapassati nell'aldilà. Gli animali a lui sacri erano la tartaruga, il gallo e l'avvoltoio.

Tratti:

Avventuroso

Attivo

Allegro

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Sguardo acuto

ottimo narratore, mania ginnica

Tratto del lotto: brezze tonificanti, conviviale

Scenario in cui vivere: Monte Komorebi

Aspirazione: Atletica -> Appassionato di sport estremi (una volta completata la prima turista del Monte Komorebi)

Carriera: Atleta - Atleta professionista

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve andare in palestra almeno una volta a settimana

Deve completare con successo l’evento di scalata del Monte Komorebi

Raggiungere il livello 10 in attività fisica

Raggiungere il livello 10 di sci e/o snowboard

Deve imparare a mangiare con le bacchette

Raggiungere il livello 10 nella sua carriera

Durante il corso della sua vita deve fare almeno due vacanze

Deve sposarsi e divorziare con almeno 3 simmine e morire single.

Scelta libera sul numero dei figli, ma deve avere almeno una femmina.

Deve avere almeno 5 amici.

GENERAZIONE 9

ERA

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere FEMMINA. COLORE PREFERITO: Viola

Descrizione:

Regina degli dèi e dea del matrimonio, delle donne adulte, dell'eredità, dei re e degli imperi. È la moglie e sorella di Zeus. Benché fosse la dea del matrimonio, Zeus le era molto infedele e questo le procurava gelosia e sete di vendetta.

Tratti:

Amante della famiglia

Gelosa

Ordinato

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Fertile

maestra delle griglie e delle cucine

pulitrice veloce

Tratto del lotto: accogliente, linea temporale, cucina dello chef

Scenario in cui vivere: Willow Creek

Aspirazione: Famiglia - grande famiglia felice

Carriera: istruzione - professore oppure avere e gestire un ristorante

Obiettivi della generazione:

Si sposa con il suo amore adolescenziale

Deve avere almeno 5 figli (tra cui un maschio)

Raggiungere il livello 10 di cucina

Raggiungere il livello 10 di cottura al forno

Raggiungere il livello 10 di Cucina gourmet 

Raggiunge il livello 10 in genitorialità

Deve infornare dei dolci ogni domenica e organizzare cene in famiglia.

Deve preparare lei stessa le torte di compleanno per i membri della sua famiglia. 

Deve raggiungere il massimo nella sua carriera.

(se si sceglie carriera dell’istruzione) si licenzia arrivata al livello 10 per potersi dedicare alla famiglia.

GENERAZIONE 10

ADE

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere MASCHIO. COLORE PREFERITO: Nero

Descrizione:

Re del mondo sotterraneo, della morte, del rimorso e del rancore. Sua moglie è Persefone. Animali a lui sacri sono il lupo, il serpente e il gufo. Sposò Persefone contro il volere di Zeus. Gli antichi evitavano di nominarlo per paura di suscitarne la collera.

Tratti:

Snob

Odia i bambini

Malvagio

Tratti premio da acquisire:

coraggioso

licenza paranormale

Tratto del lotto: maledetto, spettrale, creature zampettanti

Scenario in cui vivere: Forgotten Hollow

Aspirazione: Devianza - Nemico pubblico oppure se si sceglie il paranormale Maestro dei vampiri

Carriera: Agente segreto - criminale oppure Investigatore del paranormale

Obiettivi della generazione:

Deve avere una brutta reputazione.

Raggiungere il livello massimo nell’attività paranormale (se si ha il pack).

Raggiungere il livello 10 in organo (o pianoforte se non si ha il pack)

Deve organizzare la festa in costume a tema spettrale (da scegliere negli eventi a premio) e vincere la medaglia d’oro.

Si sposa da giovane adulto, ma dopo aver avuto l’erede decide di cacciare moglie e figlio dalla propria casa.

Raggiungere il livello 10 nella carriera

Sposa un fantasma che dovrà far tornare umano prima che muoia.

Deve salvare un sim dalla morte

Deve coltivare il fiore della morte

FACOLTATIVO: l’erede di questa generazione può essere un vampiro.

GENERAZIONE 10 ALTERNATIVA

APOLLO

L’erede che prosegue la legacy deve essere MASCHIO. COLORE PREFERITO: Rosso

Descrizione:

Dio della musica, delle arti, della conoscenza, della cura, della profezia, della bellezza maschile, del tiro con l'arco e del sole. In miti più antichi è in competizione con Ermes, suo fratellastro. Nelle sculture è rappresentato come un ragazzo molto bello, senza barba e con lunghi capelli, dal fisico ideale. Essendo perfezionista poteva essere crudele e distruttivo, e i suoi amori sono raramente felici. Per esempio, l'inutile corteggiamento della ninfa Dafne, entrambi vittime di Eros che aveva colpito lui con una freccia d'amore (per punirlo della sua vanità) e lei con una d'odio. Lei venne trasformata in lauro e perciò Apollo ne adorava le foglie e spesso le indossa.

Tratti:

Creativo

Amante dell’arte

Creatore

Tratti premio da acquisire:

Senso commerciale

visione creativa

Tratto del lotto: Casa studio, luce naturale e acustica grandiosa

Scenario in cui vivere: Evergreen Harbor

Aspirazione: Creatività - Pittore magistrale

Carriera: Nessuna

Obiettivi della generazione:

Raggiungere il livello 10 di pittura

Raggiungere il livello 10 di scrittura

Raggiungere il livello 10 di falegnameria

Molto corteggiato, uscirà con diverse simmine, si innamora solo dopo aver avuto un appuntamento con almeno 5 sim diverse.

Si fidanza da giovane adulto, ma prima delle nozze scopre che lei lo ha tradito e la lascia sull’altare.

Si sposerà con la sua migliore amica dopo la delusione d’amore.

Dovrà vivere dei suoi quadri, libri e lavori manuali.

Dovrà recarsi in un luogo comunitario almeno una volta a settimana.

Il numero di figli è facoltativo

Deve imparare a suonare almeno uno strumento a scelta.

[ultimavolatusrpg]

ACCEPTED // GLITTER ROSSEAU

32 years old, 81st Hunger Games, FC: Bridget Regan

Intelligent, compassionate, cunning, observant, detached

tw: forced prostitution, violence, death, child abuse

THE ARENA

The 81st Hunger Games launched in the middle of an expansive African Savannah with an oasis near the cornucopia, sprawling grasslands, and twisting trees.  Lions, antelope, elephants, giraffes, and birds of every sort filled the arena providing ample sources of both potential food and potential danger. Lions mauled tributes to death and an elephant stamped crushed others underfoot.

There was little respite from the sweltering heat and burning sun causing most tributes to burn in the sun and unable to stay hydrated.  The Career pack was particularly brutal, killing many of those that animals did not. Vultures circled overhead, an ominous warning to the tributes that remained as the environment wore them down.  In the end it was Glitter Rosseau of District One taking the title after having slit her district partner’s throat in a highly emotional finish that left few eyes dry and burned into the memory of the Capitol.

BIOGRAPHY

Growing up as the child of a District One victor meant only one thing, you were going to volunteer for the Hunger Games and you were going to win or die trying.  That pressure was even more amplified as the child of a victor that was the child of a victor. Her father, Platinum, won the 57th Games. Her grandfather Midas won the 29th.  As an only child, Glitter knew she was her father’s pride and joy. Nothing would have made him happier than to see his daughter victorious in the Hunger Games and Glitter had known that since she was a little girl.  She was born into a legacy and grew up in the village surrounded by other victors, both careers and non-careers. From a young age she was trained by her father, and when she turned twelve he packed her off and sent her to District One to attend the Academy, only to return to her home in the victor’s village once victory was hers.  It would make him proud and there was nothing that she wanted more.

Glitter excelled at some skills in training and failed miserably at others, but her teachers and father agreed that she would make a promising tribute.  Her father’s tales of his games were burned into her memory from the countless times he retold them all throughout her childhood. It twisted the sweet, innocent child into something else.  Her sole focus on became her future as a tribute and her dream of glory in the arena. Unlike most of the other Careers, Glitter didn’t want the glory for herself. She wanted the glory to prove she was not just Platinum Rousseau’s daughter and to make her father proud.  She knew if she failed his opinion of her would forever be tarnished. That was unacceptable.

Almost all Glitter’s time was spent training.  She didn’t have much of a social life outside of those she trained with.  It was during training that she met Silver Galloway. They shared an on again off again relationship all the way through their years at the academy.  Her father disapproved, but that didn’t stop Glitter from sneaking out to see him, or Silver from sneaking in her window after dark. Most people were envious of her as she was highly favored at the Academy, but Silver wasn’t like that.  Perhaps that was why she liked him. Unfortunately, good things never happened to Glitter for very long. She just wasn’t that lucky.

The Games were the be all and end all of Glitter’s goals.  She had no plans beyond winning the Hunger Games to make her father proud.  The twisted and warped Career mindset completely distorted her opinion of the Games.  She didn’t see it as wrong. All she saw it as was a challenge she needed to win.

When Reaping Day came the year she was seventeen, Glitter volunteered before the female tribute’s name had finished falling from the escort’s lips.  Standing on the stage she saw a proud smile form on her father’s lips. He would be her mentor and together they would win the games once again for District One.  Failure would not be tolerated. If there was one thing he had drilled into her head during her life; that was it. The downside was she never expected to go to the 60th Games.  Glitter had always planned on volunteering for the 61st once she turned eighteen. When the Academy picked her as the top student she was happy except that meant one thing, she was going into the arena with her boyfriend.

Glitter and Silver had been together all through the Academy, but when it became clear they were going to the Games together, they distanced themselves from each other.  They were Careers, not lovebirds. They couldn’t go in with love clouding their critical thinking. It would cost them sponsors. It would make them look weak. If there was one thing they both knew, at least one of them was coming home.

When Glitter rose up into the arena, she saw tall grass, blinding sunlight, and a few trees dotting the horizon.  It was an African Savanna. There was tall grass everywhere in the aired environment. Lion mutts stalked through the tall grasses and birds swarmed overhead.  Glitter stuck with the Career pack and by the end of the first day she had killed three. Using her stealth to her advantage, it was easy to sneak through the tall grass like a lion stalking its prey.  She was there before people even realized it with a quick slash across a throat or a snap of the neck. Glitter killed quickly and effectively. Unlike the boy from Two who quickly became the one who enjoyed listening to the tributes screams, Glitter offered mercy killings.

Her games were bloody, brutal, and despite being attacked by a lion mutt, Glitter stood victorious.  By the time the Career pack broke apart she had assessed the skills and weaknesses of the others and used them to her advantage.  She killed the boy from Two and the Girl from Four while Silver handled their partners. By then she’d killed eight and Silver was the last one standing beside her.  They were Careers. There was no “I love you” and bargaining. Silver gave her a slight nod, almost as if he was granting her permission to finish him, before he attacked.  He was brute force but she was lithe and moved quicker. All it took was one slash of her knife across his throat before it was all over. Silver coughed on his blood and Glitter fell to her knees beside him.  She was sobbing when the canon sounded and the hovercraft appeared to remove her from the arena. It was wrong. Everything about the games was wrong.  

Before the games Silver had been more than an ally.  He had been more than just her friend. He had been the first boy she kissed at the tender age of thirteen.  He had been the boy who told her that once they both won their games they would get married. It was foolish.  She should have known there was no such thing as a happy ending.

After her games she was different.  True, she would forever be her father’s pride and joy but that seemed like such a hollow victory.  Most nights Silver was there, haunting her dreams and asking her why things happened like this. The nights when he wasn’t her terror it was the other tributes from other districts that she had slaughtered for her own self-preservation.  Everyone spoke about the glory of becoming a victor but no one, not even her father, told her what it cost. No one told her how heavily the lives of those she took would weigh on her conscience. Even years later the nightmares still came and she wished she could tell these eager young careers what they were really in for.  They saw nothing but the fame and the glory. They didn’t realize how killing tore your soul apart. They’d never spilled blood before stepping inside the arena. They couldn’t possibly know how it would change you.

So, Glitter kept to herself, but the Capitol would have none of that.  She was too pretty and too popular to stay hidden away in the village. They made their threats clear and she found herself in the company of countless Capitol citizens without any choice in the matter.  Her relationship with her parents was strained, so the Capitol used her tributes as leverage to get her to do everything they wanted. It was cruel, but effective. Glitter hated them for it but without help she knew there was nothing she could do.  Perhaps the worst part was knowing her father knew what would happen and didn’t warn her. She hated him for it and despite living just a few houses down, has done everything in her power to keep him out of her life.

As a pawn of the Capitol, Glitter was vulnerable.  Rich Capitolites paid for her company and she loathed every moment of it.  When she was only nineteen she became pregnant with her first child.  The result of a threesome she had been booked for, leaving Glitter unsure of who the father even was.  Glitter was petrified and hid her condition for as long as she could. She didn’t know what else to do and feared retribution from both the Capitol and her child’s father.  The Capitol saw a legacy in Glitter’s child and the father wanted nothing to do with it. So Glitter raised her child alone. Emerald, or Emmy as Glitter called her, was the apple of her eye.  There was nothing Glitter wouldn’t do to protect her daughter and shield her from the pressure that came with being a victor’s child, despite knowing the Capitol would love to see a repeat performance.  No doubt they were looking to break the Rosseau family victor streak.

For years it was just Glitter and Emmy, the two of them against the world.  At least until her daughter had just turned nine. Glitter realized she was pregnant for the second time.  While she knew it would be harder with two, she knew she could do it. She managed motherhood once. A second time would be no different.  Her son Sterling was born and the dynamic duo became an indestructible trio. In the few years since Sterling’s birth, Glitter is happy with her family.  They’re a team of three, but a team nonetheless. She couldn’t have asked for anything better to come out of so much trauma and pain.  

There are few people that know what Glitter is truly like.  In the Capitol she is always smiling. The cameras are always on her and despite hating it, Glitter extrudes confidence and the typical Career arrogance as a defense mechanism.  In truth she wished for nothing more than the chance to hide herself away from the world. For so long she fought tooth and nail to get to this point. Now she just wants a do over.  Hindsight is a very funny thing like that. Those that know her well see her as a smart woman that cares too deeply while regret consumes her. Those that don’t know her well see her as a blunt and abrasive bitch.  They see a Career. She hates what she is, but she doesn’t know how to be anything else. Appearances are everything in the Capitol, and Glitter refuses to let the world see the woman behind the mask.

PENNED BY: MADI

[tothewaterhq]

ACCEPTED // GLITTER ROSSEAU

district 1 mentor → victor of the 61st games → bridget regan fc

positive traits: intelligent, compassionate, observant negative traits: cold, cunning, bitchy

describe their arena: 

The 61st Hunger Games launched in the middle of an expansive African Savannah with an oasis near the cornucopia, sprawling grasslands, and twisting trees.  Lions, antelope, elephants, giraffes, and birds of every sort filled the arena providing ample sources of both potential food and potential danger.  Lions mauled tributes to death and an elephant stamped crushed others underfoot.

There was little respite from the sweltering heat and burning sun causing most tributes to burn in the sun and unable to stay hydrated.  The Career pack was particularly brutal, killing many of those the animals did not.  Vultures circled overhead, an ominous warning to the tributes that remained as the environment wore them down.  In the end it was Glitter Rosseau of District One taking the title after having slit her district partner’s throat in a highly emotional finish that left few eyes dry and burned into the memory of the Capitol.

biography:

Growing up as the child of a victor in District One meant only one thing, you were going to volunteer for the Hunger Games and you were going to win or die trying.  That pressure was even more amplified as the child of a victor that was the child of a victor.  Her father, Platinum, won the 37th Games.  Her grandfather Midas won the 9th.  As an only child, Glitter knew she was her father’s pride and joy.  Nothing would have made him happier than to see his daughter victorious in the Hunger Games and Glitter had known that since she was a little girl.  From a young age she trained at the Academy to be a victor just like her father had been.  It would make him proud and there was nothing that she wanted more.

Glitter excelled at some skills in training and failed miserably at others, but her teachers and father agreed that she would make a promising tribute.  Her father’s tales of his games were burned into her memory from the countless times he retold them all throughout her childhood.  It twisted the sweet, innocent child into something else.  Her sole focus on became her future as a tribute and her dream of glory in the arena.   Unlike most of the other Careers, Glitter didn’t want the glory for herself.  She wanted the glory to prove she was not just Platinum Rousseau’s daughter and to make her father proud.  She knew if she failed his opinion of her would forever be tarnished.  That was unacceptable.

Almost all Glitter’s time was spent training.  She didn’t have much of a social life outside of those she trained with.  It was during training that she met Silver Galloway.  They shared an on again off again relationship all the way through their years at the academy.  Her father disapproved, but that didn’t stop Glitter from sneaking out to see him, or Silver from sneaking in her window after dark.  Most people were envious of her as she was highly favored at the Academy, but Silver wasn’t like that.  Perhaps that was why she liked him.  Unfortunately, good things never happened to Glitter for very long.  She just wasn’t that lucky.

The Games were the be all and end all of Glitter’s goals.  She had no plans beyond winning the Hunger Games to make her father proud.  The twisted and warped Career mindset completely distorted her opinion of the Games.  She didn’t see it as wrong.  All she saw it as was a challenge she needed to win.

When Reaping Day came the year she was seventeen, Glitter volunteered before the female tribute’s name had finished falling from the escort’s lips.  On the stage she saw a proud smile form on her father’s lips.  He would be her mentor and together they would win the games once again for District One.  Failure would not be tolerated.  If there was one thing he had drilled into her head during her life; that was it.  The downside was she never expected to go to the 60th Games.  Glitter had always planned on volunteering for the 61st once she turned eighteen.  When the Academy picked her as the top student she was happy except that meant one thing, she was going into the arena with her boyfriend.

Glitter and Silver had been together all through the Academy, but when it became clear they were going to the Games together, they distanced themselves from each other.  They were Careers, not lovebirds.  They couldn’t go in with love clouding their critical thinking.  It would cost them sponsors.  It would make them look weak.  If there was one thing they both knew, at least one of them was coming home.

When Glitter rose up into the arena, she saw tall grass, blinding sunlight, and a few trees dotting the horizon.  It was an African Savanna.  There was tall grass everywhere in the aired environment.  Lion mutts stalked through the tall grasses and birds swarmed overhead.  Glitter stuck with the Career pack and by the end of the first day she had killed three.  Using her stealth to her advantage, it was easy to sneak through the tall grass like a lion stalking its prey.  She was there before people even realized it with a quick slash across a throat or a snap of the neck.  Glitter killed quickly and effectively.  Unlike the boy from Two who quickly became the one who enjoyed listening to the tributes screams, Glitter offered mercy killings.

Her games were bloody, brutal, and despite being attacked by a lion mutt, Glitter stood victorious.  By the time the Career pack broke apart she had assessed the skills and weaknesses of the others and used them to her advantage.  She killed the boy from Two and the Girl from Four while Silver handled their partners.  By then she’d killed eight and Silver was the last one standing beside her.  They were Careers.  There was no “I love you” and bargaining.  Silver gave her a slight nod, almost as if he was granting her permission to finish him, before he attacked.  He was brute force but she was lithe and moved quicker.  All it took was one slash of her knife across his throat before it was all over.  Silver coughed on his blood and Glitter fell to her knees beside him.  She was sobbing when the canon sounded and the hovercraft appeared to remove her from the arena.  It was wrong.  Everything about the games was wrong.  

Before the games Silver had been more than an ally.  He had been more than just her friend.  He had been the first boy she kissed at the tender age of thirteen.  He had been the boy who told her that once they both won their games they would get married.  It was foolish.  She should have known there was no such thing as a happy ending.

After her games she was different.  True, she would forever be her father’s pride and joy but that seemed like such a hollow victory.  Most nights Silver was there, haunting her dreams and asking her why things happened like this.  The nights when he wasn’t her terror it was the other tributes from the other districts that she had slaughtered for her own self-preservation.  Everyone spoke about the glory of becoming a victor but no one, not even her father, told her what it cost.  No one told her how heavily the lives of those she took would weigh on her conscience.  Even years later the nightmares still came and she wished she could tell these eager young careers what they were really in for.  They saw nothing but the fame and the glory.  They didn’t realize how killing tore your soul apart.  They’d never spilled blood before stepping inside the arena.  They couldn’t possibly know how it would change you.

So, Glitter kept to herself, but the Capitol would have none of that.  She was too pretty and too popular to stay hidden away in District One.  They made their threats clear and she found herself in the company of countless Capitol citizens without any choice in the matter.  Her relationship with her parents was strained, so the Capitol used her tributes as leverage to get her to do everything they wanted.  It was cruel, but effective.  Glitter hated them for it but without help she knew there was nothing she could do.  

As a pawn of the Capitol, Glitter was vulnerable.  Rich Capitolites paid for her company and she loathed every moment of it.  When she was twenty one she became pregnant with her first child, fathered by one of those godforsaken men.  Glitter was petrified and hid her condition for as long as she could.  She didn’t know what else to do and feared retribution from both the Capitol and her child’s father.  The Capitol saw a legacy in Glitter’s child and the father wanted nothing to do with it.  So Glitter raised her child alone.  Emerald, or Emmy as Glitter called her, was the apple of her eye.  There was nothing Glitter wouldn’t do to protect her daughter and shield her from the pressure that came with being a victor’s child, despite knowing the Capitol would love to see a repeat performance.  No doubt they were looking to break the Rosseau family victor streak.

For years it was just Glitter and Emmy, the two of them against the world.  At least until her daughter had just turned nine.  Glitter realized she was pregnant for the second time.  While she knew it would be harder with two, she knew she could do it.  She managed motherhood once.  A second time would be no different.  Her son Sterling was born and the dynamic duo became an indestructible trio.  While Sterling is l only a few months old, Glitter is happy with her family and sees how Emmy dotes on her brother.  She couldn’t have asked for anything better to come out of so much trauma and pain.  The one pitfall is Sterling’s father, a Sponsor looking to gain control of his son, forcing Glitter into a bitter custody battle with the man who’s payment seemed to make him feel entitled to her child.

Overall, Glitter is the epitome of a hard working mentor.  She would do absolutely anything to help her tributes win.  There are lines she will cross to make sure everything is to their best advantage.  She will do anything.  Winning over sponsors is the easy part for her.  The hard part is trying to get her tributes to listen.  Careers are notoriously cocky and come to her fully convinced that they know what’s the best thing for them to do in order to win.  Getting them to listen to her advice is often far trickier than convincing the sponsors to spend a few extra hundred dollars on any one tribute.

There are few people that know what Glitter is truly like.  In the Capitol she is always smiling. The cameras are always on her and despite hating it, Glitter extrudes confidence and the typical Career arrogance as a defense mechanism.  In truth she wished for nothing more than the chance to hide herself away from the world.  For so long she fought tooth and nail to get to this point.  Now she just wants a do over.  Hindsight is a very funny thing like that.  Those that know her well see her as a smart woman that cares too deeply while regret consumes her.  Those that don’t know her well see her as a blunt and abrasive bitch.  They see a Career.  She hates what she is, but she doesn’t know how to be anything else.  Appearances are everything in the Capitol, and Glitter refuses to let the world see the woman behind the mask.

PLAYED BY // MADI 

[spacecadet-sims]

[oliveratlanta]

Annual Atlanta arts fest moving to Pittsburgh neighborhood to honor ‘culture, history, heroes’

ADAMA executive director Fahamu Pecou’s work can be found at MARTA stations such as Ashby. | Curbed Atlanta

The historically underserved community is fast evolving, and ELEVATE leaders want to maintain “cultural capital”

The City of Atlanta’s annual public art festival won’t be held downtown this year, but rather in the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Called “ELEVATE: Pittsburgh,” the festival is being relocated next month as part of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’s efforts “to preserve and celebrate the cultural legacy of the fast-changing neighborhood,” officials say.

In recent years, Pittsburgh has witnessed unprecedented growth, attracting major real estate development investments that are changing the historically underserved neighborhood.

This incarnation of ELEVATE will aim to spotlight the neighborhood’s “culture, history, and heroes” as a way to memorialize them, as Pittsburgh and surrounding areas feel the forces of gentrification creep in.

The African Diasporic Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) is curating this year’s festival, promising to inspire attendees to take stock of the area’s “cultural capital.”

The weeklong festival also “seeks to present the beauty and challenges the neighborhood faces while attempting to maintain ownership of its cultural heritage, while encouraging cultural exchange in a time of institutional development and artistic reinvigoration,” a press release states.

“As developers make plans to reimagine Pittsburgh, we will explore the often overlooked yet deeply embedded cultural resource of one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods—its people,” said ADAMA executive director and noted local artist Fahamu Pecou, in a prepared statement.

The project also endeavors to highlight the importance of focusing on small, local businesses and other community-led institutions during Pittsurgh’s era of unpredictable growth.

Part of ELEVATE: Pittsburgh, the “Pyramid Food Project” will redesign the black-owned Pyramid Grocery in a way that addresses neighborhood issues with so-called “food deserts”—areas starving for easy access to healthy food.

With the help of festival patrons, Pyramid Grocery could be reimagined “as both a cornucopia of fresh food and juices for local communities, as well as a space of beauty,” featuring a redesigned interior.

In a similar vein, the popular—if controversial—“Pink Store” is primed to receive a mural makeover that will plaster it with images of notable community members.

Another mural is expected to be created outside the Pittman Park Recreation Center.

The festival will also see five “mural bike racks” installed around Pittsburgh.

And on ELEVATE’s last day, expect a children’s book fair and musical performances; Pittman Park will become an artist market; and Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing will be shown.

The festival is scheduled to run from October 14 to 19.

source https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/9/11/20860537/elevate-atlanta-arts-festival-pittsburgh-downtown-fahamu-pecou

[abarahman-richard-chignell]

Nationalism...A Whole Lotta Nationalism!

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuh,   The original title was going to be "A revert's thoughts on the rise in Nationalism drawing on the Quran and Sunnah", but "a whole lotta nationalism" is appropriate given the rise of it everywhere and the length, I',m afraid, of this podcast! I normally try to avoid politics but in this day and age, it's almost impossible (Brexit, Trump, Saudi, China, to name just a few that seem to be all that is in the Western news). As always I want to try and tackle this in a way that is helpful to reverts or those rediscovering their Islam as this can be a rather difficult area to navigate as it involves it seems one has to question identities, nationalities, allegiances, religion, etc. It is rather a lot easier to understand if you are of Pakistani or Bengali heritage in the UK or Latino in the US, you've sadly experienced navigating this complex mix of where you fit in one way or another on a daily basis. If you are a refugee, life has always been hard, you never left your home just for a giggle, contrary to what it seems many people think you are not an expat who is just from a quote-unquote 'undesirable' country.  If you are from Palestine the struggle is in your blood. And of course this is just a snapshot of cases and far from fully inclusive. But of course, as a revert, you may be from none of the cultures under 'attack' you may even be from the culture or nation that is doing the attacking of your now new Brothers and Sisters. As a Brother from Britain or France, for example, you have the colonial legacy to deal with too. A Sister from the USA has the modern colonial warmongering of her own country to somehow come to terms with. As an Arab, you have the difficulty of leadership that never seem to represent the Islam that is everything to you, in a good light...I found and find this topic incredibly complicated and I hope that InshaAllah my thoughts and how I try to navigate this minefield may be of some value. Let me set the scene by giving some examples of rife nationalism and then tackle the Islamic view on this through some excerpts from the Qu'ran and hadith.  Although a warning ahead of time: my efforts to deal with this through an Islamic lens are going to be in no way exhaustive. Alhamdullilah this is simply because there are so many references that I could choose. Allah is the most Kareem (Kind) and his Messenger pbuh the best of examples - it should not surprise you that like most things - we've got this covered! DOCUMENTARIES I cut the cord to the TV ten plus years ago but still sometimes go down a YouTube rabbit hole now and then with my wife! We basically stick to lectures or documentaries in some pseudo attempt perhaps to be educated or intellectual ha ha. I am more than aware that our recent 'watchlist' is thanks to Google and whatever clever algorithm they have deployed to nicely serve up things for us to watch on a plate. Thank you YouTube algo-developers you clever little things! The 'freedom of choice' that we have online and the 'echo chamber'  effect is a whole other topic. I'm not going there today!!   Anyway recently we watched a series of interesting documentaries, from what I can remember, on VICE channel, Journeyman Productions, Ross Kemp on Gangs, BBC, Al Jazeera, etc I said it was a binge so let me share the ones I can remember:   Immigration - the harsh, fraught, struggle filled, emotional journeys of Syrians / Sub-Saharan Africans / Eritreans (the North Korea of Africa) / kind British people on the island of Lesbos / less kind Greek locals with a 'treat them mean and they won't continue to come' approach (as if that is going to do anything when they are willing to risk injury and death to leave where they are coming from) / unkind French and Italian police / kind local French people willing to go to court over providing refuge in their gardens to tens of refugees every day /  the disgraceful French police behaviour at the Calais Jungle camp. Israel, although we normally don't watch things on the Israeli occupation as my heart breaks at the barbaric nature of this ongoing apartheid and the international communities unwillingness to act on behalf of the Palestinian victims, we did watch an interesting thing on how the Haredi Jews have refused to serve in the Israeli military for religious reasons and yet how the Zionist government are not letting them get away with it. Now persecuting their own people for their religious beliefs which they are meant to share. As I'm an Englishman and we have a bit of a dark humour, I must confess to being amused by how un-Jewish the Zionist government are, and how if you are actually a practising Jew you are also borderline, or maybe not even borderline, an 'enemy of the state'! Also, I had no idea what a large number of practising Jews were opposed to military service.  A cursory bit of research highlighted that there are many other Jews like the Hasidic Jews who are against the occupation and service in the IDF.   We watched on Guantanamo Bay and how it is still open and on a 'tour' were quite amazed by how little the US soldiers guarding knew about their 'enemy' that they were holding. This is rather damning of the educational level and natural intellectual inquisitiveness. Even the base commander with rather a lot of stars on his shoulder confessed to knowing next to nothing! Quite staggering. Of course, the former guard who reverted to Islam featured in the documentary, mashaAllah, so it is wrong to totally generalise - we come to Islam in some very unexpected ways! Allahu Akhbar! We also watched Hate Thy Neighbour on the Deep South of America and the horrid EDL in the UK which was simply staggering for the total demonstration of ignorance and racism that are on both sides of the 'pond'. As an Englishman watching the EDL I just felt horribly ashamed. It is quite hard for me to fathom how this country can produce such disgusting characters from its midst.   A documentary on the most insane murder rate in Mexico border towns controlled by the cartels and how El Salvador is just so dangerous that those expelled from the US who have never really known El Salvador as home are willing to walk this 'caravan' that takes a minimum 30 days, and is truly treacherous, to try and get back into the US. Fully aware of the stakes involved if they are caught and that is if they beat the odds and even get anywhere near the border in the first place. We watched one on Afghanistan being, amongst a cornucopia of other natural resources, a gemstone capital. The one we watched focussed on emeralds and if you can afford them and want the greenest in the world then Afghanistan surely has them! This backed up what Afghan friends of mine had said about mineral resources in the country that I confess to never quite believing. It is amazing when you see for your own eyes that it rams home the point that you've been sold a dud by the media. It might even make one question the real motivations over the presence in a country that historically has been a graveyard for one army after another? Also, a debate hosted by intelligence squared and Chaired by Lyse Doucet (BBC's Chief International Correspondent) with the motion that "The West should cut ties with Saudi Arabia". For the motion were Mehdi Hassan (Journalist and Al Jazzera Broadcaster) and Madawi Al-Rasheed (LSE Professor and expert on Saudi Arabia). Against the motion Crispin Blunt (Conservative MP for Reigate - just up the road from me) and Mamoun Fandy (Egyptian born Middle East expert). It was a thoroughly good debate and well worth the watch. Before coming into the event 41% said they were for the motion, 22% against, 37% undecided. After the debate the positions had changed to 63% for the motion, only 5% were undecided, 32% were against. That was a swing of 6% towards the motion that "The West should cut ties with Saudi Arabia".  An obvious trigger and feature of this debate was the alleged but clearly fairly solid 'off with his head' order by MBS on journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul. We also watched an interesting Oxford University Hard Talk on "What is the human cost to China's economic miracle?" again with Mehdi Hasan who this time was challenging Charles Liu on China's economic and human rights record - particularly on the Uighur Muslim detention or extermination depending on who you choose to believe.  Many are calling this ethnic cleansing and again it is happening pretty much undeterred. I forget where we watched it, but a just heartbreaking look at the humanitarian disaster that is Yemen, with a war that has been going on since 2015!  The civil war was ongoing but everything got significantly worse and became the worlds worst humanitarian crisis upon the involvement of the Saudi-led coalition. As in every war, civilians are bearing the brunt and suffering. Normally Scandinavia is portrayed as the lands where everything works, people are the happiest in the world, etc. Yet another documentary on the rise of Far Right parties puts pay to that notion - at least in my mind. In the sidebar, there were similar documentaries on neighbouring and regional countries. Sweden was even interesting and frightening in that there is a vicious battle between these right wing hate filled groups and militant violent left groups that actively combat the fascist right. All of this centred around the topics of nationalism, immigration, race, etc.   It is not just the algorithm served documentary binge fest where nationalist, separatist, racist, derogatoriness seems to be the global norm. The Christchurch terrorist act occurred and is obviously fresh in everyone's mind. As everyone knows this was nationalist, racist and hate inspired. I will not elaborate on that here. You may like to listen to my former podcast that covered the global Muslim reaction I experienced to this dreadful event, especially as it may not have been the reaction you may have expected (you can find it here). WHATSAPP Another example is from my own WhatsApp. I am a member of a number of Malaysian WhatsApp groups, after having lived there, and there is always a whole heap of Malay nationalism due to their concerns about the Chinese takeover of their country and the economic destruction that comes from not following Islamic economic principles at the state level. Post Christchurch I have received a troublesome number of links to mosques being vandalised in the north of England, we had Surrey Police talk in my local mosque and say that there had been a terrorist act against Muslims in normally sleepy Surrey. A 50-year-old man ranting about 'white supremacy' knifed a 16-year-old in a supermarket carpark..... and what is sad I am sure there are far more examples that someone with less aversion to media and social media could add to this already saddening list. The Today Show was shared with me where Muslim parents are upset about primary school sex and relationship education and Piers Morgan, taking on the mantle of a gay rights activist, decided to slander the Muslim journalist on his show, and Muslims in general, with an Islamaphobic and racist rant which was aired on an apparently well watched national TV channel. Although interesting the last 6 minutes or so were not featured online via the TV station where Piers steps a little too far over the line (the full version was sent to me). Piers, Piers, Piers, we are here to stay, when are you going to get that? Many of us are white like you mate. No, we're not going back to Islamabad, most of us never came from there, we're as British as you and have contributed more to building this society with real-world jobs than you. Wind your neck in mate. Accept that in a pluralistic society a favourite soundbite that you like to throw out, which is defined as: "A pluralistic society is a diverse one, where the people in it believe all kinds of different things and tolerate each other's beliefs even when they don't match their own.", you are going to have to accept that there are a whole bunch of us who face Mecca 5 times a day, wear different clothes, and rank God above all things. We accept you, time to actually be pluralistic and stop always targetting Muslims. That my friend is called Islamaphobia and you are only getting away with it because we don't seem quite as good as the Jews have been at getting it to be a term that people quake at being associated with, like anti-Semitism but.... we will get there soon inshaAllah, so watch out! NEWSPAPER Now I don't normally get a newspaper as I have a method that suffices my needs using my investment platforms excellent resources and I prefer books or periodicals for their deeper more thoughtful analysis. In general, I am not a fan of the 'news' per se. I know many successful people who seem to be just fine operating in a complete news blackout or reading headlines on the daily newspaper as they walk past a newsstand. However, after my family took my Dad out for lunch at the Shard last week I picked up an FT. I did it as a kind of walk down memory lane as I used to take the FT every day. As a finance chap, there really is no substitute. Now, this is not meant to be topical but rather an example of what is being pumped out and consumed. What I mean is that it is not specifically these stories that matter but rather the type of content I want to highlight. Scanning other newspapers in preparing a bit for this podcast, there is a commonality running through almost all UK publications - the examples I'm citing are indicative of the general state of affairs. I'm going to be referring to the Tuesday 19 March 2019 International Edition. Amidst the pages, on literally almost every page, what do you get but: Nationalism, Nationalism, Nationalism!   Also, I quite like the FT as they don't mess about! The news section is a few condensed pages before they get full-on business. So let me walk you through this sample Tuesday from our look-for-the-nationalist or leaning-that-way articles and references: 

- The front page headline has of course Brexit with "May's Brexit hits block as Bercow rules out third vote on same deal", naturally this sets the tone for a number of other articles where everyone guesses about the fiasco that has become the Brexit. The FT indicates what is coming in the rest of the paper on the front page. - Turning to page two, blissfully we get a pass.  - Page three has four articles all of which are loaded with nationalistic, and because this is Britain schoolboy antics of our esteemed politicians. The main article is "Bercow adds to May's problems while delighting Europhiles and Brexiters". The photo below showing Union Jacks and European flags jostling for our attention. As its a Brexit piece it is safe to say that this is nationalistic, them and us stuff. Then we have "Leavers will back PM's deal 'if she agrees to go'. In short, this is where conservative party members seem more interested in their positions in parliament than the future of the country. Pretty standard fare for politicians. We also have "Article 50 Back to Brussels with extra baggage" which is of course more of the same about poor old Theresa May having to go back and forth to Brussels to try and find some way out of this pickle we as a nation have got ourselves in. Finally, we have more of the games in the Conservative party with "Johnson and Raab jockey for position" which is all about how to slip into the PM spot as Theresa May leaves. Oh yes, it's not about serving the public interests first but rather serving their own. Loyalty to none it seems. Of course, cherrypicking some terms we have plenty of "leading Eurosceptic contenders", "prominent Brexiters", "insisting they are acting in the national interests", "hardline Brexiters", "pro-Brexit hardcore", etc, etc, yawn, yawn. - Page four we have a detour from Brexit woes for a little foray into Europe-land. "Staff resist Czech tycoon in battle for Le Monde"  is an article on a Czech billionaire looking to acquire control of the famous Le Monde newspaper. We have quotes like "I'm very suspicious of a foreign billionaire trying to get a foothold in the western establishment through the ownership of a media, especially through a newspaper such as Le Monde, which sets the tone and agenda of news in France and beyond". Yet we also have someone presumably talking on behalf of Kretinsky the billionaire saying "He is a Francophile and believes that France plays an important role in the fight of populism.". So here we have suspicion, foreign, western (making Czech back to the Eastern Bloc I presume), French nationalism in Le Monde as voice, Francophile, populism. Then it gets deeper as of course, we have "French interior minister in hot seat after yellow vest protest". This is more of the yellow vests protests that descended into violence with rioters setting fire to newsstands, a bank, restaurants and ransacking more than 90 shops. Sadly also for this chap they report on his playing around with waitresses rather than his wife. Who only knows what this movement is about anymore. It may not be so nationalistic but it is certainly popular and violent. And of course the French are often quick to say that everywhere immigrants come from are uncivilised and yet here we have France regularly looking like a war zone. - Page five, oh dear me, we have "Brazil's Trump pivots towards US in boost for White House", with subtitle "Rightwing Bolsonaro's Washington visit brings hope on both sides of closer ties". I can probably rest my case here but there are two disturbing quotes I will site to ram home the point: Firstly: "Day's before Jair Bolsonaro's meeting with Donald Trump this week, a select group of enthusiasts gathered at the Trump International Hotel in Washington to celebrate the ideas that helped bring the two rightwing populist leaders to power.Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of the Brazilian president who won a landslide election in October, was there. So too, as co-host of the event, was Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist who has set up a club for nationalist populist leaders called The Movement. "This is a very important movement and not just for Brazilian-US relations.... but the world," Mr Bannon told the gathering. "Ideas have consequences, and with the arrival of Bolsonaro [in Brazil], Trump [in the US], Orban [in Hungary], and Salvini [in Italy], it's a critically important time."We're at last doing what communists and socialists did a long time ago," added Eduardo Bolsonaro, who is also head of Brazil's congressional foreign relations committee. "We're organising ourselves internationally". All I will say personally is that I find this level of organisation globally of Nationalist leaders, the language used, and the titling of their club as The Movement, simply terrifying. - Page 6 and I promise we're done, inshaAllah, but there are a couple of things here which are both nationalistic and divisive. I have to make a little detour here. The first is "Erdogan angers Wellington by airing video" where we find out the Mr Erdogan screens footage of the mosque killings during his election rallies. It seems whilst everyone else is noting how well the NZ Primeminister has dealt with the whole affair Erdogan is trying to garner voters that he is struggling to hold onto. Now I am not sure who his advisors are but even my local Imam preached to the community not to share the videos due to the hurt it would cause the victims families, the disrespect to the martyrs, and the fact that it aids the intention of the killer himself. Oh no it seems Erdogan went and dove in with both feet the videos even being captioned "A terrorist who is the enemy of Islam and the Turks". In the rallies, Erdogan said 'the "real target" of the New Zealand killings was the Turkish people, the Turkish flag and the Turkish state.' Do we need to remind Mr Erdogan that whilst he might be struggling for votes that Islam, Muslim and Turk are not synonyms. But, without going too deep into this from the Islamic perspective, we have again(!) another example of rife nationalism. Next, we have "China talks up close ties with EU in riposte to 'systemic rival' label" and language like "concerns Beijing is trying to divide the bloc", China being an "economic competitor" and "systematic rival". China's representative making a big thing of "co-operation is a mainstay of European relations". The whole thing, of course, suggests discomfort from both sides with Europe marking their turf and China doing the same. I am going to finish with the headline "Beijing attempts to justify Uighur detention". As we all know by now Human Rights groups, international concern, yet not enough governments speaking out about the atrocious, ethnic cleansing, abuse, forced marriage, forced consumption of pork and alcohol, all in the name of education, oh and torture, murder, etc,  treatment of the Uighur people in China. Here we have Erdogan reclaiming some class by being the "first leading Muslim-majority country to call on China to close its mass internment camps holding Uighurs." Of course, I don't have to work hard to convince you that this is nationalistic, ethnic, racist, behaviour at play. I do have to say one thing.... you know you have that one friend or family member who is prone to massive exaggeration. Well, it seems China's state council has a serious case of exageritis! Let me read you this quote "Xinjiang has destroyed 1,588 terrorist groups, arrested 12,995 terrorists" and it goes on. But really? Really? 1,588 terrorist groups. 1,588 terrorist groups inside Xinjiang province. I spat my tea out reading that! Come on China state council pull the other one! I think you need to double down on your editorial control to ensure that the 'stats'  you produce have at least some basis in reality. WRAP UP THROUGH THE LENSE OF ISLAM Ok, ok, no I haven't turned this into a news review podcast but what I do hope I have done is demonstrated how everywhere you look there is the talk of nationalism or conditions that trigger nationalistic feelings. There are whole regions in flux and mobile populations at unprecedented scales. I want to say unprecedented but I'm not a good enough historian to know if that is totally true. What is for sure is that there is a significant amount of population movement and a significant amount of nationalism. What I'd like to do now is address nationalism through the eyes of Islam and my views as to how we as Muslims are meant to actually tackle this specific issue of nationalism. I'll start with making the point that Muslims living in non-Muslim majority countries can have issues that are kind of hard for them to deal with although I emphasise they have to rely on the religious teachings of our Deen (religion). Let's note the ease with which Muslims can feel awkward in Western countries with things that are nowhere near in line with our Religious views e.g. homosexuality, sex education at increasingly younger and younger ages, public debauchery, the promotion of gambling, sexualisation of almost everything, diminishing moral standards, etc, etc. Regrettably, the list is quite long. As this warrants a whole other podcast in its own right I am going to cover this in as short and sharp a practical manner as I can without giving any specific scriptural references, I'll save that for the full podcast inshaAllah. The key point: Muslims as long as able to practice their religion have to respect and uphold the laws of the land. After having travelled in many Muslim countries, you will find that many in those lands are jealous of the law and order in the West. There is no perfect Islamic environment in the world. We have to simply make do with what we have and in the West you are really rather blessed, whether you know that or not. Just wise up and be pragmatic. Thank God that you can freely worship, that you can listen to khutba's (sermons) that are not written by the state, that you can homeschool your children if you don't like the state education, that there is good state education at all, that there is access to medical care - which is often free, the rule of law is more balanced, bribery is not rife, etc. My suggestion is don't be a complainy-pants. Don't focus on the few things that are less pleasing and overlook much that is good. We should have shukr gratitude, for the blessings Allah swt has bestowed on us and sabr for those things he has also bestowed upon us that we find hard. As Muslims, remember we are people of shukr and sabr. So what do you do my brothers and sisters about things you are uncomfortable with, like homosexuality? Well how about this? Don't go to any gay bars!! What if you meet someone 'strange' or 'odd'? Be kind and well mannered. You never know if you may be an instrument of Allah swt and a trigger for them looking to Islam. There is no compulsion in religion and we are all the creation of Allah swt after all. A simple heuristic is to worry more about yourself, then your family, then your community, and work your way up. I am sure there are more than enough things for you to work on in those first three areas before being outraged by fringe groups. Even if they are rather vocal considering their meagre numbers.   Back to Nationalism. Look I checked my logic on this whole topic of Nationalism and being a Muslim with one of my close Arabic Brothers who has memorised the Quran mashaAllah. I also asked him for verses that he thought were relevant. There are honestly so many on this topic and additionally many many Hadith. I messaged him the following: "I would like to write something on nationalism and its dangers. It will be along the line of what I believe is stated in the Quran and the Sunnah: that we are Muslim first and from a nation second. That cultural things from our national traditions are cool as long as they don't contradict explicitly something from the Qu'ran and the Sunnah. This is my logical understanding so far." My Brothers response was "I stand with you for this Brother, flags and colours should not take us away from each other, we are being called by Allah swt as "one Ummah" and the only differences between us are in Taqwa which no one can judge except He." Note the key points here. 1) we are an ummah before we are nations with flags, colours, etc, (2) our unity as brothers and sisters in Islam supersedes our allegiances to nation states, (3) in the eyes of Allah swt we are all the same except in our taqwa. Taqwa if you have not heard of it before is our God consiciousness or you can have it translated as fear of Allah swt. It is what makes us do acts in remembrance of Allah swt. This can only be judged by Him the Most Magnificent as He is the only one who can look into the hearts to see this taqwa. None of us mere mortals possibly can. Actually, there is another area I want to share in my communication with my Brother that I think is important to reflect on as Muslims. I laughed with my wife that it is so amazing that I can just ask him for references and he closes his eyes and can just pull relevant verses from the Quran database that is his brain. What an incredible blessing that is from Allah swt and for someone who didn't grow up with any knowledge that people have memorised God's word in its entirety with no errors I continue to be astounded when I see this. I told him we thought this and he laughed. He said "Alhamdullilah Brother, when someone says this to me I really would say as Prophet Suleiman (Solomon) said in the Quran 27:19 "... "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants" Alhamdullilah" Then he tells me "you should teach your kids Arabic Brother, they will be grateful to you afterwards, they will appreciate how much you really love them especially when they read the Quran and understand it the way it was revealed" Then he said: "Walahi Brother, Quran is the only guidance in my life, and without it, I am completely NOTHING. It is my soul's oxygen! and every Muslim's too (supposedly)!" I share this as I feel it imperative to ask anyone still listening or reading: is this how you feel about the Quran? Is this your relationship with it? Is it your oxygen? Are you nothing without it?   It is meant to be! This is what creates our unity, creates our understanding, means that when there are issues like nationalism we know 100% where we stand as Muslims. We know that we're united with every single other Muslim on the Straight Path as we all go our understanding from Allah swt's direct words to us in the Holy Quran as well as the example and explanation of those words from the Prophet pbuh and what we have learnt from the Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them), and the great scholars who have helped ensure in these modern times we understand as we were meant to the way to live. May Allah swt enable us as an Ummah to reconnect with Him through His Words and may we have the Qu'ran such a part of our life that it testifies on our behalf in the hereafter. Ameen. So here are a few quotes from the Qu'ran:    21:92-93 *"[Prophets], this is your community, one community, and I am your Lord, so serve Me. They have torn their unity apart, but they will all return to us."* 23:52-53 *"This is your community, one community - and I am your Lord: be mindful of Me - but they have split their community into sects, each rejoicing in their own." *   In both of these the emphasis, the angle that is being stated if you like, is referring to us as a community which is understood as an Ummah-nation. A community united by shared beliefs. One where our religion is the unifier, that is what makes us a nation, we are not separate from any other Brother or Sister, we are united as an Ummah through our religion, through the Lord we worship, the Lord we fear, and the Prophet pbuh who's example we follow. Allah swt reminds us of the risks of division and how we will all ultimately return to Him. He swt also highlights at the end of the second verse how the Jews and the Christians split into sects "each rejoicing in their own". Here the Quran is warning Prophet Muhammad pbuh and us that we are meant to be united as an Ummah, as a community, and not divide up into groups, making the errors of the former peoples of the book. Do you see how this trumps all human constructs of nations or nation-states? How it runs so much deeper? *3:102-103 *"You who believe, be mindful of God, as is His due, and make sure you devote yourselves to Him, to your dying moment. Hold fast to God's rope all together; do not split into factions. Remember God's favour to you: you were enemies and then He brought your hearts together and you became brothers by His grace: you were about to fall into a pit of Fire and He saved you from it. In this way God makes his revelations clear to you so that you may be rightly guided." * This is massive! We were enemies, and He brought our hearts together, through the religion, and His favour and we became brothers. Allah swt tells us that this saves us from the pit of the Fire. He swt tells us that we must "hold fast to God's rope all together".  So why are we fighting, killing, making enemies of other Muslims, fighting as nations against other nations, when that favour of Allah swt and brotherhood in religion that he has given us is what keeps us from the fire? *3:104 "Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones."* As is the case throughout the Quran Allah swt tells us what makes us "the successful ones" and it as a community - a global ummah again - calling for what is good and forbidding what it is wrong. Calling to good is about as expansive as it gets. Are nationalistic motivations, the superiority of one type over the other, calling for good? Is this treating our brothers as we would hope to be treated? A community is stated here, not multiple nations. A community of believers where collectively, we focus on good. United we are successful as a single global community. I see this as knowing that deeper than the human constructs of nation-states there is a bond between me and my Moroccan brother, or between me and my Yemeni brother, or between me and my Colombian brother, or any other brother you can think of.... that transcends that nation-state man-made construct.   *3:105 "Do not be like those who, after they have been given clear revelation, split into factions and fall into disputes: a terrible punishment awaits such people."* This should make us think, should it not? Are we going down the route of those in the past who became divided? Have we not been given clear revelation? Have we not witnessed the mess that has become of those who have split into so many factions they lost all unity and are clearly in confusion? Do we no longer fear the punishment of Allah? Allahu Akhbar! La illah ill Allah. We hear and we obey! Or at least we should be unified by that La illah ill Allah. There is a community or a nation but its the community or nation that unites across all languages, races, and types under the shahada: La illah ill Allah, Muhammad rassululah.   THIS TOPIC REQUIRES MORE I actually got into this topic without thinking it through fully! I realise that I have only really scratched the surface of what needs to be said on this matter. For example, I need to address the race and racism part. How the inclusiveness of Islam is one of the biggest draws and how the Quran and indeed the Prophet pbuh's last sermon covered how we are all the same no matter our skin colour or where we happen to have been born. Maybe even more so than this is the importance of highlighting the importance of brotherhood and sisterhood as a broad concept in Islam and how this adds to the trumping of nationalism. However, this is already exceptionally long and so I guess I shall inshaAllah break this topic up and cover these in future podcasts. InshaAllah I also didn't lose everyone with the length of this one, in what seems to be, unintentionally, my first long-form podcast. CONCLUSION To wrap up I hope that I have made a clear case that as Muslims we must be very careful around nationalism and tribalism. We are Muslim first and of our countries second. Or maybe even deeper we are of the human community first and foremost, as all are created by Allah swt irrespective of belief. Then as Muslims, we believe in Allah swt and we happen to live in a particular nation, for what is ultimately a very short period. The purpose of this residence being to work so that we get where we so desperately hope to in the hereafter which is eternal. Furthermore, I hope that, although I didn't drum it home so much that, as long as we are able to practice our religion we are bound by the laws of the lands we reside in. This can raise emotions that can be difficult to deal with but we must be patient (have sabr) as well as being grateful (having shukr) for all those things we are blessed with. I've lived in different European countries most of my life and then in Muslim countries. I have good friends and business interests in many different countries and I can categorically tell you that even if things look 'idyllic' somewhere else - they aren't. Remember this is the dunya - you want idyllic? - work for it through your worship and remembrance of Allah swt. May Allah swt draw us together as Muslims, enable us to be the best of examples and the ones no one fears, may we not harm our brothers and sisters in any way and may our leaders lead with wisdom and mercy for all humankind. Ameen.

[natolesims]

As you can see, he said yes.

[whimsicalsimmies]

Life in the Cornucopia family was calm, I was still working on my many skills, trying to improve them as fast as I could so that I could complete the aspiration.

Every now and then I look at my weeding ring and think about Dylan, about our wedding day, it was still kind of unbelievable that we were married and living together.

My flower arrangement skill was definitely more advanced compared to my other skills, but what can I say? Just look at this bouquet of Chrysanthenumun... Chysanthermum... Oh whatever, you get it!

One day I started feeling very weird, I was very tired and I puked everything I ate, even Dylan’s chicken stir fry, he thought he was doing something wrong, but nope...

Turns out all of those wohoo session were starting to pay off!! I’m pregnant :D

We didn’t plan it but we definitely wanted to have a baby for so long, I was so excited, a bit scared, but mostly excited. This was exactly what we needed right now.

Harper: Honey, I have to tell you something.

Dylan: Everything okay babe?

Harper: Well, turns out I’m allergic to your chicken stir fry and cannot eat it anymore.

Dylan: What?? Are you serious:

Harper: NO, IM PREGNANT!!!

Dylan: WHAT???? REALLY???

Harper: Yess, Why? Do you prefer the chicken allergy??

Dylan: Of course not!! This is amazing oh my goodness, let me see your belly

Harper: Don’t be silly, I still don’t have a baby bump

Dylan: Babe I can’t believe you have a little plumbob growing inside you, this is perfect, I love you.

Harper: I love you more.

To celebrate we went to a cute restaurant, my wild pregnancy hunger was starting to kick in so I was craving yummy food cooked by experts. Dylan paid for dinner and he didn’t complain when I stole his dessert, pregnancy perks!

That week I called my boss and gave the news to him and my coworkers, they were so happy for me, and my boss decided I needed to stay home, rest and take care of my pregnancy, and that was very helpful because it helped me complete my lifetime aspiration, I reached level 8 on comedy skill and that was it! I’ve become a true renaissance sim!

PREVIOUS // NEXT

BEGIN FROM

[happysunnyflower]

Navigation Post !

I took this idea from my great friend @natolesims because I feel that my posts can get a bit confusing between the two games I'm playing.. I hope you read me and like my page xoxo

Globetrotter Challenge : beginin here

The Cornucopia twins go on a journey around the world. From each place they take a nice experience and new friends...

Howell Legacy : Beginin here

It started out as a test for the Werewolf Pack but turned into something more. Now Karina is a Lycan and has started a family.

Gemstone Legacy: Beginin here

Alana Gemstone is taking her first steps as heir to a Legacy challenge. We'll see what comes out of this

Resource Page

Here

Howells Family Tree

Here