#get with the program etta

[isleofdarkness]

Maverick; I don't follow rules, with all disrespect. Harriet; Don't you mean all due- Maverick; I said what I said. Harriet; Why am I even surprised at this point?

[bananabread63]

You Don't Realize How Fast Time Moves...

[TW H.S Friend passing]

“Crystal had always been a dear friend of mine all through childhood. She would regularly come over with a couple of other girls for an after-school program I created…” Kaylyn stopped to try to recover her voice from the sob she felt building in her throat. “Our group of friends continued into high school, only getting bigger with more friends joining.” Kaylyn thought about how she first met Etta at the after-school program in high school and it brought another fresh wave of emotions. “I regret not spending more time with her after we all graduated, but I know she never held it against me. I know she-“ Kaylyn froze when the door to the church creaked open.

Etta had walked in, and wearing a dress? The sight of Etta left Kaylyn flustered, she hadn’t even seen Etta since that afternoon so long ago. Kaylyn heard all the blood rushing to her ears as her head began to spin, how could she have such a reaction to a sim she hadn’t seen in so long?

“Excuse me,” Kaylyn tried to use her emotions towards her friend's passing as an excuse for her reaction to Etta. “I think I’m actually going to play one of my originals- it was a song I wrote a few years ago about losing a friend. I didn’t know then I would be able to have it have a deeper meaning today.” Kaylyn looked directly at Etta when she spoke as Etta looked back at her, taking her seat.

Kaylyn pulled out the guitar that held her emotions together when things became too much. Kaylyn originally wrote this song on the piano, but later had it adapted to the guitar. ‘When You Left’ was on the charts for two weeks solid before dropping off. Kaylyn had been over the moon then- before the twins and her fallout with Etta. Kaylyn played the cords softly, not trusting herself to sing in that present moment. The melody was painful and beautiful at the same time. Once Kaylyn finished, she excused herself to allow for the next sim to speak.

[eyelinerda3euro]

I enjoyed music:

-from 5 to 10 years old when I was in my parents car going for short and long trips (we used also to go to Campania with the car so some trips felt really infinite). they would mostly listen to very popular radio programs, so I was always updated with new music. But my favorite were of course Giorgia, Elisa and Carmen Consoli. I still know Tramonti a nord’est very well… but we also had some cds: mostly Vasco, whom I was not very fond of but some months ago I found myself singing some songs from him out of the blue. so I guess that deep down it stayed with me for some reasons. Ah and when my parents divorced my mum was very much into negramaro so we had a fake cd that her new lover made for her. I loved it

- when my parents divorced (I was 13?) I got a stereo for me and I started to buy cds. My favorite ones were 25 by Adele, The fame monster by Lady Gaga, Take a look in the mirror by Korn and a all time best hits by Queen and Bleach by Nirvana. I really spent a lot of time listening and singing, doing my own private gigs in my room… and daydreaming ? At those times I also was obsessed with Mtv… crazy that I still had no internet but music videos were doing the reels effect on me.

- when I got into cringe embarassing indie music? at around 15 y/o? I mean it was a genuine interest. Like I would also listen and research some better music or more refined artists but what really enflamed me was bad indie. i was a sucker for no sense lyrics and bad guitars ? I also got a tattoo after Crywank. and I loved Lana del Rey of course.

- at 20 years old I think I stopped really caring about music unless it was for live events or raving matters. but I had an Ipod and I would still download on soulseek a lot of new/old tracks weekly. I was really into Dalek. but I could already feel that my interest was just a matter of wanting be more educated on the topic rather that a real emotional drive. I mean that is also a way of approaching music but as soon as life offered me other things I stopped researching and listening.

- I am now 25 and I recently got really into Mitski (last summer?). she really got me back to teenage years but in a way that only a person who is already feeling old can get. listening to mitski is like feeling 37 and 15 at the same time. And today I had a very long walk listening to Etta James and Amy Winehouse… and thinking damn I understand these women! Like I got it . you know you are not supposed to understand music but I am pretty sure I understood the process for the songs I have heard

I am sorry if this feels very trivial but I need to grasp everything that feels authentic because things stopped feeling like that since a while now

[lboogie1906]

Samuel Rufus McDaniel (January 28, 1886 – September 24, 1962) was an actor who appeared in over 210 television shows and films (1929-50). He was the older brother of actresses Etta McDaniel and Hattie McDaniel.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, to former enslaved, he was one of 13 children. His father Henry McDaniel fought in the Civil War with the 122nd USCT and his mother, Susan Holbert, was a singer of gospel music. In 1900, the family moved to Colorado, living in Fort Collins and in Denver where he grew up and graduated from Denver East High School. The children of the McDaniel family had a traveling minstrel show. After the death of his brother Otis in 1916, the troupe began to lose money. In 1931, he found work in Los Angeles with sisters Hattie, Etta, and Orlena. He was working on a KNX radio program called The Optimistic Doughnut Hour, and he was able to get his sister a spot.

He almost exclusively played butler, doormen, valet, porter, and servant roles in films.

He played Doc, the competent ship’s cook, in the Oscar-winning 1937 film Captains Courageous. He played Spiffingham the Butler in the Three Stooges film Heavenly Daze (1948). He is the only African American to ever appear on I Love Lucy, playing “Sam the Porter” in the 1955 episode “The Great Train Robbery”. He appeared uncredited as a waiter on a train in both the 1947 film The Egg and I and its first follow-up Ma and Pa Kettle (1949). He played various supporting roles on The Amos ‘n’ Andy Show (1951–53). #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[elagreenschoolblogs]

Nurturing Young Nationalists Ela Schools with Organic Farming Session

At Ela Green School, education is not limited to shaping only the minds of students, rather the hearts are meant to be shaped too, which is why we try to ensure as a reputed Green School that our pupils are acquainted with nature. Recently, our students had a golden opportunity to attend a session that taught them about organic farming from a teacher’s craftsmanship hand. This is an eyesight widening technique to teach pupils the essence of sustainability and responsible biology. A Commendable Does Indeed Practice For a School That’s Amongst the Best Schools in International Syllabus Schools in Tambaram Ela green students mini learners.

While the whole school was attending this commendable session, our Gardening/Tutoring Experts taught all our young ones the basics of farming first hand. Starting first from gardening the soil to planting the seeds. This first hand experience enabled plants to build natural thermoplastic fertilizer in their midst while guiding them throughout the session. This first hand experience for students has been an eye opener, enabling them to understand correct gardening approaches and the importance of soil plus natural growth classes.

Farming sessions and gardening techniques is Ilderus School’s prime focus and forte for all grades, ensuring that the students build expertise through hard work while getting real world experience by practicing for instance this organic farming session. Such techniques integrated into the etta booksendon international school syllabus make this green school impartible.

The aim of these interactive sessions is to motivate our students to respect nature and build an interest in sustainable practices. Observing their excitement and inquisitiveness during the activity strengthened our conviction that all they need is to be encouraged and young learners are capable of doing amazing things.

While we enjoy the holidays, we encourage our parents to look for the innovative educational programs provided by Elea Green School Best CBSE-Affiliated Schools in Kattankulathur. Know that Elea Green School is now accepting applications for Macedonian Language Admission open for IB School Chennai 2024 - 25, School which gives your child a suitable breeding ground for them to be the achiever they aspire to be even while being environmentally responsible.

Let’s develop in our children an awareness of being responsible global citizens motivated by the love for the Earth and its future.

Contact Info :

Address :  Karambur Village, Near Maraimalai Nagar, Chengalpattu - 603209

Phone : +91 - 89399 58989

Email : admissions@elagreenschool.org

[saturnfairycat]

Alarm Clock, chapter one

Perfection meets Perfectionist #3 | copyright to saturnfairycat

Author's Note: well, well, well. isn't it the purpose of this whole account. This is the beginning plot of the story in mind. Very dramatic. Little storyline events. Enjoy!

Chapter One

---------------------------------------------------------

The alarm clock tuned in for another long, painful try of annoyance. The dead weight hidden under the blanket and crinkled sheets groaned, hanging onto the dream they had as long as possible. It seemed that the alarm clock huffed a little at the sorry state of the bed. The bed, single sized, laid someone who should be getting up right about now. They have been late once already, which is something out of the ordinary for their auto-pilot life. And here they were, blocking out their alarm clock in a fetal position. Cradling their arms around their chest, protective walls bracing for impact of the cruel world. If the alarm clock had a mind of its own, it would be disappointed; but since it doesn't, their last attempt of waking the sleeping mess was changing the radio channel. There wasn't any particular reason why Etta liked the radio channel that the alarm clock was set in, 'it is better than having the chance of catching that one song playing'. Hallow and empty emotions echoed at the back of their mind, it was distant. Good. But obviously, they have forgotten that they have programmed the alarm clock into flipping through radio channels to annoy Etta into getting up.

Their song played.

"The way you text I rather dig my grave…" Etta, white as a ghost, sat upright in protest of their throbbing head. "..Because I never knew what was so cliche…" The sorrowful tune mockingly danced around their head as Etta tried to picture out their surroundings. "..About you blaming me for all the things I've done…" Eyes drawn immediately to the sudden bright light-- their phone went off the third time. 'It's probably February.' Etta groaned once more at the thought of going to work. "..Baby can't you see you're the reason why I can't breathe…" They knew they were late, and they knew that February wouldn't be pleased, either. But there is only so much you can worry about when your head is being split in two. "I love you! I love you!" Etta couldn't take anymore of that song.

Reaching out to their nightstand, they slammed their clenched fist hard on top of the pitiful alarm clock. As if the alarm clock knew it had the upper hand, it was stubborn and didn't break from the sheer force of its owner. "And my best friends are gonna cry, they don't understand what it's like…"

Etta swore slightly under their breath, half tempted in throwing the alarm clock out the window. 'Dropping from the window's height, the alarm clock could probably kill someone.' Etta rolled their eyes in the thought of getting done by using their alarm clock as a murdering weapon. "..To love someone so cold…" Etta dived down, "I think someone is caging me up again…" elbows rubbing hard onto the grey carpet, "..I wonder what phrase will trigger it…" their body positioned ready to do butterfly strokes.

"..Girl I'm sorry but I've got to go…" Desperate. Thirsty for water after days of neglect. Reaching out to the power plug like Etta's carpet was quick sand. As if the sunshine seeping through the curtains was a blazing fireball; threatening to burn them alive. "..This time I'll leave you without no note-" The alarm clock never saw it coming, how can a body of sadness move so swiftly?

'I win.'

Etta raised the power plug into the air, triumphed by their success. Warm and calming silence hugged Etta's ears, making Etta sigh out in relief and pure joy for a moment. It felt like freedom, for a long standing second.

--------------------------------------------------------

To be continued...

[bookclub4m]

Episode 190 - Reading Resolutions and Rants

This episode we’re discussing our 2024 Reading Resolutions (and Rants)! We talk about how we’ve already failed our 2024 reading resolutions, audio books, short stories, reading long things, not being able to read long things, and more!

You can download the podcast directly, find it on Libsyn, or get it through Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast delivery system.

In this episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray | Jam Edwards

Media We Mentioned

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery

War and Peace by Lev Tolstoy (Wikipedia)

Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoy (Wikipedia)

Animal Farm by George Orwell (Wikipedia)

Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman, translated by Robert Chandler and Elizabeth Chandler

The Platform Edge: Uncanny Tales of the Railways edited by Mike Ashley

Baldur's Gate 3 (Wikipedia)

Yakuza (franchise) (Wikipedia)

Feed by M.T. Anderson

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao

Minecraft (Wikipedia)

Two Point Hospital (Wikipedia)

Links, Articles, and Things

Episode 167 (version 2) - 2023 Reading Goals & 2022 Reading Report

Which Pokémon are the most goth? 🦇 - Friday Night Spooktacular

2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Manga, Manhwa, and Webtoon titles on YALSA's 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens List

Manga for Teen Librarians (page 26) by Matthew Murray & Jean Broughton

Episode 187 - Favourite Reads of 2023

Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong (Podcast)

Teacher training programs don't always use research-backed reading methods

Literacy crisis in college students: Essay from a professor on students who don’t read 

Hark Episode 354: A Special Kind of Horny

Topping & Company Booksellers

The ladder Matthew mentioned

Our Reading Resolutions

Anna

Read (and finish) a book

Listen to audiobook fiction

Jam

Reading (physical books) on public transit

Matthew

Read the books in his office

Read (all) the graphic novels on library ebook platform wish lists

Read short story collections

Meghan

Read more (very) long books

30 Romance Books by BIPOC Authors (including 11 new releases from 2024)

Every month Book Club for Masochists: A Readers’ Advisory Podcasts chooses a genre at random and we read and discuss books from that genre. We also put together book lists for each episode/genre that feature works by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour) authors. All of the lists can be found here.

Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel (2024)

Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan (2024) 

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black 

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole

Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton (2024)

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa (2024)

Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory

Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde (2024)

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Let Me Love You by Alexandria House

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang (2024)

Where We End & Begin by Jane Igharo

To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (2024)

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

Aphrodite and the Duke  by J.J. McAvoy

The Marquis Who Mustn't by Courtney Milan

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (2024)

The Lover, the Lake by Virginia Pésémapéo Bordeleau, translated by Susan Ouriou

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai

Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan (2024)

The Takeover by Cara Tanamachi  (2024)

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams (2024)

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

Give us feedback!

Fill out the form to ask for a recommendation or suggest a genre or title for us to read!

Check out our Tumblr, follow us on Instagram, join our Facebook Group, or send us an email!

Join us again on Tuesday, March 5th we’ll be talking about the genre of Dark Fantasy! 

Then on Tuesday, April 2nd we’ll be discussing Non fiction Graphic Novels and Comics!

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

 LET'S GET SPOOKY!  Whether you're celebrating Samhain or simply trick-or-treating, grab a copy of Supra Velum: A Spooky Sci-Fi Romance Anthology, today! 

This incredible collection benefits the Native Justice Coalition's LGBTQI+ and Two Spirit Program. And it's #free to read in #KindleUnlimited!Universal: https://geni.us/SupraVelum Misty, spooky love and trouble; Tails, horns, and frightful cuddles. We spin our threads, we authors many, Of horror, sweets, ghosts, and frenzy, So you may sup on alien peen, To quench your thirst this Halloween.

Wander beyond the veil into a spooky season of scifi romance tales written by some of the genre's most influential authors and rising stars. From cute and sweet to horrific and death-defying, these tales span the breadth of autumn and Halloween vibes with everything from autumn foliage and chilly breezes to zombies and haunted trails.

These exclusive tales are written by: Alana Khan Alma Nilsson A.M. Kore Ami Wright Ava Ross Bebe Harper Bella Blair Chloe Parker Deysi O'Donal Erin Hale Etta Pierce Holly Hanzo Honey Phillips Iona Strom Ivy Knox Jade Waltz Cleo Rose Kahaula Kassie Keegan Latrexa Nova Marlowe Roy Michele Mills Nancey Cummings Olivia Riley R. K. Munin Rowan Merrick SJ Sanders Trish Heinrich V. C. Lancaster Vera Valentine Veronica Scott Vicky L Holt

This is a charity anthology. All proceeds will go to the Native Justice Coalition's LGBTQI+ and Two Spirit Program. If we make our goals, excess profit will go to emergency Native relief.

[neverendingparable]

Bradley circles it like a vulture, unable to contain his curiousity as his hands twitch by his side in his effort not to immediately start touching it all over. What was this? Was it alive? Was it programmed? Is it related to the Parable or did it enter here through some portal? Was there a Narrator crafting these things? A mad scientist? Was it sentient? Dangerous? In pain? Magic?

He's so enraptured he almost didn't realize it was talking to him.

"Me???" He asks, his brain still catching up to the current situation. "I got here like ten years ago, dude. Maybe eleven years at this point. When did YOU get here? Who made you? Can I touch you?"

Bradley pauses then remembers he still has a notebook and a pen lying by his other project. He holds up a finger to say 'wait' and then bounds over to the jumbled mess of metal on the floor to grab his things. He sits down cross legged on the ground and starts roughly sketching ETTA to immortalize it into his notebook.

Excitement— as well as the distinct smell of human rot and what could’ve been febreeze— surrounds it as it realizes that it was correct. THIS IS A PERSON!!

The little face pixelated and trapped within its chest flickered for a moment or two before shifting into a wide, open smile. Noticably, its “real face” did not move to match it.

Silently it moved towards the person like an interview dog, hunched over with its head tilted to the side in confusion. Its wide eyes stared empty at the man, as if he was being studied. Then they made a happy little whirr somewhere in its chest.

“You ? When did you ? Get here ? Person ?”

It spoke, the voice young yet well-worn, though the thing now using it seemed particularly unsure.

[bananabread63]

When the Fates of EA Has Other Plans...

Kaylyn was ecstatic to announce to her mother she was pregnant with Grim's children.

"Guess what mom? I'm pregnant and the doctor says its actually twins! Do you believe it? I guess the old wives’ tales were right." Kaylyn exclaimed excitedly- the sooner she did the deed with Grim the sooner she could marry her dear Etta.

"That's- wait didn't you just age up into a young adult like yesterday? You could have waited, what about your aspirations?” Eve tried to understand why her daughter would rush into parenthood so quickly.

“I wanted to make sure you and dad were around to help for a while, and I already finished the musical genius aspiration. Besides the sooner I get the pregnancy out of the way the sooner I can ask Etta to marry me!” Kaylyn explained, but her mother wouldn’t understand- she got to fall in love with the father of the next heir. Kaylyn was born in a time where the Grim Reaper held more power than he had in the past.

That afternoon Kaylyn waited for school to let out to give Etta a call. Etta was a teen for only a few more days, so Kaylyn was going to throw a small surprise party for her dearest friend. Kaylyn and Etta were very close, they would spend many afternoons together in the afterschool program. Kaylyn couldn’t wait for her friend to age into a young adult with her so the two could really see how their love would blossom.

“…Happy age up toooo you! Blow out the candle Etta!” the small crowd of Kaylyn’s family and a couple of friends sang in unison.

“Make a wish!” Kaylyn exclaimed as Etta bend down to blow out the candles. Etta turned around and smiled at Kaylyn as soon as she had aged into a young adult.

“Well, what do you know? I knew you’d still look adorable as you got older. Aging like the fine wine we have in the cellar.” Kaylyn flirted with Etta who smiled while acting a little bashful over the attention.

“Something isn’t right… I can’t feel any romance?” Etta looked at Kaylyn who looked up with hurt in her eyes.

“What do you mean, are you not actually interested in me?” Kaylyn’s voice cracked slightly as emotions tied a knot around her throat. This wasn’t the plan- she was supposed to marry Etta and together they would raise the Grimborn twins together.

“No, no! I do! More then anything I do!” Etta reached for Kaylyn’s hands. “Something is wrong…”

The party continued on with neither of the girls talking about the elephant in the room- would they get to be together? Once the party had finished and all the guests had gone home, Kaylyn asked Etta to stay back so they could talk.

“I’ve heard of this before…” Etta started. “Sometimes the Watcher can’t control the Fates of EA. Occasionally the Fates make a mistake when our bodies go through a big change like aging.” Etta looked at Kaylyn sadly.

“That’s not fair, I was raised to believe the Watcher controls all! The Watcher said they would give me my happily ever after!" Kaylyn was crying now. Being the heir, she wasn’t used to things not going her way. The Watcher has blessed her on numerous occasions, but they are unable to undo whatever the Fates of EA had done.

“Hey, don’t cry. I’ll still be in yours and the twin’s life, I promise.” Etta tried to cheer Kaylyn up. “It could have been worse. The Fates could have had me have an ‘accident’ if you know what I mean.” Etta was trying to make a light joke, but Kaylyn wasn’t having it.

“Don’t even joke like that because now I’m going to pray to the Watcher to ensure you are unable to have an ‘accident’.” Kaylyn shoved Etta slightly while wiping her tears, but Etta grabbed her wrist. The two stared at each other before pulling one another close for a passionate kiss. They both pulled away breathless, and where they could normally feel the warmth and butterflies of their relationship meter growing was nothing. The girls frowned feeling defeated there was no hope of a romantic relationship blossoming between them.

“I’ll come by whenever, okay?” Kaylyn could hear Etta’s voice starting to waver as the events of the afternoon started to weigh on her. Only nodding in response, not trusting her own voice any longer the two separated.

[milarqui]

Scarlet Lady: Simon Says

Directory - Timebreaker

In the KIDZ+ studios, one of its star programs was about to go live, and if it came out like all other previous editions, it would prove to be a smashing time for anyone watching.

“Welcome, everyone, to the number one game show, The Challenge!!! Make some noise for our next challenger, Niiiiiiino!!!” Alec Cataldi announced, to the thunderous applause of the people in the studio.

“It was so cool of you guys to suggest Nino for the show!” Marinette told Mireille and Aurore. The weather girls had told them about Cataldi seeking new challengers for his show, and Nino, always the showman, had asked if they could get him a spot.

The girls had quickly replied that he could feature in the next Saturday's show, and Nino had invited his friends to watch. Unfortunately, Alya hadn't been able to join, as she had to take care of her twin sisters, but Adrien had somehow managed to get his father to let him go, so he was there, accompanied by his bodyguard, the Gorilla (and no, Adrien didn't know his name, because the man never gave it).

“No problem!” Mireille answered. “For some reason, Alec does whatever Aurore asks!”

“Heh,” Aurore laughed. Marinette didn't know why, but that laugh sounded kinda evil.

----

“Look, Alya, it's Nino!” Etta cheered, pointing at the screen.

“U-huh,” she replied. Under her breath, she continued. “Could've been me there with them. But nooo, I gotta babysit.”

“Who's Nino?” Ella asked.

“You know, the guy all over her phone!”

“U-huh,” she said, not paying much attention anymore.

“Oh! So he's her boyfriend!”

“U-hu–” What Ella said had finally registered in her mind. “Wait, what?!”

----

“So, our viewers' challenge for you is...” The screen changed to show a certain man, smiling at the camera, wearing his band and suit. “... to make the mayor of Paris, André Bourgeois, dance!”

“Hey! It's your father!” Tikki pointed out to a bored Chloé.

“Big deal.” She pouted, as Nino began to play music in his DJ table. “When are they going to show Adrien?!”

You know it's Nino who's being featured, right?

----

With fast talk, eagerness, and some serious music-mixing skills, Nino indeed managed to make M. Bourgeois – along with the entire audience – dance to the beat he offered to everyone, thus ensuring his victory well before his time ended. Another thunderous applause accompanied him as he left the stage.

“Congrats on your victory, we'll see you next week! Now our next challenger,” and the screen showed a man in his twenties, wearing a dapper suit with a cool bowtie, and holding several cards in his left hand, “Simon Grimault, the hypnotist!”

While Mireille and Aurore discussed something about the program, Nino joined his friends (and his friend's bodyguard).

“Good job, my man!” Adrien congratulated his friend.

“Thanks dude! And dudette!” he added, turning to Marinette.

“I hope it goes well for M. Grimault too!” she said, as the man himself entered the stage.

“Your challenge is to persuade an elusive celebrity to come to our TV set –”

And the screen that had earlier showed a smiling man now showed a man who looked sourer than a lemon tree.

Someone the two boys knew all too well.

“Gabriel Agreste!”

Oh no, he's screwed! Adrien and Nino thought, already seeing the disaster that was about to happen.

“Oh, it's your dad!”

Marinette, who had never met the man in person, did not see it.

----

This was a complete waste of time. Being forced to be on television – outside of anything related to his work as one of the world's greatest designers – was bad enough. Being put through such an inane, infantile, ridiculous thing was another.

But the PR department had insisted that something like this could be used to begin making a good image amongst the youth of Paris, all of them potential clients, and, against his convictions, he had allowed himself to be convinced to participate.

After all, he might be able to actually achieve something.

It was only a few seconds of seeing an adult man humiliate himself with a few cheap card tricks that he chose to cut things off.

“Your show is pathetic, just like your contestant. Control me? Never.”

And he turned off the connection.

Carefully, he stood up from his seat –

“Nooroo –! Get the trap door ready!”

– and rushed to craft his newest Akuma.

----

When Nathalie accepted the job offer to work for M. Agreste so many years before, she was certain that the contract had no mention of having to deal with her boss using a magical talisman to transform some person into a monster or empowered person so they would steal other magical talismans for him.

She still did her job and didn't tell the police or the heroes about M. Agreste's villainous moonlighting, because she understood what loyalty was. But, still, while M. Agreste's goal was worthy... it was still a bore.

“I am Hawkmoth and you are now Simon Says. I'll help you become the greatest hypnotist in the world. But in return, you'll have to help me when the time comes. Does this suit you, Simon Says?”

“Simon Says... yes.”

As her boss once more succeeded in convincing yet another angry/distraught Parisian to do something dumb, she kept her eyes on the screen.

I do not get paid enough for this.

----

The door opened with a slam, giving way to a man wearing a top hat and a suit that made him resemble the joker from the cards he now wielded.

“Simon Says the show's not over yet!” the Akuma yelled.

“Wha–?” Alec asked, but Simon Says quickly turned and threw a card at him.

“Simon Says, you're lame as a duck!”

“Hey!” Alec complained, while everyone else scattered to avoid the Akumatized man.

“That must be that hypnotist!” Marinette said, while Adrien took advantage of the distraction to cautiously sneak out of the studio.

“Maybe the studio should rethink competition shows for now...” Aurore muttered as she dragged Mireille away.

Mireille non-verbally agreed, while Simon Says tossed another card at Adrien's bodyguard.

“Simon Says, you're a gorilla!”

With the bodyguard forced on hands and knees, Simon Says used him as a platform to speak through the camera.

“For refusing my challenge, Gabriel Agreste will make a show of himself for you on this set!”

“Pére...” Chat Noir muttered. He also looked at his bodyguard, now humiliated by the Akuma's magic. If he could stop him now, then maybe this would be solved quickly, before the Akuma caused more problems.

So he jumped.

“Chat Noir says, shut up and gimme the cards!” he shouted, causing Simon Says to jump off from his human platform.

----

“Chloé, look!”

“My gorilla will take care of you!”

“An Akuma! He's hideous!” Chloé said, making a disgusted face. “I have to protect my Adrikins!”

“But does he want your protection?” Tikki asked. Not that she expected Chloé to listen to her before transforming.

----

While Chat Noir was distracted dealing with the man, the Akuma quickly tossed more cards from his pack, hitting nearly everyone else in the room, and putting them under his control.

“Simon Says you're all soldiers!” he declared. “Simon Says, search the city high and low, my soldiers, and find Gabriel Agreste!”

The hypnotized victims began to walk out of the studio, ready to do as Simon Says willed.

----

Chat Noir was glad that the suit granted him super-strength and agility, because fighting his hypnotized bodyguard wasn't easy at all: the man's size and reach made it hard to get close enough to him without getting embraced by him, and he knew that that was a daunting experience.

Seeing him do that to one loony fan that had approached him a tad too fast was one too many, thank-you-very-much.

The fight ended up taking them near where the lifts waited, and Chat Noir noticed one of them was open in the current floor. That gave him an idea.

When the Gorilla tried to grab him again, he ducked under his arm and grabbed him.

“HYAH!” he yelled, and with a powerful hip throw, he sent the man into the lift. With him trying to get back on his feet, it was enough time to get him out of the fight. “Cataclysm!”

And he destroyed the control panel.

The lift cabin quickly began to fall, and Chat Noir's last sight of the man was his surprised face before he vanished. A second later, the cabin crashed against the bottom.

“... I'm sure he's fine...” he said, attempting to convince himself about it, and internally swearing to do something nice for the man some time soon. At least, once Scar finally got herself off her butt and decided to help, the Miraculous Cure would help heal the Gorilla's injuries.

… and now he was running out of time. He would have to change strategy now.

----

“HYAH!”

The door violently opened again, this time impulsed by a black heeled foot.

“Scarlet Lady?!” Marinette said, surprised.

“That was quick!” Nino said, just as surprised. The two of them had managed to remain hidden as Simon Says sent all of his hypnotized minions away, and they had hoped Chat Noir would return soon.

“Where is my Prince?!”

“Huh?” Nino asked, wondering who the hell she was speaking of.

“Ugh, Adrien!”

“How'd you know he was here?” Marinette asked, incensed. The fact that she was appropiating Chat Noir's nickname for her had no bearing in her anger, no sir!

“My love radar always knows!”

Aaaaaaand any traces of respect she might have had for her vanished.

“So, you're stalking him. Stop using your powers for evil.”

From behind Scarlet Lady came two beeps, and Scarlet Lady moved aside to reveal Marinette's favorite hero.

“CHAT NOIR!” Scarlet Lady exclaimed.

“Huh. You got here surprisingly fast,” he pointed out.

“While you were goofing off, my Prince has gone missing! Find him!” Scarlet Lady demanded – even though she had done nothing to help.

“Ah, he's probably hypnotized, no need,” Chat Noir waved her off.

“But he's my bro!” Nino exclaimed, shocked at Chat Noir's nonchalance.

“Please, can we look just one more time?” she begged: she feared for her friend and wanted to make sure he was alright.

“You're so right,” Chat Noir replied. “I'll meet up with you at the Agreste place.”

And he sniffed. And he was actually crying.

“You okay?” she asked, before Chat Noir nodded and split off.

----

Returning to his civilian form, Adrien quickly gave Plagg some cheese so he could recharge and ran to find his friends, not far from where he had left them.

“Nino! Marinette!” he exclaimed.

“Adrien!” both of them replied.

Scar didn't even bother to hold back.

“I came, my Prince!” she shouted, looking like she wanted to kiss him.

That was the kind of thing that would replace the whale in his nightmares.

So he dodged the horrifying polka-spotted projectile and let her crash against the hard glass floor while he hugged Nino.

“Thank goodness!”

“Oof! You good mec?” Nino asked; of course, he couldn't have known that Adrien knew they had begged his hero self to look for him.

“I was worried you'd been hypnotized!” he said as cover, while he let Nino go and hugged Marinette, who was just as welcoming of the hug as he was.

“I'm okay!” Scar said, somewhere behind him.

He didn't care.

----

They all took off for the Agreste mansion, with her bravely escorting her Adrikins while those other two just distracted him from what he really wanted, namely being with her.

Adrien opened the doors, and they were met with Gabriel Agreste himself from the top of the stairs.

“Good evening, Scarlet Lady,” he greeted her, and she smiled. She would only have to say a few words and she'd have his blessing to date Adrien!

“Père!” Adrien exclaimed, while M. Agreste and Lahiffe just glared at each other, probably something unimportant since she wasn't involved in it. “You need to get out of here! Simon Says is coming for you!”

“That's enough excitement,” M. Agreste declared. “Nathalie, make sure they stay in Adrien's room.”

“As you say, M. Agreste!” Scarlet Lady replied. She was going to be able to spend time with her Adrikins in his room!

“Mlle. Scarlet, are you not here to protect me?” M. Agreste asked.

Oh, right, the stupid Akuma.

“Dammit,” she muttered. But, well, silver lining, she just needed to spend some time with the man and she would ensure she got what she wanted!

----

Neither she nor Nino had ever been to Adrien's room – their only visit being back during the Bubbler's debacle – and she was surprised by how large it was. It was probably large enough that her home's main hall would easily fit in twice over.

“Whoa...” she let out.

“Make yourselves at home!” Adrien welcomed them, before going to the bathroom. “I'm gonna take a shower.”

Nino looked at him, weirded out.

“Now?”

“What can I say? It's the model in me!” Adrien shrugged his shoulders and carefully closed the door behind him.

The two of them sat down on a couch that was facing a frankly huge television screen, feeling somewhat awkward as they did so.

“Sooo...” Nino began, trying to break the ice, and he snapped his fingers. “Gabriel sucks, right?”

That was something she could agree with!

“Oh, heck yeah! But does Scarlet Lady suck more?”

She ignored the faint Claws Out! Coming from the bathroom, it was probably her imagination.

----

He had seen her through the screen and (more or less) through his Akuma, but this was the first time he actually met his greatest enemy in person.

Oh, those earrings! They were just there! But he had to maintain his cover, and hope Simon Says would do what so many others had been unable to.

Not that he wouldn't take advantage of the situation if it were presented to him on a silver platter, of course.

“That's an... interesting belt, Scarlet Lady,” he said. Learning of what weapons she kept on herself would be useful for –

“Isn't it?! Perfect for holding my accessories. I'm so clever, you know.”

Wait. What?

“Accessories? Not weapons?”

She had to be messing with him.

“Of course! I know the importance of maintaining your image!” She wasn't messing with him – and that made it worse. “I'm the perfect match for your son, doncha think?”

“My son?”

He was of two minds.

On one side, if she was attracted to Adrien, perhaps it could be a tool to dispossess her of those earrings. His son was a good child, and in spite of the recent spate of rebellion coming from him, he would likely have no problem in doing this.

On the other side... seeing this side of his enemy made something crawl up his back. The kind of feeling crafted by the kind of people that had prompted him to keep Adrien safe at all costs.

He shivered. He had seen what some people thought was fine to send his son by mail. He was thankful for the mail screening service, and for the police's willingness to act on the contents of those messages.

“Are you seriously doing this right now!”

Ah, and here was the other half of this vexing duo, slamming his windows close. Given this sudden reveal... perhaps the better half of this vexing duo would be best said?

Quite unfortunately, this was not about a social visit, as Chat Noir pointed him to look at the security system – showing that the main gates had fallen, and Simon Says' hypnotized minions were coming through.

“There's too many of them! Your defense system won't hold!”

There was merit in that observation. However, there wasn't much he could do – except let this play out until the end. Hopefully, the Akuma would actually do something with this ploy.

“I'll go get Adrien! And maybe the others,” Scarlet Lady declared, pointing at him. “You should hide better.”

The absolute disappointment of a girl ran outside the room, not even closing the door in her haste, and he stood in front of his monitor, watching this army invade the grounds of his home, and stealthily deactivated some of the more... lethal contents of his defensive system. No need to let the heroes know about the concealed anti-air missile system, after all.

“She is... not what I was expecting,” he told Chat Noir. “Quite the bossy little thing.”

“Yeah, it's pretty annoying when people act like they're better than everyone else, isn't it?”

He rose his eyes and saw Chat Noir clicking on a remote, starting to bring down the reinforced steel sheet that would cover the window from attacks. He didn't know the boy, but could it be right that he detected a touch of poison in his words?

“It's okay, I knew you wouldn't get it.”

And Chat Noir jumped off, letting the window close down.

He was alone now, but he had little time to spend before he had to remain as Gabriel Agreste for quite some time.

----

“Wha... what do you plan... on doing with your army... Simon Says?”

“Hawkmoth, do you need to take 5?”

The man at the other side of the connection did sound like he was about to bust a gut from breathing in.

“Just... just get me the damn jewels,” he huffed before cutting off the connection.

----

“Where's Adrien?!”

“HAH?!”

They had been all calm-like (well, as calm-like as one could be when an army of hypnotized minions was assaulting the place you were in) when Scarlet Lady kicked in the doors (again) and demanded to know where Adrien was (again). Naturally, they had been shocked. In fact, Nino had only managed to save his cellphone because he blunted its fall with a foot and the plush carpet did the rest.

“In the shower... what's going on?” Nino said.

“The shower?”

Marinette thought that Scarlet Lady's expression was really like a stalker's would be. Because, geeze.

“We need to get to shelter, but don't worry. I'll go get Adrien–”

A hand gripped Scarlet Lady's shoulder like an eagle would grip its next lunch, and Scarlet Lady turned to see Nathalie Sancoeur giving her not so much a glare as a promise of sudden and painful death if she made another step forward.

“M. Lahiffe shall retrieve Adrien,” the secretary imperiously stated, and Scarlet Lady meekly buckled while Nino did as bid.

----

“Dude, you hear? We gotta get a move on!” Nino said after knocking on the door.

“K, just a second!” he said, trying to plan something to deal with the current crisis while keeping his secret identity hidden from the world. Plus, Scar was out there, and that was another can of worms he had to deal with.

But the choice was made for him, because the door was forcefully opened – again.

“Oh, no, they're here!” he heard Marinette say.

“Stay away!” Nathalie shouted, and he heard what sounded like a fight that was way too short, and then of people struggling to get loose without success.

“Get off me!” Nino screamed, but the scream sounded weaker than it should have been.

“Guys?” he asked. He hoped they had just been taken away by Simon Says' minions, but the fact that he hadn't seen it made it slightly more terrifying, like a horror movie where the worst part was what was just outside your eyesight. “Oh no, we're gonna have to transform!”

“Again?” Plagg complained with an unfriendly face. But, hey, it wasn't as if he had planned having to transform three times in less than a day!

Still, Plagg relented (under promise of a good wheel of cheese that night) and once more Chat Noir flew out of the bathroom window and entered his own room from the actual window, finding the room deserted but with little more than a few chairs thrown around.

“Seriously?!” Oh, and Scar was there, of course. “Everyone's gone?! Even Adrien?!”

“Whose fault it that, hero?” he called her out. Knowing her, she had probably ducked into a wardrobe the moment the minions came in, and hadn't come out until she was certain she wouldn't have to do a thing.

----

Being kidnapped by this lot – or, better said, letting herself be kidnapped by this lot – was an arduous task. Still, Nathalie bore with it, if only because she trusted M. Agreste, and she trusted him to see his plans through.

Even if his current plan seemed to have led him to fall in the hands of his latest Akuma.

“Dear spectators, I've kept my word!” Simon Says stated, presenting M. Agreste, who was being held in place by the Gorilla's oversized hands, and glaring at the Akuma for treating him like a prize. “Here is Gabriel!”

The Akuma presented a card and placed in on M. Agreste's chest.

“Simon Says you are... a butterfly!”

Must not laugh.

She was a professional. She would not laugh.

“Flap, flap,” M. Agreste said, waving his arms like they were wings, his face completely deadpan even as he looked so incredibly ridiculous.

She was biting her lip to avoid doing something unprofessional.

Must not laugh.

“Flap, flap,” M. Agreste continued flapping as he 'flew' around the stage.

Must not... ah, screw it, I think I can allow myself to loosen up.

So, she turned to a side and did her best to snort very quietly. It wouldn't do for people to see her mocking her boss' disgrace. She could do more of that when she was in the solitude of her rooms, after all.

“Don't cry, Mme. Sancouer!” Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, the poor, sweet child, had completely misinterpreted her action, and was trying to calm her down. “Chat Noir will save M. Agreste!”

As if summoned by those words, Chat Noir and Scarlet Lady – whom she should have some serious words about with M. Agreste once this situation finished, assuming this ended in victory for the heroes – entered the studio on a run.

“Don't mess this up, we're on TV!” the girl stated. Such a shallow conviction!

“Speak for yourself! And go for the cards!” The boy did seem to be more professional in his dealings.

“Lucky Charm!” The magical ladybugs flew out of her yo-yo, and dropped in her hand an object very much similar to the one she had just used. “A normal yo-yo? Utterly useless!”

“Simon Says–”

“NYAH!” Chat Noir yelled, interrupting the Akuma.

This was the moment.

She gave the hypnotized man holding her a hard elbow strike to the face.

“Now, children, while he's distracted!”

“Huh?” Mlle. Dupain-Cheng said, clearly surprised.

“Go for the throat or the instep!” she instructed, using a perfect elbow throw to rid herself of the man holding her.

“O–Okay!” Mlle. Dupain-Cheng answered, quickly stomping on her captor's foot. Good – must have had some kind of martial arts training.

“What kind of assistant are you?” M. Lahiffe asked as he loosened up his restrictions.

“I assure you, M. Lahiffe, that it is a useful skill to employ in my daily life.”

She had lost count of how many times she'd had to act to stop this or that person after M. Agreste used his sharpened tongue on them.

And, speaking of, he was still flapping about, without a care for the fight going on around him.

“Simon Says, take flight little plane!” the Akuma declared as he tried to fence off Chat Noir.

M. Agreste stopped flapping, and instead began to make sounds like a motor, while his arms were lifted to the sides, like fixed wings.

There was a limit to the nonsense she would allow. She grabbed the man by the back of his jacket.

“NO.”

----

He was getting overwhelmed by the heroes, but he still had enough aces under the sleeve! One or two moves, and they would fall like so many, like the oh-so-proud Gabriel Agreste, had!

“Gimme your cards, you walking eyesore!” Scarlet Lady shouted, quickly turning her yo-yo in a circle around her hand.

“Rude! Simon Says–”

“We won't let you get a word in edgewise, Akuma!” the other girl also turning a yo-yo in a circle around her hand, interrupted him, while the boy that had competed before him held a microphone staff like a weapon.

“What the–?” How had they managed to free themselves?! “Simon–”

“Nya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!” Scarlet Lady drowned him out.

“Not listening~!” the girl screamed.

Too much. It was too much. He had to get a word, give an order, something!

“S–Simon–”

“AN OPENING!”

Pain.

Even with the phenomenal powers granted to him by Hawkmoth, getting hit in the back by a hard sole attached to a boy of about 50 kilograms going at the speed of a bicycle hurt.

The impact was such that he accidentally lost his one weapon, his deck of cards.

“Hawkmoth, why have you forsaken me?!” he cried out, before Chat Noir destroyed the cards and put an end to his reign.

----

Well, that had been... embarrassing.

Not only had the Akuma failed in his task, he had actually managed to entrap him. And he had also managed to embarrass him. On live TV.

So much for the PR department's ideas.

A lesson to be learned, he guessed. The next time he caused an Akuma in his civilian persona, he would have to make sure it was unable to reach to him.

He chose to ignore Nathalie's mysterious giggles when he mentioned his butterflies.

He went over to Adrien's room, to ensure he had come out well from the distressing event. While his son hadn't been captured by Simon Says, it must have been a terrible moment.

“Adrien.”

“Père?” Adrien asked. Maybe a bit surprised?

He chose to do something he hadn't done in much time.

“I'm glad everything worked out,” he said, giving Adrien a hug. My goodness, he was growing out – he now reached to his shoulder without him having to lean down too much.

“Y-Yeah.”

Letting him go, he mentally considered the time and thought he could take some time speaking with him, to ascertain his current state.

He looked down and saw something strange in Adrien's hand.

“I never noticed you wore a ring...” he pointed out, and Adrien gave him a look.

“I've been wearing this for 3 months now.”

…

Awkward.

“Ehem,” he coughed. Awkwardly.

Perhaps he should have paid attention to what Nathalie said about speaking with Adrien more regularly?

No time like the present, he supposed. He sat on the couch and invited him to sit next, and he asked about what had happened to him while he, Nathalie and Adrien's friends were taken to the studio. Fortunately, he had been left unmolested after they took his friends, and he had tried to reach the studio, only to learn on the way that Chat Noir and Scarlet Lady had stopped Simon Says.

Which prompted him to ask something else.

“Adrien, Scarlet Lady expressed interest in a relationship with you, and I wanted to know your thoughts–”

Adrien's face immediately acquired a color that seemed to vacillate between puce and green.

It actually resembled the one he got a night, so long ago, before he vomited his dinner in the hall. That had been a terrible night.

“EW. No.”

“Oh, thank God.”

There goes that bargaining chip, but at least my son isn't infatuated with... her.

----

The next Monday, the class was abuzz with questions for Adrien, Marinette, and Nino, and their involvement in the latest Akuma. Adrien had little to say, given that he had avoided the Akuma's attention by dint of pure luck, but Marinette and Nino more than compensated with their thrilling tale of escaping the minions and helping Chat Noir capture Simon Says by distracting him at the critical moment.

Meanwhile, Chloé decided to speak about an entirely different matter.

“Adrihoney~! I heard you got visited by the amazing Scarlet Lady!”

Adrien yawned.

“Ugh, yeah, and I have the eyebags to prove it.”

He must have stayed awake out of his love for me! Chloé thought, giddily.

“Soooo? Isn't she ultra fab? Don't you just love her?”

“Ew. No.”

----

Within Chloé's mind...

Statement by Adrikins: Ew. No.

In answer to: Don't you just love [Scarlet Lady]?

Statement indicates: Adrikins doesn't love Scarlet Lady.

Illogical. Everybody loves Scarlet Lady!

Illogical. Adrikins couldn't not love Scarlet Lady or me!

Ergo.

Statement by Adrikins must be ignored.

Delete Statement by Adrikins.

Deletion confirmed.

Statement by Adrikins never existed.

Logical truth: Adrikins loves me! And Scarlet Lady!

----

“Welcome to the set of your favorite game, The Challenge!!” Alec Cataldi proclaimed. “Last week, Nino, our friendly DJ, won his challenge! So as promised, here he is again!”

As Nino walked into the stage, Marinette and Alya turned to the surprisingly present Adrien.

“I can't believe your father let you come again!” Marinette said.

“And after he publicly mocked the show,” Alya commented.

“Well...” Adrien replied, feeling like the cat (heh) that ate the canary, and pulled out his cellphone. “I might've threatened to wear this to the next fashion show.”

And he showed them his latest discovery in the field of punny cat T-shirts.

One that had a cat showing his middle fingers, and the legend “Get meowt of here” around it.

He had already bought it; it was too good to not have it in his wardrobe!

“Oh my God,” Marinette, the most fashion-conscious of his friends, mumbled out, her eyes going wide like plates.

“The ultimate rebellion,” Alya joked.

----

“You'll have to make two celebrities dance this time! But you get to choose your opponents!” Alec declared. “Who's it gonna be?”

“Easy!” Alec might as well just close up the program and let him return next week. This was in the bag. “Supermodel, Adrien Agreste, and LadyBlogger, Alya Cesaire!”

As he waved them to the stage, Alec was clearly shocked that he had so easily won.

“Y-You can't just challenge your own friends! That's not a fair challenge!”

Oh, he just said that. He turned to look at the man.

“Do you really want to talk about what's fair? After last week?”

“Uhhhh...”

Seriously, one would think he'd have learned from his screw up with Stormy Weather.

----

Volpina

@zoe-oneesama Really hope someone will be able to remind Hawkmoth about how much he loved flapping around like a butterfly...

Seriously, the part where Gabriel is forced to act the butterfly and flap around (especially when Gabrial actually says 'flap flap') was too good. I'm sure that Nathalie has a small video library hidden in her personal computer where she can watch a list of Gabriel Agreste's funniest videos.

[uwmspeccoll]

Science Saturday: George Washington Carver

This week we celebrate the scientific contributions of George Washington Carver with a book from our Historical Curriculum Collection A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver written and illustrated by Aliki (full name Aliki Liacouras Brandenberg), published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey in 1965. The book gets its title from something Carver often said: “a weed is a flower growing in the wrong place.”

George Washington Carver (1864? – January 5, 1943) was an American agricultural scientist, inventor, and environmentalist. The exact date of George Washington Carver’s birth is unknown, but he was born into slavery right around the time of the Civil War. At an early age, Carver experimented with natural pesticides and fungicides, and was known by neighboring farmers as the “plant doctor.” After emancipation, Carver pursued education and eventually went on to earn a master’s degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University. Initially Carver was interested in pursuing an education in art and piano, but he was encouraged by a teacher named Etta Budd to pursue agriculture because of his interest in plants. Carver’s art background would serve him well as a scientist. After graduate school, Carver accepted an offer to establish an agriculture program at Tuskegee University in Alabama. He worked at Tuskegee for the rest of his life, dedicating most of his time to research. He is best known for encouraging sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation. Cotton crops had depleted the soil of nitrogen. Legumes (such as peanuts) and sweet potatoes could help restore the soil, and he argued there could be many uses for these new crops. Carver promoted his work with agricultural bulletins and speaking tours.

Descriptions of the photographs:

1.) Portrait of George Washington Carver painting from the Tuskegee University Archives and featured on the Encyclopedia of Alabama website. The caption reads: “George Washington Carver initially enrolled in college as an art major, but after seeing his skill at hybridizing plants his art teacher suggested he study horticulture at Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts (now Iowa State University). He continued to create art through painting and fiber arts and other media throughout his life, however.”

2.) Photograph of the Chemistry Laboratory at Tuskegee Institute. Photographed by Frances Benjamin Johnston from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

3.) 1940 photograph from the article “In Search of George Washington Carver’s True Legacy” on the Smithsonian Magazine website.

View other Science Saturday posts.

–Sarah, Special Collections Graduate Intern

[not-another-parable]

bluescreenvendetta

It waves its hand at her dismissively, sputtering out some noises. “That’s, that’s very kind of you, ma’am. I’m always happy to be of assistance. Even if that assistance is just being your company.” He smiled, and this time it felt fully genuine. He was starting to get comfortable, she was very kind, if not a bit.. enthusiastic. He felt so.. wrong, though, looking in her eyes, so he looked down at his hands. He always hated eye contact, so that wasn’t too much of an issue. He hoped she was as nice as she seemed.

While he stared at his hands, she took the time to properly study him as they sat together. He already seemed just a tad nervous about damn near everything, and those eyes.... Not to mention the strange, soft whirs and clicks she'd hear from him every so often. Likely a machine, she thought. Which then gave her a perfect excuse to practice more programming.

"I'm very glad to hear that,... ETTA, yes? It's usually oh, so empty around here, I... could actually use some help with quite a few things, if you wouldn't mind."

@bluescreenvendetta

ETTA hadn’t meant to leave his office today. He had a lot of work to do, punching in numbers and letters, but something had caught him off guard and now he was in shambles. He heard someone crying.

It was a quiet series of noises, clearly someone who didn’t want to be heard. And yet, all of ETTA’s multitude of sensors and emotions and its brain told it to go and find the person. immediately.

He followed the noise through the office, stopping finally in front of a door. He stood, peeking in for just a second to find a woman.

ETTA pursed its lips. He wanted to go inside, but wasn’t sure if it could. He knocked softly on the door.

Mary had kept to herself in her room for the past few days, reliving her last meeting with Rex almost obsessively. Nail polish flaked from her fingernails where she had nervously chewed at them, and tired eyes dripped tears that streaked mascara down her face. She leaned up from her sewing machine, struggling to focus on her latest dress. After drawing in a deep breath, she wiped away her face, and tried to quiet herself.

She jolted in her seat when ETTA knocked at the door. She turned around, expecting to see Rex entering at any second. After a brief silence, she stood and made her way to the door, cracking it open and peeking down to the stranger on the other side.

"...Hello." She smiled, still trying to clean her face. "And, ahem, who might you be?"

[katiesharms]

21 and the ivies, please and thank you 💗

slow dancing - aly&aj I don't need anything fancy/I just need me and you slow dancing

sometimes, logan hates the navy. it's hard to, when it brought him brigham, his pilot, his husband, his rock.

but during months like this one, where he's spent it entirely away from his pilot due to separate training programs for pilots and rios, logan hates it. it's the longest they've spent apart since they started flying together, the longest he's gone without seeing harvard's face first thing in the morning, without hearing his excited whoop when they execute a borderline idiotic maneuver.

thankfully, logan gets to go home today, where brigham has been for the past two months. two flights, a four hour layover, and a bus ride later, and logan is slotting his keys in the door to their home.

he can hear the music before he sees his husband, the soft musical lulls of etta james filling the house. he makes his way towards the kitchen and sees brigham, humming along and stirring something on the stove. logan smiles and slides up behind him, wrapping his arms around brigham's torso and resting his head on his shoulder.

"welcome home," brigham says, leaning into the hold.

"i missed you," logan says, dropping a kiss to brigham's shoulder.

"i missed you more," brigham responds, and logan rolls his eyes, squeezing him a bit harder in disagreement. "dinner should be ready soon."

logan hums, and starts swaying with the music, pulling brigham with him. "wanna dance?" he asks, as etta james shifts into patsy cline.

"where?" brigham asks, turning around in logan's arms. he has a point; their home is small and cramped, overflowing with furniture and items collected over the years. the rug they got while stationed in morocco, the lamp from logan's mom, the tv stand they thrifted from brigham's home town.

"here," logan says simply. "we can push the furniture out and dance across the whole floor. like the old times."

when they first were paired up, they couldn't find a rythym, in the air or on the ground. their co recommended dance classes. they were terrible at it, still are, but over those few weeks, over coffee dates after class and forced proximity, they learned to move together.

"whatever you want, babe," bigham says, smiling. "i'll to the coffee table if you grab the chairs."

they dance until the sauce on the stove boils over.

[lboogie1906]

Samuel Rufus McDaniel (January 28, 1886 – September 24, 1962) was an actor who appeared in over 210 television shows and films between 1929 and 1950. He was the older brother of actresses Etta McDaniel and Hattie McDaniel. Born in Wichita, Kansas, to former slaves, he was one of 13 children. His father Henry McDaniel fought in the Civil War with the 122nd USCT and his mother, Susan Holbert, was a singer of gospel music. In 1900, the family moved to Colorado, living first in Fort Collins and then in Denver where he grew up and graduated from Denver East High School. The children of the McDaniel family had a traveling minstrel show. After the death of brother Otis in 1916, the troupe began to lose money. In 1931, he found work in Los Angeles with sisters Hattie, Etta, and Orlena. He was working on a KNX radio program called The Optimistic Doughnut Hour, and he was able to get his sister a spot. He almost exclusively played butler, doormen, valet, porter, and servant roles in films. He played Doc, the competent ship's cook, in the Oscar-winning 1937 film Captains Courageous. He played Spiffingham the Butler in the Three Stooges film Heavenly Daze (1948). He is the only African-American to ever appear on I Love Lucy, playing "Sam the Porter" in the 1955 episode "The Great Train Robbery". He appeared uncredited as a waiter on a train in both the 1947 film The Egg and I and its first follow-up Ma and Pa Kettle (1949). He played various supporting roles on The Amos 'n' Andy Show (1951–53). #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CoAOecXLo2g/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ettawritesnstudies]

hi, etta! you mentioned the word catechist in one of your tags. i've never heard that word before! i did look up the definition but it was such a dry explanation! and honestly, i don't know what a catechism would consist of either. the explanation i found brought to mind a Q&A sheet like you would get for history class, haha. i was wondering if when you have time, you would be able to tell me a little bit about what it means to be a catechist?

Of course!

The Catechism itself is an official book that was compiled by the early church fathers and updated over the years by various councils and popes to include all of the Catholic Church's teachings on all the Big Important Topics. It's not the Bible, but it does include information on how we interpret the Bible, explaining the creed line-by-line, breaking down the sacraments, and tons of other aspects of how to live a good daily Christian life and tackle hard topics. You can read it online but it can be pretty dense to get through without someone helping to explain all the context, which is where catechists come in!

A catechist is anyone who teaches the Catholic faith, usually in a classroom setting. Kids who are born and baptized into Catholic families (sometimes also known as "cradle catholics". I'm one) usually go through some kind of faith formation as they grow up, either through religious education as a class in catholic schools alongside history and literature and math and science, or through something called CCD (which stands for catholic catechetical development) which are once-a-week classes usually in the evenings after school. Adult converts or reverts to the faith also go through a similar program called RCIA. These programs don't have homework or tests or anything, and they're voluntary, but they are structured in a way meant to go deeper into history and theology and give you more context and appreciation for what you're seeing at Sunday Mass and why we believe the things we do.

CCD and religious ed programs usually have a curriculum for each grade, focusing on different parts of the catechism each year. For example, most kids receive their first Holy Communion in 2nd grade, and so that year is learning all about the sacraments and the Eucharist. 8th grade is usually Confirmation, which is the sacrament where YOU decide that YOU want to be Catholic and become an "adult" in the Church, receiving the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and so the curriculum that year focuses on adult faith formation. Unfortunately some of those are dumbed-down waaaayyy too far and as a result, I watched a LOT of my classmates treat Confirmation as a "graduation" from the program and not as a solemn holy eternal vow.

My confirmation year is also when I got serious about understanding other faiths as well as Catholicism because I took that decision seriously, and it's something I love and learn how to share with people. St. Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us! My mom is a CCD teacher and I helped her out while I was in high school. She wrote her own curriculum, which included weekly powerpoints, fill-in-the-blank-sheets, coloring pages, etc. so I'd help her find good pictures, fix formatting issues, check grammar, and occasionally cover teaching the class if she was busy with my sibling's events.

If you're looking for quality accessible resources, Ascension Press is one of my favorites. They have a great youtube channel (highly recommend Fr. Mike Schmidt) and a Bible in a Year podcast. I've used their Chosen, Bible timeline, and Theology of the Body programs myself. Catholic Answers is perfect for quickly finding thoughtful and thoroughly researched responses to almost any question. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also has some good resources on their webpage. There's also a kids version of the catechism called the St. Joseph's Baltimore Catechism which is just as thorough as the original but much more accessible and full of illustrations. That might be a good primer too! There's a copy here on internet archive.

I hope this wasn't too dry lol. Please let me know if you have any more questions! :)